Author |
Topic: I need help from the collectors ... (Read 298 times) |
|
Ueli
Guest
|
 |
I need help from the collectors ...
« on: Oct 8th, 2003, 10:23pm » |
 Quote  Modify
 Remove
|
... of web links.
A friend of mine has troubles with the bean counters who won't pay for more than 2 Imitrex shots a day on the ground that more is unhealthy (read too expensive).
I know only of the article by Centonze et.al. (quoted in the OUCH library) about clusterheads surviving much higher doses without harm.
Does someone know a link to similar arguments? Any ammunition in the forthcoming legal battle with the penny pinchers would be welcome. 
PFNADs
Ueli
|
|
 IP Logged |
|
|
|
Bob_Johnson
New Board Hall of Famer
Gender: 
Posts: 1796
|
 |
Re: I need help from the collectors ...
« Reply #2 on: Oct 9th, 2003, 5:20am » |
Quote Modify
|
: Headache. 1996 Jun;36(6):389-91.
Use of high sumatriptan dosages during episodic cluster headache: three clinical cases.
Centonze V, Polito BM, Attolini E, Cassiano MA, Sabba C, Ricchhetti G, Bassi A, Cavazzuti L, Albano O.
Unit for the Study, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Headaches, Internal Medicine Clinic, Universita degli Studi, Bari, Italy.
The authors describe three patients with episodic cluster headache whose attacks were all treated with subcutaneous sumatriptan. The patients described had a high frequency of attacks (more than two per day); therefore, far higher dosage of the drug was taken than commonly used in cluster headache. The patients did not experience any particular side effects, neither during the treatment period nor on abrupt withdrawal of the drug. Moreover, neither tachyphylaxis nor addiction were observed. The authors point out both the efficacy of sumatriptan, confirmed in all the treated attacks, and its safety even at higher dosages than recommended.
PMID: 8707559 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
|
|
IP Logged |
Bob Johnson
|
|
|
catlind
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Taz taught me the cluster dance
  
Gender: 
Posts: 3433
|
|
Re: I need help from the collectors ...
« Reply #3 on: Oct 9th, 2003, 6:23am » |
Quote Modify
|
Ueli,
here is the link for the imitrex products and glaxo's own information on them.
No where in the specific product information does it say that it is unhealthy to take 2 shots a day for extended periods.
http://www.gsk.com/products/imitrex_us.htm
And here's a link for an abstract on a study on trex overuse, no indication of adverse events:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed &list_uids=11062845&dopt=Abstract
Cat
|
| « Last Edit: Oct 9th, 2003, 6:25am by catlind » |
IP Logged |
A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart
If yer gonna be stupid, ya gotta be tough
|
|
|
UnsolvedEquation
Guest
|
|
Re: I need help from the collectors ...
« Reply #4 on: Oct 9th, 2003, 7:22am » |
Quote Modify
Remove
|
I don't need a link to tell me I can survive at higher doses. Been there and done that. Average of 3 - 5 a day for years, but been as high as 8 a day. No side effects. Didn't even raise my BP and worked everytime !
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
brain_cramps
New Board Hall of Famer
Gender:
Posts: 2103
|
|
Re: I need help from the collectors ...
« Reply #5 on: Oct 9th, 2003, 7:43am » |
Quote Modify
|
Funny. The other day I read about someone that was saying they had been addicted to Amerge in the past. After a quick search for "triptan" and "addiction" or "tolerance" I found the following...
(Note that these have to do with Migraine sufferers. I'd be pretty surprised if they had different patterns of addiction/tolerance.)
Blue Cross Limits Access To Meds
Part I
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Sets Unacceptable Limits on Triptans Coverage
http://tinyurl.com/qb2n
A couple of studies on long-term and daily triptan use by Robbins Headache Clinic
http://tinyurl.com/qb3b
http://tinyurl.com/qb3g
and another one...
http://tinyurl.com/qb3l
You can draw your own conclusions.
grant 
|
| « Last Edit: Oct 9th, 2003, 7:44am by brain_cramps » |
IP Logged |
|
|
|
don
Guest
|
|
Re: I need help from the collectors ...
« Reply #6 on: Oct 9th, 2003, 10:15am » |
Quote Modify
Remove
|
Another shining example of why we need to get the drug companies to label specifically for CH. Imitrex is labeled for Migraines and that allows the bean counters to get away with this shit.
Since when does a bean counter have the medical knowledge to know what is healthy and what is not?
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
vig
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
CHit Happens
Gender:
Posts: 4401
|
|
Re: I need help from the collectors ...
« Reply #7 on: Oct 9th, 2003, 10:30am » |
Quote Modify
|
I'm never sure which way my finger should be pointing... at the drug companies or the insurance companies.
I know I couldn't get my prescription for 4 Imitrex shots per month refilled last night... or my 6 nasal sprays per month.
Walgreens said I can buy them on my own if I want...
$300 for the four shots.
OUCH!
|
|
IP Logged |
never, Never, NEVER quit. -Winston Churchill
|
|
|
ZAIRA
New Board Hall of Famer
Brave to Stand !!!
Gender:
Posts: 1577
|
|
Re: I need help from the collectors ...
« Reply #8 on: Oct 9th, 2003, 1:06pm » |
Quote Modify
|
on Oct 9th, 2003, 10:30am, vig wrote:
Walgreens said I can buy them on my own if I want...
$300 for the four shots.
OUCH! |
|
In italy we don’t pay any insurance because Health is public (State)...........
We can get Imitrex we need paying 2€-2$ a box (i.e. 2 shots)......... it is not difficult to get it, it is sufficient that the Neuro certifies that you have CH......... if you need I’ll send some Imitrex (shots or nasal sprays).... I have just helped someone of you in the past... so NO problems....... just let me know! 
Zazi
|
|
IP Logged |
 
Love yourself, Love others, Love often, Forever!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
test rss