For those who take Migraine medicine

[sunlver]

For those who take prescription Migraine medicine, do they limit how many refills you can get? Do you think it has to due with the price of the medicine?
In May I went to the dr for migraines, she gave me a prescription for Imitrex. It has become such the lifesaver for me. I no longer have 2 day long headaches anymore. Anyways, the prescription has only 9 pills per pack,a nd I only got a 3 month prescription. I was wondering why they limit them? I hope I can just call up when my last prescription is running out and she will call in more.
I know Migraine meds are not a narcotic, so I cant figure out why there would be a limit on them. I know my copay is 30$, but the retail is like 209$ for 9 pills.
ANybody have any insight on this?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I used to be able to get 12 Maxalt a month, but now I can only get 9 a month. It's due to the expense. If I'm having a normal or good month, that is plenty, but in a bad week I can go through several doses (3-4, easily). If I have a couple bad weeks a month, that's my meds for the month.

 

[Horseshoes]

I also take Maxalt and I only get 9 pills per prescription.

It "may" last me 2 months, if I am lucky, I am just afraid that one day the insurance will deny me them because I've filled up too many times.

I asked the pharmacist if 10mg was the highest because I would have asked to switch to the higer dose and then cut it in half, but 10 mg is the highest.

 

[Barb D]

My doctor recommended that I refill them every month whether I need them or not, so that I have a stockpile for when I need more in a month. Unfortunately, I've had so many migraines in the last few months that I go through them too fast.

I just started on a muscle relaxer that I take every night to try to get a grip on the neck pain that I know is triggering many of my migraines. After two weeks on this I may be starting on a daily migraine preventive med (Depakote.)

 

[sunlver]

So when you run out, is your dr ok with just calling in another refill for you?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

So when you run out, is your dr ok with just calling in another refill for you?

When I'm out of refills, I still call the refill in with a few days to spare and the pharmacy (grocery store, in my case) calls the dr and gets the refill). You can ask your dr for more refills or is that determined by your Rx drug plan?

Barb, I think that hormonal changes have triggered a lot of my migraines, but I also have suspected neck pain. Sometimes I'm not sure if the neck pain is causing the migraines or if my neck tenses up and starts hurting after I get a migraine. How did you determine that your neck pain was causing your migraines?

 

[candykisses]

I take Imitrex and my script is for 9 tabs, 100mg. It has 3 refills within the next year. It has nothing to do with my insurance.

 

[sunlver]

I take Imitrex and my script is for 9 tabs, 100mg. It has 3 refills within the next year. It has nothing to do with my insurance.

You mean you only get 3 refills for the whole year????? What if you need more?

 

[Horseshoes]

You mean you only get 3 refills for the whole year????? What if you need more?

She may be allowed 3 refills before having to call the doctor again for more. Sometimes its the MDs way of monitering how often you are refilling.

My MD originally gave me 3 refills, now he gives me none, I have to call each time to refill.

 

[MsLeFever]

I've got Relpax - but I only get 4 pills at a time, with one refill.

 

[mum4jenn]

I take Relpax and the Dr did not put how many so when the Pharmacy could not reach him they filled it for 16 I think. If I need anymore I will have to get the Dr to fill out a prescription for mail order. I have not had nearly as many migraines since I started on BP medicine so I have not had the need for the newer refill method. My GP will be writing this prescription instead of the neurologist so I have no idea how he will write it. I would imagine he will write it for a 6 month supply and then he will re-evaluate me.

 

[2bemarried]

Yes, each doctor is required to monitor how often a migrainer is having to take medications. By reducing your number of refills they can track how often you're taking them.

I think it's funny that I work for the company that makes Imitrex yet I still have to go see my doc once a year before I'm given another years worth of refills.

 

[Poohnatic]

I take the injectible Imitrex and my refills are two doses per rx! Thankfully, I'm down from 3-4 migraines a week (at the worst) to probably 4 migraines a year.

Suzanne

 

[barkley]

i've got 4 different migrane meds (use depends on severity and type)-3 of which are deemed 'controlled substances' by the f.d.a.-so i can't ever get re-fills via call in, they require a special perscription that has to be filled w/in 7 days, list a bunch of specific info....since one is not covered by insurance the only limitation on refills is via my md or neurologist, the other one they can limit but my insurance company also has a limitation on how many they will pay for over a months time.

at one point in time i was on a non controlled med that worked fairly well (at least it kept me out of the e/r) and my insurance company balked at doing refills as often as i or my md wanted. the md made a call to the insurance company and pointed out the reduction in md appointments/er trips while i'de been on the meds and the cost savings to the insurance company. within 48 hours the insurance company gave approval for the md to issue the perscription in the amount he deemed appropriate

 

[Tigger&Belle]

i've got 4 different migrane meds (use depends on severity and type

I first read this that you "use depends" as in Depends Underwear... I know when I have a migraine I feel like throwing up, but I've never felt that I was going to lose bladder control!

