Posted by Chris A. on June 21, 1999, at 2:53:18
In reply to nimodipine info and support, posted by Chris A. on June 10, 1999, at 3:36:22
If you are taking nimodipine or considering taking it for refractory bipolar disorder (that is, you've tried every med out there in every conceivable combo without resultant mood stability), there is help available from Bayer Corp. Your pDoc can send them a copy of your prescription and they are supposedly willing to send a two months supply at a time (I will believe it when my pDoc phones and tells me it's actually here). The cost is prohibitive unless you have a really good Rx plan, or are extremely wealthy ($54 - $130 per day for a therapeutic range of 300 mg to 720 mg). Use for bipolar is strictly off-label, so Bayer won't be forthcoming with much info. The Phone number for help with "other diagnoses" (not an indigent program, as everyone who is taking this med is essentially indigent) is (203)812-5009.
Nimodipine (Nimotop), a calcium channel blocker, seems to be helping me. I have recently gone through periods of actually wanting to live and have had some days where I discovered what it means to have some fun. My kids almost have a real Mom (at least part of the time). I have even considered them "disadvataged" because of my illness (we are professionals). The suicidal depressive crashes are still present, but less frequent. The hypomania is for the most part under control. A higher dose hopefully will level the moods out even more. I also take Lamictal 300 mg/day. Nimodipine is not an easy drug to take, (another reason it is not commonly prescribed), as it has to be taken every four hours to keep the blood-brain levels high enough. It has to be taken on an empty stomach, or absorption decreases by an average of 38%. This translates into not eating two hours before, or one hour after taking it, leaving one hour out of four in which to eat. That hour never coincides with meal time around here. We have three teenagers who want food - now! If it works,
it is worth the inconvenience. If I hadn't gotten word this week that Bayer is willing to supply it I was going to tell my pDoc to forget it.
I don't feel guilty about allowing the company to supply it, as I don't want my family or my insurance company -a fairly responsible HMO- to go into bankruptcy. I've already paid my dues to them in the form of 30% copay - like a couple of grand. I hope this helps someone out there.Chris
poster:Chris A.
thread:7240
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990628/msgs/7589.html