Migraine Medication for A Headache? No! No! No!

Most Migraineurs know that a Migraine attack is NOT a bad headache. We know that Migraine is a neurological genetic disease similar to Epilepsy. And we know that some of us don't even experience the headache phase during a Migraine attack. Recognizing the difference between head pain associated with a Migraine attack and head pain associated with a headache is difficult for some.

I've been writing a lot lately in the Migraine support group that I co-moderate about distinguishing between the two. I've discussed how to tell the difference between pain that accompanies a Migraine attack and the pain that accompanies a headache. And I've explained why it's important we make this distinction.

One reason why it's important to know these differences is because treatment for Migraine is not the same as headache treatment. For example, using a Migraine-specific medication probably won't do any good for someone who doesn't have Migraines.

The president of the German Pain Aid Association, Ruediger Fabian, now gives another reason why you shouldn't use Migraine-specific medication for the treatment of a headache. Fabian says if you do this, you risk chronic 'pseudo-migraines'. He says:

Even the occasional use of migraine medications by someone without migraines is potentially harmful

and goes on to say

The reactions depend on the person, but they can intensify ordinary headaches

Fabian said the first symptom of an overdose of Migraine-specific medication is "a sour-tasting expulsion of gas from the stomach". Ewwwwww! I'm not sure, but I guess that means a sour-tasting "burp".

He also said those who suffer less than 100 days a year with headaches (He didn't say Migraine) who occasionally didn't get relief from their standard medication could use extra pain medication once in a while.

Source: Migraine medication unsuitable for ordinary headaches

Migraine Medication Savings - Part II

If you can't afford your prescription medications, here are a few things you can do.

You may be eligible to use a rebate, coupon, voucher or qualify for a trial offer for the medications that I wrote about in Migraine Medication Savings.

The Wal-Mart generic program offers a 30-day supply of certain generic medication for $4.00. A 90-day supply will only cost you $10.00. If you use a heart (calcium channel blocker, beta blocker) or blood pressure medication or an antidepressant as a preventive, you may benefit from this program. I found some of these medications on the list. There are no Migraine specific medications such as Triptans or Dihydroergotamine (DHE) on the list. There are some pain medications such as Ibuprofen on this list but I did not see any narcotic medications. I also did not see any antiseizure medications.

Other big box discount stores have similar programs. One of these is Target's generic program. A 30-day supply is also $4.00 and a 90-day supply is $10.00. There are many of the same medications on their list. Kmart has a 90-day Generic Program. These medications cost $10.00 and $15.00. Their list can be found HERE. I couldn't find any Migraine medications on their $5.00 Program List. However, some analgesics are listed. Costco offers its members a prescription savings plan for those with no insurance. Information on this program can be found HERE.

A Patient Assistance Program (PAP) may help you with low-cost or no-cost medicatons. Many pharmaceutical companies offer assistance if you have no insurance or cannot pay for your medication. They have strict guidelines (i.e. income and assets) for determining your eligibility. There are a number of sites that will help you locate a PAP. One of the more well known programs is the Partnership for Prescription Assistance Program (PPARx) program. After answering eligibility questions, the site will provide you with any programs that you may possibly qualify for. They can also be reached by calling 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).

Another well known site is NeedyMeds. This site has a lot of good information including a Brand Name and Generic directory to see what programs you may be eligible for. This site also offers information on State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP or SHIIP), Disease-Based Assistance programs and some Discount Drug Cards.

Other sites that may help are RxAssist.org (requires you to register an account), Rxhope.com, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) .

If you do not qualify for a PAP offered by a pharmaceutical company
through one of these sources you will NOT qualify for it by using another. However, you may find different information about other things such as federal and state programs or discount cards on various sites so you may want to check out more than one. All of these services are FREE.

There are a number of companies that will charge you for this FREE service. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns there is No Need to Pay for Information on Free (or Low-Cost) Rx Drugs and says:

While it’s true that many prescription drug companies offer free or low-cost drugs for people who don’t have prescription drug coverage, can’t afford to pay for medication out of pocket, or have exhausted their insurance’s annual allowance, the programs have strict qualification standards. Factors that affect whether you qualify may include your income and the cost of the drugs you need.

If you’re trying to get free or low-cost prescription drugs, you don’t have to pay for information on how to do it. You just have to know where to look. The information is free — and publicly available — from your physician, pharmacists, and the government.

One of the services that charge for this FREE service is FreeMedicine.com aka FreeMedicineFoundation.com. This service will send YOU the paperwork from each pharmaceutical company so that YOU and your doctor can apply for prescription assistance. This service charges an application processing fee of $10.00 per medication. This service does promise a refund if you are declined for a PAP stating:

If you are determined ineligible by all applicable sponsores [sic], and receive no medicine assistance, send a written request to Free Medicine Foundation, include denial letter(s) for all applicable sponsor(s) within 120 days of original application and your processing fee will be fully refunded.

Other program guidelines can be found HERE.

Articles discussing this company can be found on the Consumer Fraud Reporting site and the Los Angeles Times site. Answers4Families (a partner of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Nebraska - Lincoln Center on Children, Families, and the Law) states:

An organization called the Free Medicine Foundation www.freemedicinefoundation.com has been recently marketing their services. The Better Business Bureau indicates the Free Medicine Foundation has an unsatisfactory standing with their organization. The BBB points out that this organization is not registered as a "foundation" and the don't actually provide their services for "free." The application process for the Free Medicine Foundation requires that the individual pay them $5* per medication, in order for them to check on whether you qualify for one of the pharmaceutical companies' patient assistance programs.

*Note: The cost has increased from $5.00 to $10.00.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Reliability Report states they have:

...processed a total of 43 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 43 complaints closed in 36 months, 24 were closed in the last year.

To see the the entire report click HERE.

If you do not qualify for a PAP, you may be eligible to use a discount card. Some of these are SunAssociation, FreeDrugCard.us, PSCard.com, and YourRxCard.com.

Migraine at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago

Here's a synopsis of Migraine research that was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago April 12–19, 2008.

Migraine frequency linked with women's risk of cardiovascular disease
CHICAGO – New research shows women who have weekly migraine are significantly more likely to have a stroke than those with fewer migraines or no migraine at all, but those with lower migraine frequency may face increased risk of heart attacks. The research was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008...
To read the entire article click HERE.

Children with migraine at increased risk of sleep disturbances
CHICAGO – Children with migraine are more likely to have sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and lack of sleep, than children without migraine, according to research on the effects of headaches on children’s sleep patterns was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008...
To read the entire article click HERE.

Overuse of codeine, oxycodone and barbiturates increases risk of chronic migraine
CHICAGO – People who overuse barbiturates and opioids, such as codeine, butalbital, and oxycodone, to treat migraine are at an increased risk of developing chronic migraine, according to research that was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19, 2008. People with chronic migraine have headaches on 15 or more days a month...
To read the entire article click HERE.

New Hope for Migraine Sufferers: Optinose Nasal Delivery of Sumatriptan Proves as Effective as Invasive Subcutantaneous Injection
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, Optinose, the Norwegian drug delivery specialists, today presented Phase I data that could lead to faster, effective and less invasive relief for migraine sufferers. The recently completed trial first demonstrated that Sumatriptan powder delivered intranasally using OptiNose’s 2nd generation device has a rapid onset of action and is as effective as subcutaneously administered Sumatriptan in preventing GTN Challenge Induced EEG changes in migraine sufferers...
To read the entire article click HERE.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.