Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The $30.11 headache

Pin It I finally decided.

I would go with Maxalt.

It was fast-acting, dissolved under the tongue, and it purged my last headache in approximately 15 minutes—well, when I took it at the birth of the migraine; if it were taken at the migraine’s pinnacle, it was pretty well worthless.

I called my neurologist who phoned in the prescription.

I went to pick up the order.

$270.99.

Of course, that was before insurance kicked in. Luckily, having this little bit of indemnity saved me $233.69.

Those of you who know me—I mean who really know me—understand that I’d rather surrender useless body parts than spend that kind of money on something like a migraine. However, in thinking that I’d only spent about $40, I was positive that I got a screaming deal. I promptly opened the package and gaped at the contents.

9 tablets.

I counted them a second time.

My eyes were not deceiving me after all; there was indeed one tablet shy of ten in the white paper bag before me.

So, dear reader, even at a discount, possible liberation from a migraine would amount to $4.11. Without insurance? We’d be looking at something more in the realms of $30.11.

Yeah, I’m in shock too.

Still thinking about pancreases and spleens.

13 comments:

Linn said...

Holy frijoles! That is insane! Although, every time you take one for a migrane and it goes away within fifteen minutes, you can ask yourself if that was just worth the money? I have migraines and it would be for me.

♥Miya said...

Holy crap! Call your doc up and ask him to fax your pharmacy a prescription for the generic version. Or your doctor can approve the pharmacy to offer you any generic versions of drugs you get filled in the future.

I had a mixup similar to this once, a prescription I was on two years back was $5 a bottle, but was accidentally filled a second time with the brand-name drug, not the generic I had been taking. I got the bill later and was freaking out to the tune of $150! For the same exact pills that cost $5 under a different name... bleh!

♥Miya said...

Bummer, Teva recently announced a "tentative approval" of a generic version of Maxalt, but not until their patent ends in 2012... GRRRR drug companies make me mad...

A Lark said...

Oh, come on Jas! Spend a little money to stay out of pain. Just think of how much the Dr. Pepper, Excedrin Migraine, and all the lost productivity costs you over time. So that makes the $4 pill a true screaming deal....
And be grateful that's the only medication you have to pay for, with as OLD as you are! (:

jacs said...

my pre insurance price on my pills'o'happiness sans pancreas and/or spleen is 380.00 (which corey would pay oh so happily!) luckily, my post insurance barganza is only 38.68...of course, i do get 30 pills of sanity for humanity with that screaming deal. now my ?? to you is, had you known that it was an under ten deal would you have still forked over the cash?

Corine Moore said...

I don't know if this is true of the migranes you experience or not, but often migranes are caused from blood sugar imbalances. I sometimes get them if I have indulged in sugar (after the blood suger drops). If you have any questions or suspicions, I'd be happy to answer questions (diet & supplements). It would be nice to know what triggers them (physically & otherwise) to help prevent them. *Hope you feel well soon!

Gerb said...

If it makes the migraines go away I say it's worth every penny.

That doesn't make it any easier to fork over the cash, though...

Unknown said...

My old boss used to take migraine pills that cost $290. each. But thank goodness for friends that are doctors.

shoezimm said...

Thankfully I don't get migraines because (being without insurance) I sure as heck couldn't afford them!

Deo Volente said...

At that rate if the headache doesn't get you the price tag will.

Teachinfourth said...

L - Yeah, it's reserved for the 'big' headaches...or what I think will be the big headaches.

M - I wish there was a generic version of this thing out there!

JG - Meds, meds, meds.

JH - Not sure...the verdict's still out on this one.

C - I think life triggers them; breathing?

G - We penny-pinchers have a hard time parting with the almighty dollar though.

K - Seriously? That twice one of my two mortgage payments!

S - Consider yourself blessed.

DV - Good point. If only I were independently wealthy

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain. Topamax, my migraine preventative, pre-insurance, is $210. ($7/pill). I pay that once/year to satisfy my deductible, then get to pay $1/pill thereafter--much more palatable.

KJ said...

I used to take Maxalt for my DAILY chronic migraines, but found Imitrex works much better, and it comes in a generic form... $10 for 9!! Take care
~Kindra

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