My local CVS just started carrying the generic injectors. 2 6mg shots and the injector kit for $10. That is badass. No more $60 aborts. Of course that is AFTER O2 has failed twice, which has yet to happen.

Very kewl!

WOW!!!!!!!!! That opens up doors to a whole lotta people who are un or under insured. Great news!! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Joe

Is the $10.00 a co-pay?

I just asked my pharmacist about what was available (all forms, pills, NS, auto-injects and vials), but she told me on the stat-dose cartridges, the price was only $25.00 less than the price of brand name imitrex. She also said the longer it is out, the lower the price will become.

Has anyone else bought any generic yet?

I bought it-  I am stockpiling  :)   My copay was 20

i live in las vegas and i paid $178 for the generic (imitrex goes for $225), 2 6mg shots, does anyone know if its less in other parts of the country, or any reputible web sites i can order from at a better price? i don't have insurance, but i need the imitrex...

Yes the $10 was a co-pay. I should have mentioned that, sorry. Here in west Texas the Imitrex name brand with insurance, the co-pay was $60. CVS is the pharmacy I use. Don't know if that makes a difference. I use Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for insurance.

Dear Clusterville:

I am the proud owner of a box of:

Sumatriptan Succinate Injection
6 mg sumatriptan/0.5 mL
For subcutaneous injection only.
Single-dose vial. Discard unused portion.

5 Single-Dose Vials  Rx only
SANDOZ

NDC 0781-3174-14

The size and packaging is nearly identical to Imitrex, only made by Sandoz and only labeled with the generic name.  Instead of $300 or so for the name brand, this is about half the price.  Check it out at your local chain, mine is CVS and they could order it in.

Wooo Hooo!

Ray

Shameless Bump

The generic (for either the 4 ml or 6 ml) runs $10 for the co-pay; the name-brand is $20 for the co-pay through my insurance.Right now they will only cover 2 boxes per month, but the docs office is hopefully getting them to up the amount.

Hi! Being recently diagnosed with CH my neurologist gave me a script for the injections when I filled them at Rite-aid they gave me the generic brand. It looks exactly like the Imitrex one the doctor gave me. I actually got 3 kits (6 doses) on January 1st. I'm picking up a refill today. Does the pharmacy limit how many you can fill? Does it go per month?
Rite-aid also lists the actual price  ($556) and what I pay ($5 copay).

Hi! Being recently diagnosed with CH my neurologist gave me a script for the injections when I filled them at Rite-aid they gave me the generic brand. It looks exactly like the Imitrex one the doctor gave me. I actually got 3 kits (6 doses) on January 1st. I'm picking up a refill today. Does the pharmacy limit how many you can fill? Does it go per month?
Rite-aid also lists the actual price  ($556) and what I pay ($5 copay).

I was just on with my pharmacy, and it seems it goes by what they find the Rx should last you.  For mine, I can't refill it (four shots worth) for a month.  I'm not too clear if that's due to how the script was written, their rules and regulations, or my insurance.  The six nasal sprays, I have to wait six days for that to be refillable.  <shrug>  Still trying to understand it.

One question: does the generic refill (the filled syringe thing) fit the brand-name Imitrex statdose kit, or do you need to ensure you have the generic brand's kit for the generic brand's injection refills?

Here's another bonus! The generic imitrex refills work with the name brand kits. The pharmacy was out so I called the neurologist and he gave me a refill to get me through, and I had a generic pen and used it with the imitrex refill. When I refill my script they give me 3 new kits (6 doses) not just the refills.

Maybe it is how the doctor writes out the script because I don't have any restrictions per month or whatever. He also mentioned when he wrote it that I may not be able to get 6 doses that it is usually restricted to 4 doses. I guess I got lucky with my insurance?

Tracey, you should thank your stars for having such an awesome insurance company!  I was on the phone with mine yesterday - the story is they'll only cover me for four shots (two boxes) per month, unless my doctor calls them and pleads my case, they may give me more.  Such a mess!  

But it is good to know the generic refills fit the name-brand pen-injector!

Edited to add: after my doctor talked to my insurance company, they approved me for up to five boxes (10 doses) per month for the next three months.  They (i.e., the insurance company) said that as I was diagnosed with cluster headaches, I could get approved for as many as 15 boxes (30 doses) per month if need be!  It pays to have your doctor plead your case!

Generic nasal sprays works for me and saves me 15 bux.
As for refills.
Here's what i had to do.
I just called my insurance company, they faxed my Doc the appropriate forms. Had my doc then send over the info to them to get a "Prior authorisation" for Imatrex (needed for more than once a month refill). They Ok'd me to have as many refills i need for a year.
Then I had to have my Neuro call the Pharmacist and explain why to fill as many as I need.
The Pharmacist was an ass but now he's fine with it. Took about a week but now I can refill my Rx when I need to.
I guess it boils down to having doc's fight for you.

DeStijl wrote on Jan 12^th, 2009 at 4:20pm:

My local CVS just started carrying the generic injectors. 2 6mg shots and the injector kit for $10. That is badass. No more $60 aborts. Of course that is AFTER O2 has failed twice, which has yet to happen. Very kewl!

I have a HRA for insurance so the actual cost gets deducted not a copay... I wonder what that total cost is.

I just entered into new CH episodes on Jan 26th after 4-1/3 years in remission.  What a PITA since I thought I was done with them and I always got it every 1 to 1-1/2 years apart.

My Dr prescibed Suma 100 tabs and the 6mg injectibles, but only 2 of them (4 shots) for a 30 day pepriod.  I went through them fast and the ins co said that's all I could get.

So, my Dr (and I) both called the ins co and pleaded. I was able to get 3 refills (6 shots) with a 6 day supply stated and 1 refill of the prescription.

Well, it's 7 days later and I just tried to refill since I'm going out of the country next week, and can't see going without them.  The ins co rejected the refill!!!!  What idiots!

I'm now waiting for CVS to call me back since they're calling the ins co to try to help me get them under ins.  If not, I will definitelly have to get them anyway which will set me back about $500 for the refill, or only $10 if it's covered by ins.

Well, very good news!

My CVS pharmacist went to bat for me and called the ins co.   She got the refill approved under the ins!

I just picked up 3 refills (6 shots) for $10 co-pay.  The ins co paid $429.12!

Now I can go out of the country next week in peace.  I have 9 shots left, and about 50 Suma 100mg tabs.  Since I'm away for 17 days, I still hope that's enough since my hits are multiple times a day now, and especially at night.

Of course, I still need to make it through Thurday when I depart  :-/

I just had some refills and the generic pill, injectable and nasal spray are now open to me.  The only problem is that my HRA is billed MORE for the generic at a local pharmacy (Walgreens).  However if I set-up a mail order service for these prescriptions it will save me over $100 each compared to the Imitrex.

i just got 12 shots of .6 for 10 bucks....says on the reciept insurance saved me 1100 bucks

i just filled 6 boxes 12 shots and 180 verapamil 120mg at local hospital pharmacy and i paid 24 bucks. i got the generic kits. the ticket said i saved 590 bucks on the imatrex and 300 on the verapamil