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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Glaxo and imitrex
        
(Message started by: SeanM on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 10:51am)

Title: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by SeanM on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 10:51am

Has anybody had any luck trying to talk to Glaxo about reducing the dose of the shots?

I'd love to hear of anybodys experience in talking to them.

Sincerely,

SeanM

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by Karla on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 3:46pm

Why would you want to reduce the amount in there? The way it is now you can get 2 shots out of 1. This is a way we can get around the insurance companys and get more for our money. OUCH has been in contact with GSK. Bob P. might be the person to ask if you really want details about conversations. Or at least I think he is the one that had the conversations. If he didn't he can tell you who did and what the result of the conversation was.

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by SeanM on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 5:57pm

Karla,

No, the idea was not to reduce the total amount one could get covered by insurance companies...rather it was to fit the approprite dose to a syringe so that one wouldnt have to go through the task of altering the syringes to spare the uneeded amount for later use.

In other words, to get 3 2mg syringes instead of 1 6mg syringe.

Thanks though. I'll ask BobP

SeanM

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by Mark C on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 7:00pm

Hi Sean,
I have been lucky enough to get both the STATdose autoinjector and single use 6mg vials. I am able to take a standard U-100 syringe and draw either 2 or 3 mg instead of 6 from the single vials. That way I can us it several times a day and still not exceed the recommended dosage of 12 mg in 24 hours. I still carry a loaded Statdose pen with me every where.....just in case.
PFDAN,s
Mark

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by ComputerGeek on Jan 22^nd, 2003, 7:29pm

Mark,

how did you get imitrex in vials? I asked my pharmacist and he said that they aren't availble. I've had to push and prod in the past to get what I needed from the pharmacy and will do so again if I have to.

Pat

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by jmorgan52 on Jan 23^rd, 2003, 8:08am

even if the dose per shot was reduced I very much doubt it would have much impact on price by more than a few %. This is aparent when looking at costing of other drugs which are available in different dose sizes (like imigran tabs over here which are nearly the same price whatever size you are prescribed) most of the cost is to recover the huge research and development outlay (and profits!). The most expensive part of the imigran/imitrex injection is probably the elaborate (but very neccesary for user friendliness) packaging.

John

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by Bob P on Jan 23^rd, 2003, 9:05am

Yep. I talked to Glaxo about producing a 2 or 3 mg injection for us clusterheads. They just said they had no plans to change the dosing and sent me this stuff:

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/medications/imitrex1.htm

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by ozzman on Jan 23^rd, 2003, 3:33pm

I thought everyone would find this interesting, basically an article about Glaxo and them shipping drugs to Canada:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/5004005.htm

Ozzy

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by Mark C on Jan 23^rd, 2003, 5:37pm

Hey Pat.....
Poke him a litttle harder....

HOW SUPPLIED: IMITREX Injection 6 mg (12 mg/mL) containing sumatriptan (base) as the
succinate salt is supplied as a clear, colorless to pale yellow, sterile, nonpyrogenic solution as
follows:
(NDC 0173-0479-00) IMITREX STATdose System ® containing 2 prefilled single-dose syringe
cartridges, 1 IMITREX STATdose Pen ® , and instructions for use.
(NDC 0173-0478-00) IMITREX Injection cartridge pack containing 2 prefilled syringe
cartridges for refill of IMITREX STATdose System only.
(NDC 0173-0449-01) Unit-of-use syringe (0.5 mL in 1 mL) in cartons of 2 syringes. Not for use
with IMITREX STATdose System.
(NDC 0173-0449-02) 6-mg Single-dose vials (0.5 mL in 2 mL) in cartons of 5 vials.

http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_imitrex_injection.pdf

The last one is the one I was refering to. I like the idea of the pre-filled syringes but I can do that on my own and be ready for the next battle. I attached the link from Glaxo that contains the above information and just about everything else about Imitrex. Print it and take it to you Pharmacist, the stock numbers are included and should make ordering it easy. Good luck and keep at it!
PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Glaxo and imitrex
Post by ComputerGeek on Jan 27^th, 2003, 7:48pm

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the info! I've got my prod stick out and am looking forward to using it.

Pat