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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Imitrex & Insurance
        
(Message started by: Diane_W. on Aug 13^th, 2004, 12:14pm)

Title: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by Diane_W. on Aug 13^th, 2004, 12:14pm

Hello
Thanks to this wonderful site I have learned a great deal about clusters and how to treat them. I have suffered for 28 yrs and never knew anyone else who has them. Because of this site I asked for a prescription of Imitrex nasal spray and WOW what a relief, it worked in approx 5 min!! It was like a magic potion to me, however...........my prescription was only for 6 sprays and my insurance will only allow a refill every 28 days. Does anyone else have this problem?
I went on the Imitrex web site last night and emailed them about my problem, this morning I got a response telling me about a GlaxoSmithKline Reimbursemnet Resource Center that assists patients and healthcare pros with coverage, reimbursement, and billing issues. The woman I talked to was very nice and started a case for me. She said she would have an answer for me by this afternoon. If any one is interested the # is 1-800-745-2967.
Does anyone have other suggestions and what do you do about your prescriptions???

Diane

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by Lizzie2 on Aug 13^th, 2004, 12:38pm

Hi first step is that you need to get your doctor to write for more than 6 nasal sprays/month!! Then what you do if the insurance company won't pay for more than 6, you have to get it prior authorized by the doctor's office most times. Usually just takes a letter of medical necessity. Most insurance companies will then allow it. The first step would be to get your doctor to write for more than 6/month though!

Let us know how it goes :)

Lizzie :)

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by E-Double on Aug 13^th, 2004, 12:39pm

A decent doc. might just stock pile ya with Freebies for your battle.
Cause we all know that what insurance provides still doesn't touch what we unfortunately need.

Or open your wallet further than it should be.

Darn sin!

Glad you are getting relief!!!& welcome.

Eric

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by Diane_W. on Aug 13^th, 2004, 1:33pm

Thanks for the info...
Does everyone have this problem with the qty??
My insurance only allows 6 nasal sprays/mo regardless of amount prescribed. I'm working with the doc for that release.
I was also prescribed the prednisone taper but I'm afraid to use it. I'm on lithium now but so far its not helping (been on it 3 weeks) it did work on the last cycle though.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 13^th, 2004, 1:36pm

on 08/13/04 at 12:39:24, E-Double wrote:

A decent doc. might just stock pile ya with Freebies for your battle.

That's how I get my entire arsenal.

UNsolved

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by Lizzie2 on Aug 13^th, 2004, 2:12pm

Diane,

Why are you afraid to take the steroid? Just curious.

Also, my doc prescribes 18Amerge tabs a month. My insurance only allowed for 9 tabs /month regardless of what was prescribed, like you say. But they sent a letter of medical necessity in and I got coverage for the whole script. That's kinda what I meant. Gotta start with the doc and go from there!

Lizzie :)

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by Diane_W. on Aug 13^th, 2004, 2:48pm

working on the letter......as for the prednisone, heard about a lot of side effects :o is it worth it?

Di

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 13^th, 2004, 3:12pm

IMHO, It's worth it when you need a break from the constant headaches !!

Prednisone may give you temporary relief from headaches. It works for me everytime (all steriods do)

Side effects start on you after a few days. (Usually weight gain and heartburn, for me) You don't want to be on it for too long. I usually take it for 7 - 12 days at a time.

PS. I eat LOTS of COOKIES 2 during the taper period ! [smiley=laugh.gif]

Unsolved

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by E-Double on Aug 13^th, 2004, 4:00pm

Quote:

Side effects start on you after a few days. (Usually weight gain and heartburn, for me) You don't want to be on it for too long. I usually take it for 7 - 12 days at a time.

King of meds:
Have you taken (i'm sure you have but figured I'd ask so that it might help someone else)
Prilosec when starting your taper?
That helped my heartburn immensely.

Made eating all the goodies alot easier ;)

Eric

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by IndianaJohn on Aug 13^th, 2004, 4:18pm

I always have a tough time with my insurance co. about the qty. All it took to get mine was the doctor to fax a form to get the correct amount.

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 13^th, 2004, 4:49pm

on 08/13/04 at 16:00:46, E-Double wrote:

Have you taken (i'm sure you have but figured I'd ask so that it might help someone else)
Prilosec when starting your taper?
That helped my heartburn immensely.

Yes...i've used all the heartburn meds too. Prilosec and Prevacid works sometimes. Depends on how much steriods I'm on. Seems to me that Dex Packs make me have the worst heartburn. Prednisone and Medrol Dose Packs are a little easier on my stomach.
Zantac 75's also work sometimes, but takes awhile to kick in. Tums (2 - 4 at a time) only work for a few minutes.

