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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> How much........survey re: Imitrex
        
(Message started by: Donna_H on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:10pm)

Title: How much........survey re: Imitrex
Post by Donna_H on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:10pm

What do you spend in one year on Imitrex?

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:13pm

me: $60.00

Ins: $12,000+

relief: priceless

Kevin M

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Donna_H on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:20pm

So, you use $12,000.00 worth of Imitrex per year......is that right?

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Tom K on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:35pm

I spend $20 per copay.
Refill everyday when in cycle.
Cycle last up to 2 months.
Figure around $1200
Insurance picks up the rest
Have a medical savings plan through work, so I get the $$ back, even though it is really my money to begin with.

T

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Cerberus on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:37pm

before or after insurance?

Ramon

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Donna_H on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:44pm

I have a feeling that the drug company makes more on cluster sufferers than migraine sufferers.

I am looking for the amount that the drug company makes on each cluster sufferer. Where the money comes from is not necessary.....just how much revenue is generated by each clusterhead.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Cerberus on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:49pm

Well I got 300 bucks worth of the stuff here and I havent refilled yet but will eventually maybe two or three times. So without insurance maybe $1200 a year...five or take a couple of hundred.....course insurance covers almost all of that.

Ramon

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Donna_H on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:55pm

So then, we have three answers thus far with about $1,200.00 per year being the guesstimate.

Let's see what a few more have to say.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 18^th, 2004, 10:58pm

Quote:

So, you use $12,000.00 worth of Imitrex per year......is that right?

It's 12,000

90 NS a month at 2100.00 a month for six months a year.

Kevin M

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Melissa on Oct 18^th, 2004, 11:02pm

Let's see,

2 injections or nasal sprays per day X 37 days of my cycle= 74 doses

$181.00 co-pay for 6 injections and 12 nasal sprays

74 divided by 18= 4.11 X $181.00= $743.91 total

did I do that right?

edited to add that is for every other year

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Roxy on Oct 18^th, 2004, 11:12pm

Donna,

You might check with Cat on this topic. We did a survey when we were meeting with NECH on this, called a bunch of people off the board to get numbers. I remember at the luncheon with Glaxo they almost fell out of their chairs when they understood just how much imitrex Cat and I went through.....and that was only two clusterheads. I was using, at the minimum, two full shots a day....seven days a week...month after month. Can't remember exactly, but between the two of us, in a months time, it was an unbelievable amount of money.

There may be more migrainers out there....but they don't use as much.....or spend as much as cluster sufferers.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Donna_H on Oct 18^th, 2004, 11:22pm

Forget all about insurance.

Just how much does it cost (whoever pays for it is not important) to supply you with the Imitrex you need per year.

I want to know how much the drug company makes on us.

I got it now Kevin.....$12,000.00 per year, amazing, isn't it?

I wish we could do a real study on this, keeping real figures and come up with a close total. I'll bet everyone would be surprised and we'd have a real weapon to use (money, that is) for getting attention.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Melissa on Oct 18^th, 2004, 11:28pm

on 10/18/04 at 23:22:34, Donna_H wrote:

I wish we could do a real study on this, keeping real figures and come up with a close total. I'll bet everyone would be surprised and we'd have a real weapon to use (money, that is) for getting attention.

Donna, I believe that this exact thing (ch prescription drug use) is incorporated into the C.H.A.T.S. program.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Donna_H on Oct 18^th, 2004, 11:35pm

Oh. I guess I jumped the gun.

Thanks for telling me Mel.

I'll be looking for the info.

And thanks to you too Roxy. I agree.....I'll bet anybody $5.00 that we do spend more than they do.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Gator on Oct 19^th, 2004, 4:31am

The retail price here in Stillwater, OK for the 2 shot stat dose kit is $135. The price for the single dose vial is $115.

I use the vials, because of the new math, through the insurance company I can get 10 vials or 4 stat dose kits per month. Got a letter of necessity, so I get 30 vials a month. Even splitting dose, figure at least one vial per day (sometimes more)

365 x $115 = $41,975 per year. This is the price I would pay if I walked into the pharmacy without surance and bought the vials.

According to the last statement I got from the insurance company, 90 vials cost the insurance company about $4700. My copay was $30. If I had to buy those same 90 vials without insurance = $10350

Since the insurance company is only paying $4700 (and you know GSK is still making money at that price) and the retail customer is paying $10350, there is a HELL of a mark up on the drugs.

Is that clear as mud?

Gator

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Sean_C on Oct 19^th, 2004, 7:09am

I went through one cycle with insurance that would only cover two doses a month and I had to pay out of pocket for the rest. I think I spent around 4 thousand, and it was worth it believe me. I no longer use that provider however ;;D

Sean............................

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Rock_Lobster on Oct 19^th, 2004, 7:38am

My insurance is paying about $65 per vial.
I get 16 vials per month.
In cycle 4 months this year.
So...

($65*16*4) == $4160

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by don on Oct 19^th, 2004, 7:52am

What differance does all this make?

I dont care iff they advertise it for meegrains as long as it is available to Chers and it always has been.

Looking for a peice break. You'll have to wait for the patent to expire.

Just about every CH med available is marketed for other conditions. Whats the point of all this ?

