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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Triptans and Insurance
        
(Message started by: Superirish2005 on Aug 8^th, 2007, 5:00pm)

Title: Triptans and Insurance
Post by Superirish2005 on Aug 8^th, 2007, 5:00pm

My insurance United Healthcare allows for only
4 Maxalts or Zomig or Imitrex a MONTH!

is this normal?

4 Imitrex pills are $60, so thats $15 a pill.

anyone else have this problem with 4 maxalts or zomigs A MONTH????????????

Title: Re: Triptans and Insurance
Post by Rosybabe on Aug 8^th, 2007, 6:45pm

yeah, that is why I don't have insurance and I have my own O2.

Title: Re: Triptans and Insurance
Post by chewy on Aug 8^th, 2007, 9:02pm

TROLL ALERT!

Title: Re: Triptans and Insurance
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 9^th, 2007, 8:02am

What they allow has nothing to do with medical needs but only with them controlling their costs.

Your doc can write to them, asking for more, and justifying the request.

Explore the OUCH site (left) for some material on this issue.

Title: Re: Triptans and Insurance
Post by Superirish2005 on Aug 9^th, 2007, 8:41am

My doctor's office called medco and they stated there was nothing my doctor can do to override this.

Title: Re: Triptans and Insurance
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 9^th, 2007, 10:38am

Several of us have found excellent results with this med and the cost/dose is much less than with the triptans. Your doc can give you a sample and you will know wit 1-2 uses whether it works for you.
=======================

Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.

Title: Re: Triptans and Insurance
Post by Superirish2005 on Aug 9^th, 2007, 10:55am

I will ask my doctor about olanzapine today