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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Imitrex & Medco
        
(Message started by: jasonreina on Dec 17^th, 2006, 5:43pm)

Title: Imitrex & Medco
Post by jasonreina on Dec 17^th, 2006, 5:43pm

After suffering for the 14th year (with a 2 year hiatus), I have found the proverbial axe that is 100% effective in stopping a headache - Imitrex auto-injectors! I tried them years ago, but they didn't work, but thank God they do now.

As most of you know, they are priced at $85/shot, a price that is completely impractical to pay given to the nature of clusters. I have insurance, but I am limited to 8 refills for the $50 co-pay through mail-order.

Anyone have Medco prescription insurance and have any luck getting more auto-injectors than is normally covered by your company's plan?

I have heard that you can get a special letter from your doctor stating that it is a medical necessity to get more than usual - worked for anyone?

Also, what about other forms of Imitrex, like vials and needles (like insulin)?

Thanks for your help...

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by E-Double on Dec 17^th, 2006, 9:09pm

I now have medco as my RX plan.
I have not used it for trex yet as I am fully stocked and tend not to use it (unless an absolute emergency) due to a few reasons.
Anyway, the vials are another option and try to learn the imitrex tip (check the link on the menu) that will save you $ and meds and get you more bang for the buck.

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by jasonreina on Dec 18^th, 2006, 9:32am

If you don't mind, what are the reasons you choose not to use the Imitrex? It's been a Godsend for me - kills the headache in 2.5 minutes. I know there are heart-related dangers, but I'm 26 and in otherwise excellent health.

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by E-Double on Dec 18^th, 2006, 12:55pm

on 12/18/06 at 09:32:17, jasonreina wrote:

I'm only 33.
I will abort with oxygen.
Trex always comes with nasty side effects for me although will abort an attack rapidly.
I also "feel" that using it increased the frequency in attacks.
I have been chronic for over 2.5 yrs and things only started getting easier when I came off all meds and stopped using medicinal abortives.

I would still advocate for its use if it brings ya PF times.

Best,

Eric

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by marlinsfan on Dec 20^th, 2006, 9:19am

on 12/18/06 at 12:55:25, E-Double wrote:

Well said, Eric. I also abort only with Oxygen since I found it. Used to be a trex user (with Medco as my RX plan too). But found that I got rebound headaches, and I could never get enough from my prescription plan.

Try O2. is cheaper, safer, and works just as well as trex.

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by marlinsfan on Dec 20^th, 2006, 9:33am

By the way, Medco will not cover O2. I get it thru my HMO (aetna)

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by jasonreina on Dec 20^th, 2006, 10:22am

Well, had a visit to the doctor on Monday and decided to give oxygen a try. My health insurance (UHC) covered it at 100%. We'll see how this works. Thanks for the advice.

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by Richr8 on Dec 20^th, 2006, 10:39am

on 12/20/06 at 10:22:12, jasonreina wrote:

Well, had a visit to the doctor on Monday and decided to give oxygen a try. My health insurance (UHC) covered it at 100%. We'll see how this works. Thanks for the advice.

Hopefully ypu will find lots of relief like many of us. :)

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by marlinsfan on Dec 20^th, 2006, 2:43pm

on 12/20/06 at 10:22:12, jasonreina wrote:

Well, had a visit to the doctor on Monday and decided to give oxygen a try. My health insurance (UHC) covered it at 100%. We'll see how this works. Thanks for the advice.

Make sure you use the non-rebreather mask with a hi-flow regulator. At least 8 lpm (liters per minute), but many here use 12 lpm or more.

The first time I tried it I took a leap of faith. It was very hard not to reach for the trex that had been so effective for me. But I did it, and haven't touched trex since.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by chewy on Dec 21^st, 2006, 8:41am

http://headaches.about.com/cs/advocacy/a/trip_limits.htm

Title: Re: Imitrex & Medco
Post by gonz2112 on Dec 26^th, 2006, 10:40pm

I use oxygen whenever possible, but when it doesn't work or I am away from home I use Imitrex injection.

I have heard in the past of a vial, but have never had any luck finding it. What I do is pry the syringe from the statdose kit, peel a section of the label back and inject half a dose. Trex used to come in a syringe with a plunger so I use one of those to inject it. You can use the ink tube of a pen or something else. I was told by my pharmacist that they do not make the syringe by itself anymore.

As far as the copay goes, I have had success with some insurance companies raising the limit when I asked them, but 8 for one copay sounds pretty good. I have Kaiser now and I can only get one box per $30 copay.:'(