Drug companies are bad, m'kay?

Just some ramblings that have been on my mind for a while about medications...specifically those for migraines, but this could likely apply to meds for other afflictions as well, both OTC and prescription

At some point in my blog, I've probably mentioned that I suffer from chronic migraines. Prescription migraine meds are INCREDIBLY expensive (for example, the one that works best for me Imitrex - is sold for a little over $200 for 9 pills. Now that I have insurance they're only $25 for 9 pills. Thank goodness for insurance, even though they do screw you over sometimes.

So before I had insurance and could not find any relief for my migraines, I was THRILLED to hear of these new over-the-counter migraine meds, like Excedrin Migraine and Advil Migraine. Well, I've tried both of those and neither worked for me. Maybe they've worked for others, but unfortunately, not for me.

I first found out about Imitrex when I went to a doctor about my migraines. The best I could get was a few samples here and there. They were and are my SALVATION. Being the geek that I am, I studied up on how this class of meds work.

Imitrex and its cohorts are a class of meds called triptans, which cause blood vessels in the brain to constrict and change blood flow [a migraine occurs when the blood vessels in the brain are dilated]. This prevents a brain chemical called substance P from being released. Substance P contributes to the inflammation and pain of a migraine. So as constriction continues and the substance is blocked, headache symptoms go away. This information can be found at: http://health.discovery.com/centers/articles/articles.html?chrome=c12&article=LC_70&center=p09

So this made sense. So WHY did Imitrex (and other triptans) work so well, while the OTC meds didn't? I had to do more research...I HAD to know.

The first OTC migraine med that came out on the market was Excedrin Migraine, I believe. For a while there was Regular Excedrin and Extra Strength Excedrin. Regular Excedrin was comprised of Aspirin and caffeine. Extra Strength Excedrin was made up of Tylenol, Aspirin, and Caffeine. Oddly enough, Excedrin MIGRAINE has that the EXACT same type and amount of ingredients as Extra Strength Excedrin. So I wrote the company asking about this, and they wrote back and gave me this FDA guideline gobbledygook about how they had to use the word migraine on the package for some stupid reason.

So NOW guess what??? There's NO MORE Regular Excedrin...just Extra Strength Excedrin, Aspirin Free Excedrin (which would be Tylenol and caffeine), and Excedrin Migraine (which is the same thing as Extra Strength Excedrin). Still doesn't make sense to me. I think there should be Regular Excedrin (which would be aspirin and caffeine), Excedrin Migraine (aspirin, caffeine, and Tylenol), and Aspirin Free Migraine (Tylenol and caffeine) and get rid of Extra Strength Excedrin because it's the same as Excedrin Migraine. Whatever. Either way, I wouldn't condone taking those three ingredients in combination anyway (aspirin, caffeine, and Tylenol). To save money, you could probably just buy aspirin, generic Tylenol, and some Pepsi, and take the three together...really, it's not any more or less harmful than taking an Extra Strength/Excedrin Migraine. But, I mean, check it out

Extra Strength Excedrin Active Ingredients: per caplet: Acetaminophen...basically Tylenol (Pain Reliever (250mg)), Aspirin (Pain Reliever (250mg)), Caffeine (Pain Reliever Aid (65mg))

Excedrin Migraine Active Ingredients: Each tablet contains: Acetaminophen (250 mg (pain reliever)), Aspirin (250 mg (pain reliever)), Caffeine (65 mg (pain reliever aid)). Am I missing something or do they look the same to you too?

So then a year or so later, Advil Migraine came out. I became excited about this...MAYBE THIS ONE was the answer! So of course I HAD to investigate. But alas, I was wrong again. Check out the ingredients in each

Regular Advil: Active Ingredients: in each caplet: Ibuprofen (200mg Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer)

Advil Migraine: Active Ingredient (in each capsule): Solubilized ibuprofen equal to 200 mg ibuprofen (present as free acid and potassium salt).

Apparently, each regular Advil tablet contains 200mg of ibuprofen. Each Advil MIGRAINE tablet contains 200mg of Solubilized ibuprofen, which basically means (or seems to me anyway) that the main difference between the two formulas is that one is a caplet (regular) and one is a gelcap (migraine). Solubilized means to make (a substance such as a fat or lipid) soluble or more soluble, especially in water, by the action of a detergent or other agent.

Again, only a VERY slight difference between the two. Take Regular Advil and you are taking a caplet, take Advil Migraine and you are taking a gelcap.

This information can be found on found on www.drugstore.com.

That's why I don't trust drug companies. Don't get me wrong, I am VERY grateful to the pharmaceutical industry for what they have done for human beings. Most of us wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them, and the rest of us left would be in a constant state of pain and suffering. I'm just frustrated with the marketing ploys and dishonesty of the drug companies. However, I will be forever indebted to and will not hesitate to bow before the makers of Imitrex.

Bottom Line: Do your research before you take any med...it could save you money, health, pain, and maybe your life.