The price of Imitrex almost caused me to get a migraine

[flamingyouth]

Holy cripes, almost $49 for six pills (with my "generous" 50% insurance co-pay)?!?!?!?

My doctor gave me four samples last week and I took all of them. But now that both my husband's birthday and the first-month anniversary of his death have passed, I feel better and my head seems to be behaving. Still, my doctor told me that I need to have some Imitrex on hand.

I cannot believe the price of it - it is an absolute outrage. And to think that a lot of that money is being funneled to repuke candidates just pisses me off further (must not develop another migraine...argh...).

And you know what really added insult to injury? While I was standing in line waiting for my meds I was forced to listen to a Muzak version of "Love Is Like Oxygen" by Sweet. A lesser woman would have just collapsed right there, but I'm proud to say that I stood up to the challenge, got my drugs, came home...

...and poured a glass of white wine.:D

[GOPisEvil]

1. Holy shit!

The price of pharmaceuticals is out of hand!

Muzak versions of Sweet is proof of the apocalypse, is it not?

You deserve a glass of wine for putting up with that crap. Bottoms up!

[flamingyouth]

4. Yeah, that song was today's sign of the impending apocalypse

What does it say about me that on some level I found that more disturbing than the actual cost of the drugs?:shrug:

[GOPisEvil]

5. You expect a reaming at the hands of big Pharma.

Sweet on Muzak is totally unexpected.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. $41.69 for a 7 day supply of Nexium

I don't have insurance, so i doubt I'll even be able to take Nexium, b/c $160 a month for acid reflux isn't something I can really afford right now, as an unemployed student.

[flamingyouth]

6. Bless your heart

My dad has horrid acid reflux, and Nexium really helps him.

I'm constantly writing my senators and representative for better health care. I think they mean well and do want to make changes (my congressman is Jim McDermott), but we're up against a huge money-making, greedy, slobbering machine in Washington. It's a crime.

I'm sorry for your physical suffering. It's not right.:(

[livetohike]

3. Glad that the Imitrex works for you

I do the injectable kind. It does cost a lot, but before Imitrex I would end up in the ER for relief (morphine).

"Love is Like Oxygen" would be enough to start a migraine, lol.

[belladonna]

7. Imitrex isn't worth THAT much

I used Midrin for years and it worked great for me. My doc insisted that I should go on Imitrex, so I tried it out.... more expensive, not much better than Midrin. Ever tried Midrin? :shrug:

[flamingyouth]

9. No - I haven't, actually

I'm rather new to this "needing a prescription drug for migraine" thing. I've been taking Tramadol for pain, but it knocks me out like a sledgehammer, and she recommended Imitrex, which really does help me.

Thank you for this. I wrote down the name of this drug and I'll ask her about it. I have to go see her next week for a check-up. Thanks again. I really appreciate it!:hi:

[unblock]

10. midrin is crap

triptans are the only things that actually make the migraine go away. fortunately, now there are alternatives (other triptans) to imitrex.

[flamingyouth]

12. If it's cheap, I'll give it a try

Does it make you sleepy?

[unblock]

14. it didn't make ME drowsy, but your mileage may vary

[flamingyouth]

16. It probably won't with me either

:hi:

[belladonna]

17. And Imitrex doesn't do crap unless you take it fast enough

When I took Midrin and felt a migraine coming on at work, at least I knew I could go home and take it and get some relief. Not so with the Imitrex.

[flamingyouth]

19. Oh yeah, I agree

You have to take the Imitrex right away. So I've been keeping it in my purse and at work. As soon as I start to get the flashing feeling and the ache in the back of my head, I take it. After that, you might as well not bother (and at almost $20 a pill....don't take it unless you absolutely know it's doing to work!!!)

[unblock]

8. before the tablets came out, it was $80 for 2 injections

and it often takes 2 injections for 1 migraine.

careful with the wine -- grape skin contains a potent migraine trigger. at least you're not drinking red wine!

[flamingyouth]

11. LOL - I know, no red wine

And it was just one glass.

I needed it to take the edge of the Sweet trauma - tell me, where did they go so wrong after Desolation Boulevard?

[Dookus]

13. damn....

I posted here a few months ago: my very elderly neighbor across the street needed a hip replacement. He asked me to go to the pharmacy and pick up some antibiotics he needed to take before the surgery. I went to the drugstore, with his insurance card, to pick up the prescription (Cipro).

He gave me 20 bucks to cover the cost.

It cost $154.

He was a career military man. Ain't it great how we treat our vets?

[flamingyouth]

15. It pisses me off so much

I volunteer for a grant-making organization where we accept applications for annual grants. Well, as you can imagine, we get LOTS of needy applicants.

This year we funded a mobile dental van because Medicare doesn't cover root canals or crowns, and Medicaid doesn't cover any dental work! It infuriates me! How can we allow people, like your dear elderly neighbor (and bless your sweet heart for taking care of him like you do...), to suffer like this? It's inhumane and sick. Veterans, of all people, need to be taken care of for life.

[MuseRider]

18. If you want some

info on how to do biofeedback PM me. I can tell you what to do and since you already meditate (you did say that didn't you?) you should be able to help yourself at least a little. That is an outrageous price to pay but with a migraine anyone would pay it. Seriously, I can tell you the steps and perhaps you can teach yourself.

[flamingyouth]

20. I'd love the help

And I'm going to PM you. Thanks.:hi:

Might I take this chance to add how nice people on DU are? I just can't get over how wonderful people have been to me lately. You've all touched my heart so much.:hug:

[unblock]

21. ask your doctor about singular 30mg daily and petadolex

singulair is an asthma med, i have no idea what the mechanism is, but it's cut the severity of my migraines quite a bit. petadolex, i just started, but also seems to be helping.