I finally saw my doc today. She started asking about "propholactic" meds I could take, and a minor panic set in, although I was able to play it cool. "Na tried that, didn't work," I'd said twice to two different drugs she named. One of them, I had in fact tried and knew didn't work, the other I hadn't, but thought fast and added, "but the "triptans" really work also." "Triptans" for those of you that don't know what I'm talking about are a class of non narcotic & I know for a fact non addictive drugs I've taken on & off since 1992 or 1993.
However, because of the fact that even all of this time later, there still is no generic equivalent to any of these drugs & furthermore due to this economy, practically zero pharmaceutical sales representatives come by the office and drop off any samples anymore. It had been 6 months at least since I'd gotten a hold of any samples because I've been told by the nurses that "there are no more samples." I never have direct access either by phone or in person to my doctor unless I make an appointment.
Whenever I call, I'm always met with refusal to speak to my doc & am forced to speak to the nurses only, yet half the time my doctor gives me samples even when supposedly there were no samples as told to me by the nurses anyway. I'm not angry or bitter about it, as there could be a number of explanations ranging from an employee that may need them, or maybe they don't wanna give me any. Many insurance plans won't cover these triptans, and if they do only allow 6 pills per month with a $30 co pay. My present insurance does not cover even that, so after I brought that up, my doc gave me all of the different triptan samples of various sorts they had.
I'm grateful for that because I always use them either because I run out of my fun painkillers that do the job as well as give off a very pleasant buzz -- and have pills that will take away the severe pain of the migraine even if I have to go through mild w/ds, which is rare for the fact I don't need more than prescribed. Also, even when I DO have both the triptans available---and for whatever reason choose a triptan instead of a fun pill to relieve my pain---there are times when either one pill or the other won't work--hence whichever pill I didn't take I have the option TO take, as there has never been any occasion when BOTH don't work.
So, am sitting here 4 hours later after a pleasant buzz---and now a mild upset stomach since I haven't eaten yet today--oops. Am gonna deal with THAT problem now.
However, because of the fact that even all of this time later, there still is no generic equivalent to any of these drugs & furthermore due to this economy, practically zero pharmaceutical sales representatives come by the office and drop off any samples anymore. It had been 6 months at least since I'd gotten a hold of any samples because I've been told by the nurses that "there are no more samples." I never have direct access either by phone or in person to my doctor unless I make an appointment.
Whenever I call, I'm always met with refusal to speak to my doc & am forced to speak to the nurses only, yet half the time my doctor gives me samples even when supposedly there were no samples as told to me by the nurses anyway. I'm not angry or bitter about it, as there could be a number of explanations ranging from an employee that may need them, or maybe they don't wanna give me any. Many insurance plans won't cover these triptans, and if they do only allow 6 pills per month with a $30 co pay. My present insurance does not cover even that, so after I brought that up, my doc gave me all of the different triptan samples of various sorts they had.
I'm grateful for that because I always use them either because I run out of my fun painkillers that do the job as well as give off a very pleasant buzz -- and have pills that will take away the severe pain of the migraine even if I have to go through mild w/ds, which is rare for the fact I don't need more than prescribed. Also, even when I DO have both the triptans available---and for whatever reason choose a triptan instead of a fun pill to relieve my pain---there are times when either one pill or the other won't work--hence whichever pill I didn't take I have the option TO take, as there has never been any occasion when BOTH don't work.
So, am sitting here 4 hours later after a pleasant buzz---and now a mild upset stomach since I haven't eaten yet today--oops. Am gonna deal with THAT problem now.
