Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> $$$
        
(Message started by: jmc1106 on Oct 14^th, 2003, 9:03am)

Title: $$$
Post by jmc1106 on Oct 14^th, 2003, 9:03am

Just trying to prepare myself for what may be coming, financially...can anyone tell me the cost of Imitrex injections? Also, how does a person get set up for oxygen therapy? Do you have to buy an oxygen tank? Do you rent them? My husband is episodic, so I don't know how practical this is. Thanks so much for your help.

Jan

Title: Re: $$$
Post by Bob P on Oct 14^th, 2003, 9:15am

Last time I looked Trex was about $75 per injection in the US.
The Dr. should prescribe O2. A medical supply company will then deliver the bottles and make weekly visits to trade empties for full tanks.

Title: Re: $$$
Post by jmc1106 on Oct 14^th, 2003, 9:20am

Ouch! We don't have prescription drug coverage. Can anyone tell me what the O2 is likely to cost, and how long a bottle might last with 1-2 clusters a night?

Jan

Title: Re: $$$
Post by maggie_may on Oct 14^th, 2003, 11:10am

I live in New Jersey and fill my trex injections at Walgreens. I just picked up some. The full price was close to $800 for 6 boxes or 12 shots (making it about $66 each). My insurance covered it though - my copay was only $15. Then again, I can only fill this script once every 6 months....

maggie

Title: Re: $$$
Post by clavers on Oct 14^th, 2003, 11:26am

I pay for the E tanks myself and they are $11.50 each. The regulator that is needed to work the thing is over
$100, but I don't remember how much. It is good forever. You might also want a cart to roll the tank around. The whole outfit isn't too expensive.
A tank last me anywhere from three days to two weeks depending on how much I need it. It largely depends on the barameter and how many weather fronts are coming in. Two headaches a night should see you through five or six days.

Title: Re: $$$
Post by jmc1106 on Oct 14^th, 2003, 1:24pm

Thanks so much! I will ask the doctor if she will consider trying the oxygen--if we can use the regulator indefinitely, it would definitely be worth the investment. Yikes, I think the Imitrex will be a last resort!

Jan

Title: Re: $$$
Post by FrankF on Oct 14^th, 2003, 8:14pm

There are a few ways to reduce the cost of Imitrex. First... there is the "Imitrex Tip" http://www.clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/boardleft.html which involves splitting a regular dose in half or in thirds. It seems to work for many people here (half a dose for me).
Second... most doctors get free Imitrex samples and will pass them on to you if you ask. As long as you don't ask for too many too often they should help out.
Third, Glaxo has a $60 savings offer on their website at http://www.migrainehelp.com/?a=105 Sign up and you'll get six $10 off coupons. Check the "I do not take any medicine for migraine" box and they will also send a coupon for free Imitrex tablets.
And fourth, if your income is too low to afford Imitrex altogether, Glaxo has a "Patient Assistance Program" http://bridgestoaccess.gsk.com/ that will give you free Imitrex for a period of time if you qualify.

Title: Re: $$$
Post by jmc1106 on Oct 15^th, 2003, 4:16pm

Thanks for the helpful advice! We were back at the doctor this morning...last night was the worst yet. I was impressed...she took us seriously, and gave us a couple of the Imitrex injections to try. I don't know if I'm up to trying the dose-splitting tip just yet...I think I'll just try and get through loading the thing up and using it correctly. I printed out the results of the medication survey, and the doctor was great about it. We are going to try the Prednisone and see if it aborts the cycle.

Special thanks to Frank...I just finished signing up with Glaxo for some coupons.

BTW, if anyone is keeping track, it looks like $73 is the cost of the STATdose refill, which has TWO 6 mg cartridges. Still expensive, but better than $73 for one dose.

Title: Re: $$$
Post by vig on Oct 15^th, 2003, 4:20pm

walgreens here wanted $270 for 4 injections.

Title: Re: $$$
Post by Prense on Oct 15^th, 2003, 6:51pm

on 10/15/03 at 16:16:20, jmc1106 wrote:

BTW, if anyone is keeping track, it looks like $73 is the cost of the STATdose refill, which has TWO 6 mg cartridges. Still expensive, but better than $73 for one dose.

If he's lucky, he can get 6 treatments from the two refills. Check out the imitrex tip link on the left.