Cost of treating migraines

[annibe11e]

Does anyone here have any experience with migraines? My doctor prescribed a medication that takes care of my migraines, but I'm interested in figuring out why I get them and trying some preventive measures. I'm getting them about twice a week right now.

I have a high-deductible plan, so I'm paying out of pocket for visits and meds. I'm concerned about the costs of different treatments. I feel like I can't afford to try anything that isn't going to work. Has anyone tried any migraine treatments outside of the typical prescriptions? If so, how much did it cost? How effective was it?

Thanks!

[Bob B.]

No personal experience with migraines, but I have an aunt that does. She has cut wheat (gluten) out of her diet. She claims that has helped control them.

[Wino]

I have been a migraneur for 40 years. I used to take a daily preventative, but I have stopped. I assiduously monitored my eating habits and eliminated most of my triggers, so now I rarely get a migraine. When I do get a migraine, I found that elitriptan gets rid of it, at the expense of knocking me out for a few hours. When I was paying for the medicine myself, it was costing me about $42 for ONE of those pills. I had to buy them 12 at a time. If you've ever had a migraine (which is not just a bad headache), then you would gladly pay even more to get rid of it.

My neurologist was costing me several hundred per visit, as well. I've now got my plan for mitigation, so see no reason to continue paying for the daily medications or his periodic help - though he helped me get to the point where I can function.

There are six triptans, I believe, and are all for people who suffer migraines; they are called "abortives" as opposed to the preventives. DD2 takes amitriptan. The trade name for my abortive is "relpax." Anyway, over here, I can get 10 pills for about $40. I have no idea why the US pills are so exorbitantly priced, while the same pills here are about 1/10 the price. I could see it if the difference was double, but ten times? That's price gouging, in my opinion.

I also don't need a doctor's prescription over here.

[wjcalderon]

I have a good friend who gets Botox injections to help prevent migraines.
She says it works really well.
I have no idea what it costs.

[HappySaver]

No personal experience with migraines, but I have an aunt that does. She has cut wheat (gluten) out of her diet. She claims that has helped control them.

I have friends with the exact same experience. I've read countless similar anecdotes online. It may not be everyone's solution, but it's worth exploring.

Personally, I had headaches all my life and starting getting classic migraines (blurred vision, pain lasted for a week) about 5 years before I was diagnosed with celiac (and no, I never had any GI symptoms at all until the year I was diagnosed). Haven't had a migraine since I stopped eating gluten over 3 years ago. My regular headaches are gone too - only come back slightly if I get minorly "glutened" from cross-contaminated food.

I would add that you should not go gluten-free without first consulting a physician so they can test you for celiac. Once you go gluten-free you can't be tested. When the test comes back negative (which it most likely will) you can explore gluten-free, or test other common dietary triggers (like removing processed foods, or common allergens such as wheat, dairy, soy, etc.). I'd be willing to bet diet has at least some impact on your frequent attacks.

By the way, gluten sensitivity or celiac is separate from a wheat allergy. Gluten is found not just in wheat, but also in barley and rye. Sadly, that includes beer.