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Migraine Headache
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Posted 7/8/2008 12:06 PM (GMT -7)
My aunt who is coincidentally the receptionist for my General Care Dr. told me about a few patients that they have coming in there who are on something called "Frova" (sp?) for migraines. These are people who have tried anything and everything to get rid of their migraines to no avail but Frova seemed to have helped them tremendously...

Anyone heard of it or is taking it?

Thanks-

Casey

Posted 7/8/2008 12:39 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Casey,

I have used Frova for years.  It supposedly lasts longer than Imitrex, or other such types of meds, and so is a better option for those of us that have CDH.  I had a "prior approval" from my neurologist that allowed me to get 30 a month vs. the normal nine a month the insurance company normally allows.  I was able to take one almost every morning to try to stay on top of the pain, vs allowing the pain to get worse throughout the day.  It was really the only triptan that worked for me, and I think I sampled them all over the years.  Even the Imitrex Injections seemed to stop doing me any good. 

 

I found that, for my CDH, it helped a lot to be able to take something first think in the morning.  Being proactive instead of reactive didn't take the pain away, but helped to manage the pain better. 

 

You can get with your insurance company to see if they allow "prior authorizations" and this will allow you to get more meds per months for the same co-pay - with the help of your doctor. 

 

Hope this helps. 

Posted 7/8/2008 1:48 PM (GMT -7)
Stayce-

Thanks for the insight on Frova. Glad it's working for you!

My aunt mentioned Imitrex to me as well but I am deathly afraid of needles... to the point that I had to be sedated to have blood work done. (They gave me 2 ativan... ) She told me about a lady who is a patient at her office who is only allowed 15 pills per month by her insurance and just come in there and gets samples to make up for the rest of the month...

I dont know if it would help without interacting with my other medications but I am definitely going to write myself a sticky note so I remember to ask my dr. about it tomorrow...

Thanks again!

-Casey
Posted 7/8/2008 7:11 PM (GMT -7)
I have been taking frova for a couple of months now.  I take one if I feel a headache coming on and another two hours later if it has not fully helped.  It has taken away any small headaches I have had and extremely helped the big ones.  There was one time it did not work because I was on a boat and did not have access to my medication, If you take it to late it will not work.  I think it works great and would recommend trying it.  But, it can be expensive without insurance I think it is like 200 something dollars for twelve.  But my insurance gives me twelve a month and I pay 50 dollars.
Posted 7/9/2008 6:33 AM (GMT -7)

Look into "prior authorizations" with your insurance company.  This will allow you to get 30 a month for the same co-pay.  Your insurance company will fax a form to your doctor who will have to explain why youu need more than twelve a month (your lucky to get twelve, I only get four).  If you have a CDH you doctor should have no problem doing this for you, it is common practice.  Once approved, the "prior authorization" last for one year.  You can update every year.  This will ensure you can be proactive with taking the Frova and have a lot more pain free days.  Twelve doesn't last very long when you sometimes have to take two a day. 

Just call the customer service # on the back of your insurance card and ask if this is allowed for Frova.  When they say yes, ask them to fax the appropriate paperwork to your doctor.  Follow up with the nurse at your doctor's office to let them know what you are needing and there should be no problem.  It takes a few weeks for everything to be put into place. 

I am now on a different medication, but I did this for four years.  I was able to get 30 Frova a month for a $10 co-pay. 

I hope this is helpfull information. 

Posted 7/9/2008 9:07 PM (GMT -7)
I have been given this medication by my neurologist but have not taken it yet. I was told to take it if the other meds to knock out the migraine 1st. I paid a 10 dollar co pay for 4 pills, my dr gave me like 20 refills.

Posted 7/9/2008 10:07 PM (GMT -7)
Hey Stayce92,

Don't assume that "prior authorizations" are a done deal.  Many insurance companies will not authorize dosages higher than a pre-determined "appropriate" dosage schedule that their staff doctors come up with.  Each insurance company is different.  A lot of times, the insurance company will base its decision based on the expense of the medication.  Frova was very expensive as I recall, and my insurance would only pay for nine per month.  That point turned out to be moot, since it didn't do a darn thing for my migraines.  I struck out with all the triptans.  And beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers, and ergotamines...yada, yada, yada.  I'm stuck depending on a single narcotic abortive nasal spray, which my doctor will only prescribe once a month, when it only last about a week or two.  I've reached my insurance "donut hole" so they won't be paying for any more of my prescription, probably for the rest of the year.

Leigh Ann eyes

Posted 7/11/2008 2:11 PM (GMT -7)
ok well i picked up my samples today... the dr. gave me 6 just to try it out before i go through the hassle of attempting to get my insurance compant to cooperate....

hope this helps...

-Casey
Posted 7/12/2008 8:48 AM (GMT -7)
Cranky,

I was not assuming "prior authorizations" were a done deal; I was simply presenting an option that I don't think most people know about. It is a simple phone call that you can make to see if you will be able to receive more meds a month for the same co-pay. I know that UHC no longer allows this for Frova, but Blue Cross Blue Shield does; it depends on the insurance company.

I had a prior authorization with UHC for four years before they disallowed this. This is actually what made me search for different treatment with a new doctor, so it did turn out to be a good thing for me.

As my father always taught me..."the answer is always NO before you ask", so I am only suggesting that people pick up the phone and ask. It is a difference of 18 pills a month for some.
Posted 7/15/2008 8:36 AM (GMT -7)
ok well i got the samples from my doctor. i was instructed to table 1 tablet at the onset of a headache and that it was safe to take another one once 2 hours had passed if the headache had not cleared up.

well, of corse i ended up getting a headache later that evening and i took one. about 30-45 minutes later, i was incredibly dizzy (to the point of laying on my living room floor because i was too dizzy to get up and lay on the couch) and had like a permanent hot flash or something. i was burning up on the inside but when Josh was checking my forehead, neck, legs, etc. - i was ice cold.

i thought that maybe that had happened because i had taken the pill on an empty stomach. sunday when i started to get another headache, i went ahead and took another one. shortly after, the same symptons started occurring again... the dizzyness, hot flushing sensation, and this time - nausea.

well, my doctor had neglected to give me the little insert with the side effects on it so again, when i got josh to help me out by looking them up online, all of my symptoms and many others were listed on there.

Me & Frova = NOT FRIENDS!

good luck to anyone else who tries it

-Casey
Posted 7/20/2008 8:21 PM (GMT -7)
I do have to say that I was also getting dizzy when I first started taking it.  I get hot flashes all the time so I am not sure if the medication has caused any or not.  My symptoms where not as bad as yours but they have gotten better over time.  If it is helping with the headaches and you are staying home on a day you are getting a headache you might want to try it a few more times.  This is if you can handle the side effects, I know sometimes it is worst then having the headache. 

When I first started them I would have to make people drive me places after taking one.  Now one month later and only taking about nine in the first month I can drive after taking one.  I do sometimes feel stupid after taking them but that is just omething little better then a headache. 

Posted 7/25/2008 7:19 PM (GMT -7)
took imitrex (pills by the way, not shots) and they would work to knock out headaches but made me feel even more dizzy and light-headed than the headache itself. tried maxalt, it would take away headache, but then headache would return later in day. tried frova, does seem to last longer than maxalt, no other adverse issues either. sorry to hear it didnt work for you.

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