My mom uses ergotamine (cafergot generic) to help control her migraines, but now she's having trouble finding the medication. Apparently there's some sort of shortage of an ingredient or something. She's really worried that she'll run out and there won't be anything to take its place (she can't take triptans or any of the other migraine abortives) -- anyone know about this problem, or how she can find a safe, legitimate source of the medication? Thanks!
Hvaing trouble finding Cafergot generic because of ingredient shortage , where can I find it?
- Posted:
- 10 Feb 2011 by saann
- Topics:
- cafergot, migraine, ergotamine, generic
Details:
Responses (5)
10 Feb 2011
What area do you live? My husband takes Cafergot for migraines but never had a problem. We live in SO CAL and use Rite-Aid. Maybe you want to call around to neighboring pharmacies until the shortage is over. We have not been effected yet. Or maybe they might have to order it from somewhere not local, but you won't know til you try calling. Good Luck, I don't know what we'd do without my husbands Caftergot, it's all he has too.
4 Mar 2011
I finally got the FDA to respond to me by reporting it as a drug shortage. They said that Sandoz will start making the "Brand Name" Cafergot a few weeks ago. This can be very expensive. It cost me $98.00 through Medicare Part D and I am not in the coverage gap yet. I just contacted Target Pharmacy the other day and they said that they can still not get it. If I find out something I will post it here. I would recomed having a backup on hand before you run out. Nothing else ever worked for me but my Neuro came up with a combination of drugs that I am going to try. Good luck!!!
wlwise1
21 Mar 2012
Please post on this site if you hear when either Cafergot or Ergotamine becomes available again? I just emailed Sandoz's customer service department asking the same and will post any response I receive.
4 Feb 2012
I cannot find the brand name Cafergot nor the generic, Ergotamine, any where. I have called pharmacies all over the country and searched online pharmacies both US and Canadian. Has any one found a source for Cafergot within the last 30 days? It is the ONLY medication that works on my chronic migraines and I am desperate to find a supply.
saann
4 Feb 2012
Unfortunately, no. My mom finally found a compounding pharmacy here in town (Austin) that will compound it for her, but it's actually very strong and making her sick, so she can't take it. This whole thing is so ridiculous, and I really feel for everybody who needs it and can't get it. If we find anything I'll let y'all know.
14 Mar 2012
Hello Guys,
I am a Pharmacy student who is currently doing rotation at Halsted HealthMart Pharmacy. For months it has been very frustrating because it was on backorder status so we could not help our patients and our store is located in a building with an extremely busy migraine headache patient population. Recently, we can now make cafergot for our patients. I now compound cafergot capsules daily. Fortunately, the pharmacy offers free delivery nationwide so we can help anyone with a prescription across the country. Our email address is info(at)halstedpharmacy(dotcom) and simply contact us if you have any future questions or would like us to help. Thank you.
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I wonder if that is what they call a back order, have they had a lot of call for it? I have another friend who uses Cafergot, its one of the older ones but as Marie would say it may be old but it works and when you are sicker than a dog I am not going to look for something if what I have works. Has she ever tried Immitrex? (There was something you said she couldn't tolerate) I am sorry I haven't been much help, hope this is resolved before she needs more
No, that helps to know there are places in the country where it might be available. I'll have my dad check into that for her ... thanks!
If anyone else knows of any other sources that would also be helpful ...
i myself suffer from cluster migraines and have been out of my cafergot/ergotamine now for three and a half weeks and have had a headache consistantly the whole time, only the severity changes from day to day. i was originally told by my pharmacy that there was a back order on the rx til mid february and i call daily with no new news. i am only told that they have heard no new updates yet. i have called all pharmacies within a 30 mile radius and no one has it, so make sure you call for your refills long before you may need them!!
Good to know already told the hubby
My parents found out that, if there's a shortage of the generic, or it's otherwise difficult to find, their insurance company, anyway, has a policy that they have to be willing to cover the name brand. So my mother got a Rx for Cafergot and they found a pharmacy here in town (a compounding pharmacy) that could fill the Rx.
So if you're having trouble finding it and you're on insurance, you might want to check and see what their policy is. They might be willing to spring for the name brand.
Great idea
I also rely on cafergot suppositories since the oral cafergot caused me to vomit. It also works faster. I get headaches almost daily now (in my late 60s) but since suppositories can also be cut, wasn't using a full dose so box of 12 could last almost a month. Could Cathleen 186 identify Rite Aid pharamacy in SO CAL so I can call and see if they will ship to east coast? Thanks from 2dogmama