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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Any Pill Cheaper Then Maxalt
        
(Message started by: Superirish2005 on Aug 26^th, 2006, 9:52pm)

Title: Any Pill Cheaper Then Maxalt
Post by Superirish2005 on Aug 26^th, 2006, 9:52pm

They cost $30 per 9 pills and I average 3 pills a day. That's insane.

Is there any Pill out there cheaper then Maxalt that works the same way?

Title: Re: Any Pill Cheaper Then Maxalt
Post by Charlotte on Aug 26^th, 2006, 10:21pm

I misunderstood the question. No, I don't know of any cheaper prescription pill as an abortive, personally.

How many do you get a month? Are they 5 or 10 mg, generic or name brand? melt?

Have you talked to your Dr about other meds?

Charlotte

Title: Re: Any Pill Cheaper Then Maxalt
Post by brewcrew on Aug 26^th, 2006, 11:29pm

You're not supposed to take more than 2 in a 24 hour period.

Title: Re: Any Pill Cheaper Then Maxalt
Post by Karla on Aug 27^th, 2006, 12:34am

Well I don't know how expensive amerge or frova is but these two drugs are suppose to abort your current ha and then prevent any more from occuring from 8-12 hours down the road.

Reality for me - It would abort my ch for two hours and then the next ch hit and I couldn't take another pill for 12 hours. I found it to be as effective as imitrix in aborting my current attack but it sucked not being able to abort my next 4 attacks.

You may want to try this route and see how it works for you.

Title: Re: Any Pill Cheaper Then Maxalt
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 27^th, 2006, 6:52am

On a per dose basis, this med will run about $3. Several of us have had excellent results.
---------
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: Any Pill Cheaper Then Maxalt
Post by brewcrew on Aug 27^th, 2006, 12:30pm

I've gone the Amerge route. A little more expensive than Maxalt with the aid of insurance. But retail? WOW! Almost $20/dose.

Anybody know when any of these triptans are scheduled to go generic? I'm not sure, but I think the patent on Rx drugs is for 7 years.