Welcome to the group! So glad to hear you have found some relief. Yes, I hear your pain about the Triptans. You can always fight your insurance on coverage. Are you allowed to fill the presription more than once a month? When I took Triptans, that was my problem. I could only fill it once a month, and took two at a time, so the six pills I was given only lasted my about a week! I have a couple ideas.
1. Ask for samples at the doctor. If you see a neuro, also ask at your primary doctor. Just say you have trouble affording your copay. This happens all the time. Ask to be called if they get samples in, if at all possible.
2. Here is a $15 off your copay manufacturer coupon. http://www.relpax.com/save-with-relpax.aspx It says you can reprint it and use with every refill! Awesome.
3. Fight your insurance on the number of pills per fill, or being allowed to fill it more than once a month. You can submit an appeal to anything. Not much chance of it going through as the medications cost them hundreds per fill, but it might make you feel better to try. I wrote a letter about how this was the only thing at the time that helped me, and kept me out of the ER, which cost the insurance more. My insurance however will allow appeals, but says they never accept them. I hate insurance!
4. Try other Triptans to see if they work. If others work, you can also try to get samples of them. Sometimes an insurance will have preferred Triptans if you have a tier system, so while a couple may be the highest copay, a couple may be your middle copay and save you some money. There are seven Triptans, and they all work differently. Many people will need to try them more than once, as sometimes they work more sporadically, need a second dose, don't provide complete relief but do help, etc.
5. See if you qualify for a patient assistance program either through the drug company, or your state/county, etc.
6. Calculate how much you would lose in lost work or whatever by not treating your migraine, and find other ways to cut back to be able to afford it. I think of all my medical costs as an investment in me living a long and happier life, however tough they are to manage.
Care to share more about yourself and your migraine journey? How often do you get migraines, how long do they last, what else have you tried, any daily preventative medications or just the two Triptans, etc?
Best wishes. Hope to chat with you again soon.
