Yikes, I went to fill my 5mg prescripton for Zomg at Walmart, and it was doubled in price! Almost 60$ a pill, after a 50$ coupon! The pharmacist said the patient expired 1/1/13, and the generic will be out in six months, so that is why the price jump. What can a person do? That price is outragous! I have tried other triptans but they donot work as well. The side effects are not pleasant either. Any suggestions?
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2/11/13 3:32pm
Trish,
This is absurd. The manufacturer has NOT changed what they charge the pharmacies. I strongly suggest you check another pharmacy. I just filled my own Zomig, and there absolutely NO change in prices.
That said, are you talking about your insurance copayment or buying Zomig without insurance? If this was with insurance, it's possible that your insurance company has changed how much they'll pay now that three triptans are available in generics - Imitrex, Amerge, and Maxalt, let alone that Zomig will be generic soon.
Teri
2/14/13 11:33pm
You're most welcome, Trish. Glad you found it at a lower cost. This whole thing about it getting more expensive as it nears the patent expiration is something I find a bit fishy. Three other triptans - Imitrex, Amerge, and Maxalt have already gone to generic with their patents expires, but I don't remember this kind of thing happening with any of them.
Yikes! I've never heard of a deductible that high. That's tough.
Teri
2/18/13 3:56pm
Terri,
I just went to pick up my prescription and they told me it was $469.00 for 8 tablets!(that is after a $50.00 coupon) When I told her that when I called them to check the prices, I was told their Zomig price was $280.89 for 6 tablets, that they said they had a different supplier than Walmart, so the price was lower. The pharmacist told me I must have been mistaken, their prices went up since december. I wanted to scream! The whole reason I transfered my Rx from Walmart to them, is because I was told their price did not go up and was much cheaper. All this happened after I had to call my doctor for ANOTHER pre-authorization to be called in to United Healthcare, and also had to call United Healthcare. I have been going around in circles for years just to get my prescription filled, now the price is going to make it harder. Do you think this is just in Wisconsin the price has jumped by so much? Walgreens price in our area was also doubled. I hate to change to a different triptan, I have been down that road too. I feel like they look at Zomig as a illegal substance or something! This is crazy, any advice would be appreciated
Trish
2/11/13 8:14pm
I spoke with Astra Zeneca last fall. They sold the rights to manufacture Zomig to Impax Labs. I then spoke with a representative from Impax Labs and was told that the price would be going up but they couldn't say by how much. I stocked up before the price increase, but wouldn't be surprised if this is what caused it. I questioned the Impax representative about the patent running out and asked what they planned to do about it. He played dumb and refused to give me an answer.
If Impax Labs sound familiar it's because their generic version of Wellbutrin was taken off the market a few months back because it was ineffective. I'm not sure I really trust them now. There's a great article about it at Forbes.com (http://onforb.es/R99Ed2)
Really hate to think I might need to find another triptan after all these years.
2/14/13 8:45pm
My insurance quit covering Zomig quite a long time ago, so I use sumatriptan injections or, when I can get it, Treximet. Cambia powder seems to work reasonably well too. None of the other forms of Triptans work for me, or any of the ergotamines.
2/14/13 11:30pm
One thing to keep in mind about Cambia is that it's not the same type of medication as Zomig, Imitrex, and the rest of the triptans. Although approved for the treatment of Migraine, Cambia cannot abort a Migraine - that is, it can't stop the Migrainous process in the same way as the abortive medications can. It does very well for symptomatic relief for some people, but that's all it can do.
Teri
2/16/13 5:29pm
Mine just went up $50 a month ($75 now for 9 pills) with insurance coverage. I did not understand this but I assumed it had to do with my coverage. It's so frustrating that they know I've tried the others and that they don't work for me yet I have to jump through a million hoops to get the zomig even authorized at the high price. All the hoop jumping and calls to doctors and insurance make my migraines worse and need more Zomig. Vicious cycle. Ugh.
3/ 2/13 5:41pm
I am feeling your pain, no pun intended....Just wanted to post my frustration also with the zomig price! I went today to pick up my 18 tabs of 2.5 mg. Last month it was a shock at $800!! this month they wanted over $1100.00 This was at Fred Meyer Rx. What will i do? This is the biggest rip off ever! The pharmasist didn't have an answer as to why it went up over $200 from last month and even more from late last year!!! I tried the generic maxalt and it made me feel weird and did not get rid of the migraine. What can we do?
3/ 2/13 11:37pm
Hi, Kim,
Unfortunately, there's very little we can do other than try one of the other triptans. Zomig was sold by the company that originaly developed it to a different company. From what I've been able to see, that's when the price changed. Maybe they're tyring to recover their investment before Zomig goes generic, which should be sometime this year or next.
Have you tried Relpax, Axert, or Frova? They all still have a few years on their patents before they go generic. You might ask your pharmacist if he or she would mind checking the prices on them before you talk with your doctor.
Teri
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Hello, Thank you for your fast reply Teri! I called walgreen and several other pharmacies in my area, and the price for 5mg. of Zomig has gone up they say, from the manufacturer, drastically! I found one pharmacy that purchases their supply from a different distributor and it was alot cheaper($280.89 for 6 tablets) I was very relieved. They also said the generic should be less expensive. When I found Zomig I was elated it actually worked to abort my migraines. I have a $5,000. deductable so it really adds up. Thanks again for your help!
Trish