Head start

There's more help at hand for migraine headache sufferers, writes Valerie Schuler
Anyone who suffers migraine headaches will tell you just how incapacitating they are. Life-long sufferer Terry Allen says you never get used to the chronic pain, nausea and misunderstanding that accompanies migraines. "I'm lucky that I work for myself, otherwise I couldn't hold down a job," says the 63-year-old Bayswater resident. "People think it's just a bad headache and that you can snap out of it, but you can't." For many people like Mrs Allen, relief only comes from medication. But non-subsidised drugs are expensive; those that are funded do not suit everyone. Because of the nausea that often accompanies a migraine, there's also the risk of throwing expensive medication back up within minutes of taking it. But, as of this month, there is another option - rizatriptan wafers (Maxalt Melt) are now fully funded by Pharmac, the Government's pharmaceutical management agency. Unlike other drugs, which are swallowed or injected, this dissolves on the tongue. Annette Hallam, of the Migraine Sufferers Support Group, says the funding is great news. "We've been trying for years to get alternative drugs subsidised," she says. "Some people get so nauseous, they can't swallow medication. This new, dissolvable drug is a much better option." Mrs Allen describes the symptoms as similar to a really bad flu, hangover or morning sickness, with impaired vision and extreme sensitivity to light. She says medication is the only thing that offers any relief. Without funding, drugs like Maxalt Melt cost about $30 a week. Some are even more expensive. Depending on the patient's individual circumstances, it will now cost as little as the standard $3 prescription fee for a pack of three rizatriptan wafers. Other drugs have been subsidized for a number of years, but not everyone can take them.