Unsolved

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by Lizzie2 on Aug 13^th, 2004, 4:53pm

Have you tried the Nexium, Michael? Prilosec quit working for me last year and I got on nexium...it has made a world of difference most of the time!

Lizzie :)

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 13^th, 2004, 5:09pm

on 08/13/04 at 16:53:45, Lizzie2 wrote:

Have you tried the Nexium, Michael?

Yes .. it's been a long time tho. Currently only have Protonix and Zantac 75's and I just got a '7 day sample' of Prevacid.
I'm not on any steriods at this time tho ~ so, NO heartburn !! ;;D

Unsolved

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by Superpain on Aug 13^th, 2004, 6:31pm

on 08/13/04 at 13:33:58, Diane_W. wrote:

I don't have any problems with insurance companies!
Mainly cuz I don't have one... :(
It's all out of pocket for me, but I don't care. It takes me about 4-5 hrs to make enough money for a statdose refill, and that's a bargain compared to suffering!

TAKE THE PREDNISONE!!!
The worst side effect I had was breaking out with acne all over my chest and neck. I got a little bloated... But that's about the worst of it. The acne thing is relatively rare from what I've read...
The worst thing that could happen is that it won't work. But you'd be in the minority if it fails...
That stuff kicks some beast ass!
It knocked out 90% of my headaches in about 12 hrs!

Do yourself a favor and try it!

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by ex_pat_asia on Aug 13^th, 2004, 11:27pm

on 08/13/04 at 18:31:24, Superpain wrote:

TAKE THE PREDNISONE!!!

Do yourself a favor and try it!

Diane, Double ditto on Superpain and Unsolved and their urging you to go ahead with the Prednisone. Steriods have recently broken the relentless episode I was in and though I have had more attacks since starting the taper thay are not as frequent nor as intense. I think you owe it to yourself to give it a go. Incidentally, it is fine in combo with Lithium or Verapmil, but all three may not be a good choice. This Doc's web page has a pretty nice summary:
http://www.headachedrugs.com/archives/preventivemeds.html

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by Tiannia on Aug 13^th, 2004, 11:36pm

Have your doc write a script that does not say as needed. That you and a medical need to have more then 6 per month. That will help. Then also... get a script for a different type of trex. I had luck with my insurance that I can fill my MS every 28 days and my tabs every 2 weeks. That helps to fill in between. Problem with the tabs is that they a long time. So if you do use them then early. And I hate doing that cause if it is a mild hit them I have wasted a tab. but it is better then nothing.

PF Wishes my friend...
-Tia

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 13^th, 2004, 11:56pm

on 08/13/04 at 23:27:00, ex_pat_asia wrote:

it is fine in combo with Lithium or Verapmil, but all three may not be a good choice. This Doc's web page has a pretty nice summary:
http://www.headachedrugs.com/archives/preventivemeds.html

It would be fine to do a combo of Prednisone, Verapamil, and Lithium. Sounds like a good idea.
The doc would just have to moniter the dosages. Too much of any of these is not good.
This combo may help !

Unsolved

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by ex_pat_asia on Aug 14^th, 2004, 5:22am

on 08/13/04 at 23:56:20, UN_SOLVED wrote:

I suspect you are right. However the site I linked suggest combining two of the first line drugs (on which all three appear as recommended). Goes like this:
First line preventive approaches for episodic cluster include: cortisone, verapamil, lithium and polypharmacy (combining two first line medications).

In simple speak he is saying that its ok to combine two of the drugs. However, I remmeber that years ago I was on all three at once, by a Dr.'s Rx so there must be no hard and fast rule. I have not seen any contraindication for the three in combo (other than the normal side effect warnings accompanying each). The interesting thing for me personally is that the cocktail back then (about 14 years ago as I recall) had no apparent effect. After several weeks I continued to have the headache attacks on roughly the same rate and intensity. For the duration of that cycle I stayed focused on aborting the headaches which seemed pretty handily done at the time with sansert (ergot). This recent reintro of verapamil with a steriod taper has worked unbelieveably well, though with only one week into it I am told the Verapamil has likely not had time to do its work yet and I may simply be responding well to the steriods.Incidentally, I do not have the appetite many report when taking steriod. I am using betamethasone. But the appetite has been sufficiently suppressed by the almost intractable constipation which is likely a side affect of the verapamil. Hard to be hungry when your plumbing is not as efficient as usual. I am taking care of that but I haven't felt any hungrier. I have felt more energetic however, in spite of fairly pronounced sleep loss from nightime attacks. That paradox is a bit worrisome, as I should feel more tired. Not complaining, other then to recognize that it isn't natural. Sheesh...nothing is natural when you are in the grips aye?

Title: Re: Imitrex & Insurance
Post by UN_SOLVED on Aug 14^th, 2004, 12:03pm

The constipation can be caused by the steriods too. (very likely)

Unsolved