Migraine

Hi, all! Does anyone have any fabulous tips about getting Imitrex injections at a reduced cost? My insurance is VERY poor and I have to pay close to $300 each month for it. Any suggestions would be terrific!
jenny

How many injections does your insurance give you per month for that $300? Depending on your answer, we may be able to give you some resources, or help with getting- at least more for that price...if not help with the financial cost totally!

Hi Jenny

This site may be of help to you. www.pparx.org
Partnership of Prescripton Assistance.

Thanks, ladies!

Jamie--I get 4 packs (a total of 8 doses) for that price.

Nancy--I'll definitely check that site out!

My problem is that I MUST have the injectible Imitrex, as I start throwing up just as my aura begins--No time to take a pill!! (Wish I could, it'd be a lot cheaper!)

Does anyone know if there will be a generic form of the Imitrex injection anytime soon?

jenny

Nancy,

Patient assistance programs don't cover people who have insurance.

quote:

Originally posted by Nancy Bonk:
Hi Jenny

This site may be of help to you. www.pparx.org
Partnership of Prescripton Assistance.

Jenny,

Unfortunately, right now, Imitrex injections are expensive. Your insurance copay is pretty high though at about 50%. The average retail price for one pack of two injections is about $140.

Supposedly, a generic sumatriptan injection will be out by the end of the year. The patent expired in December, 2006. I've been amazed that there isn't one available already. Two companies have tentative FDA approval, but none have final approval yet. Don't know what the hold up is.

Oh, and pparx.org isn't going to have any help on this since you have insurance. Sorry.

quote:

Originally posted by jennyc:
Thanks, ladies!

Jamie--I get 4 packs (a total of 8 doses) for that price.

Nancy--I'll definitely check that site out!

My problem is that I MUST have the injectible Imitrex, as I start throwing up just as my aura begins--No time to take a pill!! (Wish I could, it'd be a lot cheaper!)

Does anyone know if there will be a generic form of the Imitrex injection anytime soon?

jenny

Have you tried Imitrex NS. It's the nasal spray. It does a good job for me. I usually don't have nausea, but the nasal spray gets absorbed even if I'm throwing up. My insurance pays for 6 doses a month. Sometimes, I pay about $125 for an additional 6 doses.

The NS can leave a nasty taste in the back of your mouth, but a peppermint drop or lemon drop takes care of that. A little bad taste (which goes away in about 45 minutes) is well worth the relief.

Ask your pharmacist whether you can get two different forms of Imitrex. I asked mine, and he said he'd never seen it, so he didn't know. I do know that my insurance also pays for Relpax and Frova in addition to the Imitrex. I use the Relpax for mild migraine attacks and for pain I can't tell whether it's tension-type headache or migraine. Frova for prevention when the weather is about to change.

I'm post-menopausal (yay!), so I don't have to worry about menstrual migraines anymore.

Hang in there!

Gretchen

quote:

Originally posted by Teri Robert:
Jenny,

Unfortunately, right now, Imitrex injections are expensive. Your insurance copay is pretty high though at about 50%. The average retail price for one pack of two injections is about $140.

Supposedly, a generic sumatriptan injection will be out by the end of the year. The patent expired in December, 2006. I've been amazed that there isn't one available already. Two companies have tentative FDA approval, but none have final approval yet. Don't know what the hold up is.

YAY!! The injections are the only thing that works for my acute attacks and stingy CIGNA only allows me 2 packs every 25 days. Plus, my insurance is changing from co-pays to co-insurance in January, which means a huge increase in my prescription costs. I just hope that generic works as well.

JeanBean, that is a ridiculous co-pay. The nasal spray may be worth a try.

Robin

A long time ago I visited some website for cluster headache sufferers, and I do remember them describing this crazy and complicated way in which they actually disasseble the auto injector and stuff like that because of insurance, but it just did not seem worth it.
The nasal spray should be quick.

Teri-

Brain fog, sorry about that!! A big DUH everyone!

quote:

Originally posted by Teri Robert:
Nancy,

Patient assistance programs don't cover people who have insurance.

quote:

Originally posted by Nancy Bonk:
Hi Jenny

This site may be of help to you. www.pparx.org
Partnership of Prescripton Assistance.