View Full Version : Prialt
My doctor has advised me to consider Prialt for CP. Aside from the side effects with some of severe pychiatric systems, intrathecal pumps do concern me quite a bit. Has anyone used Prialt and had success with CP?
dejerine
08-17-2006, 01:51 AM
Mike, I think it was Alan who suggested a trial dose by catheter before a pump is implanted. Medtronic just recalled four batches of the catheters so there is something to be aware of. Prialt is said to block the N type calcium channel and on that basis should stop central pain. It has some side effects such as confusion, but you already know about that. Good luck if you try it.
Thanks Dejerine. To bad that there have not been enough people who have tried this to get a better idea of it's effectiveness.
My doctor has asked me if I am now willing to sign up for test to evaluate this drug. His nurse is contacting my insurance company to find out what my coverage would be. When I found out the cost of this procedure I nearly fell out of my chair:
During the test phase there is a charge of $3200 for the first injection and if that is is not sufficient there will be a charge of $3200 for each additional injection up to a max of 3.
If it is found that the drug is effective the cost of putting in a pump would be $22000
Subsequent refills would also be $3200
I am on medicare so I don't know what they cover if anything on something this new.
If my insurance does not cover a significant piece of the cost, I might have to evaluate whether my CP is worse then the cost of the drug to potentially help it.