 

[Tuffcookie]

I take both oral Maxalt (10 mg) and injectable Imitrex, for when the Maxalt won't kick in. With the injectable Imitrex, I can give myself a shot in the arm and be migraine free in 10 minutes!!! Of course, they are a lot more expensive than the Maxalt oral tablets. I think it's a shame you can only get 9 tablets at a time. Like someone else said, if you're having a bad week you can go thru those pretty quick. And the injectable Imitrex...only 2 doses per refill . I guess I should just be glad I have prescription insurance which pays a majority of the bill. I'd hate to be without it and have to foot the bill entirely.
When I'm getting ready to go out of town I stockpile my migraine meds.

TC

 

[bavaria]

From age 6 to age 14 I really suffered with migraines; at least one a week with tingling finger, then full aura, then 24 hours of vomiting and pain.

Interestingly, I was on Topamax ('stupid pills') for other reasons for a year; when I went off it recently my migraines came back with a vengeance. Now I see Topamax being prescribed for migraines, but it is really a vicious drug. We were comparing notes on another thread and it's scary the impact it can have.

While in Germany a few weeks ago I asked and was given some 'super' migraine medicine - looks like it's just ibuprofen and caffeine so I am highly disappointed.

My new remedy BTW as soon as my finger starts to tingle is 4 cups of coffee and a half bar of Lindt dark chocolate, followed by naproxen and a dark room. I'm just not willing to go back on Topamax again any time soon....

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Bavaria, as much as I hated my Topamax (Stupidmax) when I first started taking it (could hardly remember my own name, much less anything else and am still having some short term memory problems), I love the lack of appetite. I've lost 10 pounds and when I went off of it temporarily due to insurance problems, I went back on it as soon as possible. I don't think I'll be on it much longer since I don't really think it's helping the migraines, but who cares, it's almost gotten me to my target weight, if I can just stay there!

 

[Barb D]

...I was on Topamax ('stupid pills') for other reasons for a year; when I went off it recently my migraines came back with a vengeance. Now I see Topamax being prescribed for migraines, but it is really a vicious drug. .... I'm just not willing to go back on Topamax again any time soon....

My neurologist was discussing the various migraine preventers with me, and didn't recommend Topomax for me at all. She said some of her patients call it "Dopomax" because it makes them witless. I like my wits, and I need to keep them about me. She put me on Depakote instead. She said it can cause weight gain, but I'm hoping that once I stop these constant headaches I can start exercising again.

 

[Jennasis]

Chiming in with the REAL reason for the limit on your pills. I have a script for Relpax, which is my "rescue" med (meaning I take it when I have an actual migraine). I am only permitted (by my insurance) to get ONE script per 30 day period and that script is for 9 pills. I called Blue Cross and spoke to my nuerologist and several others (including my primary doc and the pharmacist) and was told the exact same information:

If you need more than that number of pills to relieve your migraines (if you are having more than X number of migraines per month), then you should be on a migraine profilactic (preventiative) medication such as Topamax, Verapamil, Keppra etc...

I actualyl agree with the doc and insurance company. Those pills are expensive. If you don't have your migraines under control and are managing them (decreasing their severity, duration and frequency) then you aren't getting the help you need medicinally. YES, those resuce meds work (Maxalt, Relpax, Imitrex, Axert etc..), but they aren't manaming your migraines.

I started out with Relpax for rescue. The side effects (tightness in chest, etc) were too much for me, so I was switched to Axert, which works pretty good.

I had chronic daily, CONSTANT migraines (all day and night....every day) for almost a year. The nuerologist tried beta and calcium channel blockers like Verapamil at varying doses as a profilactic/preventative med but it didn't work.

I was given a Medlone pack (prednisone). That didn't work.

The put me on Topamax (hehehe DOPE-amax...truelly) and that worked briefly.

Finally (now) I am on Keppra. I take 2 pills a day (one in the morning and one at night, for a total of 1000mg. It was a GODsend. I am now daily migraine free and have been since roughly February when I started the Keppra. I have only had to take TWO of my Axert (the rescue med) since Feb (once yesterday after flying...the anxietry actually caused a Migraine).

So in closing; if you need more than one refill of your rescue migraine med per month then you should ABSOLUTELY be speaking with your NUEROLOGIST about preventative medication.