Migraine Headaches Support Group

Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.

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Brain & Nervous System
/ Migraine Headaches Support Group

New groundbreaking treatment for migraines

YvetteK
YvetteK

A new class of drugs called CGRPs are a group of injectibles used to prevent migraines. The first one has just been approved by the FDA. I believe 2 more should be approved this year, and the 4th should be approved in 2019. 


The headache community hasn't seen anything this promising in decades, and are banking on this for some of the hardest, most untreatable cases. Of course, price can be an issue. Without insurance, the first drug is set to cost $6,900. The other 3 even higher. But I believe the first one from Amgen does have a program to work with people who have no insurance or who are underinsured to make sure they have access to this drug. Hopefully the other companies will do the same. 



http://www.businessinsider.com/fda-approves-amgen-novartis-preventive-migraine-medication-aimovig-2018-5

Bobby5000
Bobby5000
Please do check blood pressure also, for bp medication corrected my headaches.
YvetteK
YvetteK
That's fine. But I'm not talking about off lable use medications used to treat migraines. That's great that it helped you. I'm on 5 off lable medications to treat my migraines, including bp meds.

This is the FIRST for migraine specifically created drug, used to prevent migraines. It shows more promise than any other drugs out there for hard to treat patients such as myself.

So while bp meds helped get rid of your migraines, please don't assume that others haven't gone through every other option under the sun also.
JillboBaggins
JillboBaggins
God I'm so excited for this!! I'm on 3 preventatives already and still getting 8 migraines per month. I can't wait for that price to go down though, YEESH!!

Also, no offense Bobby, but for those of us with genetic migraines or just very difficult migraines, it gets exhausting to hear people say things like "have your glasses checked" etc...
puppymom06
puppymom06
If I understand this correctly, this medicine is for chronic migraine. That is defined as 15 or more migraines a month and for many of us means daily horrendous symptoms even when we don't have a headache. They also typically don't respond well to meds of any kind. This is super promising although I haven't read up on all the side effects -- but then don't they ALL have side effects.
YvetteK
YvetteK
As I understand it, I don't think it's just for chronic migraine. I think you can have less than 15 per month and still get this. I believe this is geared toward those who haven't had a great response from other types of treatments.
thelmanlouise
thelmanlouise
Yvettek-
Good afternoon all. I was just speaking to an Aimovig rep. The 2 free cartridges does not apply to the state of Massachusetts. It’s an FDA thing. Great! Not!!,
But on the positive side, if you don’t have commercial insurance, there is a process to enroll in a $5/month assistance copay for the med if you qualify.
Go to Aimovig.com,press site map, then Aimovig support. Press “ Pay as little as $5
Per month with the Aimovig copay program”. Press enroll. Complete and print. Keep this for yourself. On the “Pay as little as $5 per month” page, press Download service Request form and print it. Complete your part as a patient. Take the form to your prescriber to complete and fax.
I was told this would take 3-4 weeks for an answer.
Good luck.
YvetteK
YvetteK
It actually tells you on the page that the $5 copay is only eligible if you have commercial insurance, and it's as little as $5, up to $2700 annually.
pharmgal
pharmgal
I injected it 2 weeks ago. I have seen a bit of an improvement. I keep a headache log. I did not get it free, but that was because I didn't want to wait for my doctor to get more from the drug rep so I had it filled at CVS paying my regular brand copay. I have commercial insurance and the copay assist ($5) is good for 1 year, but you have to reapply in January for some odd reason.
Captain-M
Captain-M
Thanks Yvette. I don't know if this is available in Canada.
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