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by TomM on Oct 19^th, 2004, 8:14am

I use the nasal spray @ @181.00/box. There are 6 shots and I go through a box every other day in peak cycle upto 2 months. Don't forget there is a taper thing [as far as the frequency and intensity of CH's], too. I would guess 8-10, maybe 12 boxes a cycle.
$181.00
x 8 boxes
$1448.00
My cost is $25.00/box which yields $200.00 out of pocket expense. Pretty cheap in my world.
TomM

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 19^th, 2004, 8:55am

on 10/19/04 at 07:52:19, don wrote:

What differance does all this make?

It was a pop math quiz Don. Your make up will be, how many hours of baseball have the last three games been?
Answer: What difference does it make, Boston is still in it. [smiley=wow.gif]

Quote:

Looking for a peice break. You'll have to wait for the patent to expire.

Sox fans seem very anxious for when the Yankee patent expires.

Even with the high $ amounts, it's still not enough, lots of oxygen too.

Kevin M

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by karma on Oct 19^th, 2004, 9:05am

zip
zero
nada
And you guys wonder why O2 is so hard to get?

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Jayne on Oct 19^th, 2004, 9:45am

My insurance will only allow me 2 kits per month ans they won't cover me for "headaches". Glaxo Kline fought for me to get the two kits per month.

2 kits per month, my co pay $35 x12 = $420 per year.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by thomas on Oct 19^th, 2004, 9:52am

54,000 in the last 12 years on all meds, but about 80% of that was for trex, that is MY out of pocket expenditures.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Giovanni on Oct 19^th, 2004, 10:27am

I'm authorized for 9 boxes of stat dose per month with a $20 co-pay. That comes to about $12,000 per year total costs. I've been lucky and only used one injection during the last 12 months because of O2 and the fungi.

John

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by vig on Oct 19^th, 2004, 10:32am

hmm let's see, last year:
$20/month copay for 4 shots x 12 =$240 + 3 x $20 = $60 for extras from the pharmacist (She liked me ;;D)
~$300.
This year.... $0
Psilocybin treatment

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Root on Oct 19^th, 2004, 10:50am

The bill last year came to $38,360. I try not to dwell on it too much.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Gena on Oct 19^th, 2004, 11:02am

2 shot stat dose kit is $135

I get 5 at a time = $675

Refilled RX 3 times = $2025 so far

If cycle continues and longer will have to refill agine.

P.S. Thankfully I have insurance so each refill only cast me $25

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Big Dan on Oct 19^th, 2004, 11:55am

on 10/18/04 at 22:10:49, Donna_H wrote:

What do you spend in one year on Imitrex?

Depends on how much the cocksuckers let me have a month. Usually $21.30/month.... or 2 injections

... and whatever I've stowed away.

-Big Dan

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Tom K on Oct 19^th, 2004, 9:31pm

on 10/18/04 at 22:44:50, Donna_H wrote:

I have a feeling that the drug company makes more on cluster sufferers than migraine sufferers.

Not a real big stretch there...Ch'rs have more frequency than meegrainers.

T

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Mr. Happy on Oct 19^th, 2004, 9:53pm

If Pharmco, Medical and Media attention is what y'all crave.......there's nothing like a good old fashioned mass suicide. No more of that "Picking us off one at a time" crap. How's about 2 - 3 dozen of you most helpless cases meet in a hotel in downtown Muscoteene, Iowa, and pick 3 - 4 ways to Off yourselves. It'll draw attention, and make one heck of a statement, eh? An equal opportunity endeavor.

C'mon. Take one for the team,
RJ

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by E-Double on Oct 19^th, 2004, 9:58pm

on 10/19/04 at 21:53:27, Mr. Happy wrote:

I'll bring the punch [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Gator on Oct 19^th, 2004, 11:26pm

Hmmm, another "Jones"town massacre courtesy of the irReverend Mr. Happy?

Gator
Oh, that was bad. Nevermind.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by don on Oct 19^th, 2004, 11:32pm

How about an FDA raid.

I have a trex lab out in my shed.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Prense on Oct 20^th, 2004, 9:21am

I was only able to get ten injections a month. That would be an annual cost of $7,800.

Chris

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Donna_H on Oct 20^th, 2004, 10:28am

Well kids, looks like out of just 15 people so far, we have an astonishing figure of $176,753.00.

Not all posts included a figure.

Cat made a post on the OUCH board and contributed her figure, which I've included.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Bethany1 on Oct 20^th, 2004, 11:41am

4 boxes for 30 days $20 (insurance co-pay), I fill every 30 days. w/out insurance is $140 per box. (have had to do this many times) I would say total they get w/out insurance is about $6800 and w/insurance about $1000. I stock up when Im not in cycle.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by Karla on Oct 20^th, 2004, 12:34pm

I spend 2400 on imitrix for the year and equally about that for zomig and axert. Last year I spent 15,000 out of pocket in my co-insurance expenses for perscription drugs. OUCH! My husband switch employeers and now we have a much better insurance plan.

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by kissmyglass on Oct 20^th, 2004, 5:45pm

Before Lithium it was 4 shots a day @ $75...$300 a day & no Ins.....now this friggin beast is breaking through 900mg of Lithium & I'm broke [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: How much........survey Imitrex
Post by BlueMeanie on Oct 20^th, 2004, 7:33pm

on 10/19/04 at 21:53:27, Mr. Happy wrote:

Hey Happy, you coming to DavCon ? hehe

2 bx/month x 12 = 24 boxes. $135.00 bx = $3,240
My cost $21.00 x 24 = $504.00