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Winter Holiday GuideEnjoying the Holidays Despite Migraines and Headaches --> Info for you...

11/5/07 #1 - Why are abortive medications limited in quantity on prescription plans?

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Tuesday, November 06, 2007
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Full Question:Why are abortive medications limited in quantity on prescription plans? I find that I take ASA before trying the abortive medications so that I don't "waste" it on a non-migraine headache. I find that I would prefer to have more medication than they allow on the plans. (...
  1. Limits on amount of abortive meds and any other type med...
    Marlene Sylvester
    Wednesday, November 07, 2007 at 05:04 PM

    One of the main reason's that is on the top of the lawyer's list when they set the rules is just like you said money!!!!! Also, what plays into that is the individuals insurance plan. That is what the employer purchased, the amount and type coverage/plan, for his/her employee. Oh my! Call your provider and find out what is the limit for a 90 mail in and that is what you ask your doc for. Then you may still need a script from your local pharmacist till your mail in comes in so you ask your doc to write out an order for that too. Have it refillable for one year that way if you need any extra while you are waiting for a mail in to reach you you will have that available to you. 

     

    Yes, when the NHF suggest for the gals to take oral Imitrex 5 days before they start their period then that would leave only 4 tablets to get you through the end of each month and that is bad for the ones who suffer with menstrul migraines.

    As soon as some of the younger migrainors start writing the rules/laws things are going to be slow. So, that means we have to be a patient as we can be. Look at me more than 30 years till something came along so I am really pleased for me yes, but for you most of all. Who would want any one to suffer the pain that we have had to go through. I would never wish it on anyone.

    Marlene

    Reply
    re: Limits on amount of abortive meds and any other type med
    Teri Robert
    Wednesday, November 07, 2007 at 06:14 PM

    Yikes, Marlene! I love you passion, but would you do me a favor and please not use quite so large a font?

     

    I'm not sure what you meant about the NHF recommending Imitrex for five days around a woman's period. First, Imitrex has not been studied for menstrual Migraine. Amerge and Frova have, and appear to work well for this purpose. Imitrex hasn't been studied, and probably won't be as it tends to be more of a risk for rebound than Amerge and Frova. Also, the NHF itself doesn't make that kind of recommendation that I know of. They, as we, report on research, but do not give medical advice.

     

    Thanks!

    Teri 

    Reply
    re: re: Limits on amount of abortive meds and any other type med
    Marlene Sylvester
    Thursday, November 08, 2007 at 01:28 AM

    Oh Teri, sorry about the font. I thought that you had asked someone to use a larger font because your eye sight had been changing.

     

    Anyway, yes, it was in the National Headache Foundation newsletter that came out monthly through the mail only at that time about 10 or 12 years ago. They had, at the time, a question and answer section. Someone had written in about their menstrual migraines. They, the newsletter, or doc , or whomever answered with starting 5 days before your cycle starts for you to take Imitrex 5 days in a row. It stated to do so because of shrinking of the veins/arteries don't remember exactly.

     

    I remember at that time that my neuro said not to take Imitrex oral more than 3 days in a row.    My GP doc at the time would not commit to an answer. She did say that Imitrex was one of the safest abortives on the market and she could not prescribe it to me for that amount but if I needed extra she could provide me with some samples. 

     

    Now, I could be wrong. But, I thought that is what I read. I didn't take her up on it because I had a complete hysterectomy a couple years pryor to obtaining her.

     

    Marlene          

    Reply
    re: re: re: Limits on amount of abortive meds and any other
    Teri Robert
    Thursday, November 08, 2007 at 02:09 AM

    Marlene,

     

    As long as it's not a tiny font, I'm usually ok, but a bit larger does help. I just got tickled at how big the font was in the first part of your comment.

     

    OK. Now I understand what you mean about info from the NHF. I'm a member and get their newsletter too. If that came out 10 - 12 years ago, that makes a difference too. Triptans were fairly new then. Imitrex tablets came out in 1995. Zomig came out in 1997; Amerge and Maxalt in 1998. There had been no research on their use as a preventive for menstrual Migraines, and doctors didn't even realize they could cause rebound.

     

    My, how far we've come!

     

    Teri 

    Reply
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