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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Question about medication costs
        
(Message started by: Brian0829 on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 2:47pm)

Title: Question about medication costs
Post by Brian0829 on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 2:47pm

Hello,
I have been reading alot of posts lately. I just had a few questions. I have heard the term abortive used, I was wondering if that is what you guys use when a CH hits?
I am in the middle or hopefully near the end of my cycle right now. This week alone I have already went through around $100.00 of my Imitrex nasal sprays. I was wondering how much you guys pay for your Imitrex... I know prices vary based on your insurance. I was also wondering how much I would expect to pay for O2.
Thanks,
Brian

Title: Re: Question about medication costs
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 22^nd, 2005, 3:06pm

Yes, an 'abortive' is a medication used to get rid of the headache.

Imitrex is very $$. I get free samples from my neuro (thank god) otherwise I couldn't afford it. Sometimes I use several hundred dollars worth a day.

Goodluck and PF Wishes

Unsolved

Someone else will have to tell you about the cost of O2. I don't use it :-/

Title: Re: Question about medication costs
Post by yikes-another-one on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 11:08pm

:)
I used to get 6 Zomig pills (5mg each)

It would take one or two to abort a cycle.

they cost about $40 but
insurance would only give you 6 pills a month.

they stopped working for me, though.
and now I get 4 headaches every day, so I would run out of pills in 1 and 1/2 days...
so that wouldn't work either.

Have you thought of hooking up to oxygen?

It might work for you and then be cheaper, too.

Title: Re: Question about medication costs
Post by hdido on Jul 23^rd, 2005, 11:32pm

I'm fortunate. My insurance will give me a 3 months' supply of ANY drug for $15 for generic and $35 for brand name. If I had to pay for it myself, my bills would run about $2000 a month.

Title: Re: Question about medication costs
Post by cjc68 on Jul 24^th, 2005, 1:07am

Brian, I used to get unlimited amounts of imitrx injections at only $10 per with my insurance, without insurance it costs me $70 per shot, using 3 shots per day can get really expensive!
Yes you are right, abortive is used to abort a CH when it hits!
I have since found another, more inexpensive but just as effective way to fight the beast, look at my post on
The Zu and Prednisone in the medications and therapies posts. Good luck to you Brian!

Title: Re: Question about medication costs
Post by sandie99 on Jul 24^th, 2005, 6:02am

I used maxalt. And I have a good insurance. :)

Title: Re: Question about medication costs
Post by marlinsfan on Jul 24^th, 2005, 6:03pm

Brian, I have not used imitrex since I found this site and oxygen. I pay $5 copay (Aetna insurance) every time I get my O2 tanks re-filled. This covers 3 E tanks, which are about as wide as a 2 liter bottle of coke and goes up just past my knee. Each tank last 3-4 hits.

PF wishes.
Jose

Title: Re: Question about medication costs
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 24^th, 2005, 8:29pm

Trex injects are my savior and can be split so that one injection can last for 2-3 headaches (see the tip to the left). O2 can also get expensive depending on how many hits you get per day, etc.

If you go the Trex route, my best advice is to make wonderful friends with the nurses in your doc's office. Talk about the expense and how difficult it is for you. The samples will start flowing. Last cycle I only spent $100 total for a script. The rest came from my doc's nurses. I LOVE THEM!

Kris

Title: Re: Question about medication costs
Post by Topical on Jul 25^th, 2005, 5:07am

on 07/24/05 at 18:03:55, marlinsfan wrote:

Good to see you had a better policy than me. They consider O2 to be a medical equipment which means I have a 400 dollar deductible before they kick in a cent.

I bought my O2 setup for 350 dollars. It's a massive H tank. Others have bought setups with the smaller tanks for 150. Refills of the O2 is going to be about 30 dollars delivered. I don't expect to need that for at least 2 years.

I encourage people to try O2. Rent it first to see if it works well and if it does, consider buying it. O2 does not work for everyone.