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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
        
(Message started by: khead on Jul 1^st, 2006, 6:15pm)

Title: help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
Post by khead on Jul 1^st, 2006, 6:15pm

[smiley=huh.gif]
I have excused myself from fun today in hopes of finding insurance coverage. So while my head blasts off paying tribute to the 4th of July holiday, I am searching for affordable insurance. There is another catch...I am self employed. Also, has anyone heard of www.wecaremedicalmall.org/global_medication.htm or used such services? In efforts to lower the cost of my meds [topomax/imitrex], I am searching all avenues. One more question, my doctor has suggested that I should consider switching from the Imitrex nasal spray to the injections because it is much more effective for CH sufferers...true?
Thanks for the help!

Title: Re: help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
Post by Racer1_NC on Jul 1^st, 2006, 6:27pm

on 07/01/06 at 18:15:11, khead wrote:

[smiley=huh.gif]
One more question, my doctor has suggested that I should consider switching from the Imitrex nasal spray to the injections because it is much more effective for CH sufferers...true?

Most people that use 'trex for CH use the injections. For me, Zomig NS works great.....lasts longer too.

Bill

Title: Re: help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 1^st, 2006, 6:33pm

I use the injections for quick relief.
Not sure about that website, but Imitrex has a patient assistance program (GlaxoSmithKline
Bridges To Access Program http://www.atdn.org/access/pa/lami.html)and covers both Imitrex & Topomax http://www.atdn.org/access/pa.html

Goodluck

UNsolved 8)

Title: Re: help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
Post by ShaneM on Jul 1^st, 2006, 6:33pm

Hey there,
I use injections becuase it's quick, fast acting and if you you are smart you can play a few tricks in order to strech your doses. One is to follow the tip listed on the index to the left of what you are reading now. The other is that imitrex is now being released in a 4mg dose that your insurance co. may be willing to let you have more of at one time (stat dose). The final and also the best way to stretch it out in my opinion is to get it in vials from the pharm and draw it yourself with insulin gauge needles. If you are real clean and wipe everything down with alcohol preps, you can fill a couple at a time and have them handy when they are needed. Try real hard not to get into the habit of using the same needle twice...not even your own. Insurance companys seem to be the beast best friend, don't they?
Good Luck!
Shane

Title: Re: help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
Post by Sean_C on Jul 1^st, 2006, 7:41pm

How many employees you have will determine how much your health insurance will cost if your self employed. Check out the Small Business Service Bureau in your State and find out what they offer for Group Policy's. Even if you are your only employee you can still get the group plan rate for (Tufts, Blue, Havard etc), and it should save you about 40% compared to individual plans.

I hope that helps,

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

Title: Re: help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 1^st, 2006, 8:10pm

My husband and I are both self-employed freelancers and have to buy our own insurance. We joined our state's Small Business Association, but as sole proprietors have to pay a much higher monthly premium. Good Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage, however.

Follow the link give above to the "Bridges to Access" program offered by the makers of Trex. If accepted, you can get your Imitrex quite virtually free or very low cost. And yes, injections work much better for me - a word of warning, however - here in Michigan if I didn't have insurance, 6 autoinjects would cost $400.00.

Preventatives like Verapamil, however, are very inexpensive and should be another first line of defense in your medicine arsenal.

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 7:35am

I bought from a Canadian source for several years but US Fed pressures have made the supply chain less stable in recent months. This info from CONSUMER REPORTS, 10/05:

List of 37 Canadian pharmacies which have passed a screening for quality/ethical
performance.

http://www.ciparx.ca/cipa_pharmacies.html

Source of info about online pharmacies with a similar review process plus price
information:

http://www.PharmacyChecker.com

And, www.LePharmacy.com (can search their pages for prices, etc.) and a series of forms
to be downloaded before you can receive meds. All instructions spelled out. (The one I was
using.)

Also: Partnership for Prescription Assistance

www.pparx.org

This paragraph from their web site explains who they are:

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America

pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers,
patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help
qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines
they need through the public or private program that right for
them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to
increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost
enrollment of those who are eligible. Through this site, the
Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of
access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance
programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical
companies. To access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by
phone, you can call toll-free, 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).

And, several of us have had excellent results with this med, which is less expensive than Imitrex.

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: help a newbie...20 year CH sufferer
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 10:27am

In my opinion, the injections work 100% faster and better than the other options. Also, I do not have insurance right now and the Verapamil was 18.00 and the predisone was 10.00. The O2 was 50.00 a month to rent with two refills. The only thing that killed me was the doctor wanted me to use Amerge before he would give me the injection samples and it cost 215.00 for 9 pills and the pills do not work fast enough to make it worth it. We are also looking for inexpensive health insurance because my husband's job is going to be 600.00 a month for family, so if you find any good deals, go ahead and post them. Good Luck!