canadian drugs plus cefaly question

it took 3 ½ weeks, and the AMERGE, (brand name) was delivered to my house.  i took 2 of the pills, which surely did look like the real thing, (4 hours apart, of course) and they did absolutely nothing.  so that was $153 wasted, for 24 pills.  and i still  had a killer migraine, plus zero sleep and felt like total crap all day.  the brand name ALWAYS works for me to at least damp down the pain so i can function.

the pills were ordered from british columbia, supposedly made in turkey and mailed from mauritius.  the package insert was in a language i never saw before....one of those countries' languages.

my opinion is that they are counterfeit.  i will call the company and ask if those overseas manufacturers have a clue what they are making!?  yesterday i spent $306 for 9 REAL pills.  what an outrage, to have to pay so much for the only thing that works for a person.  in my 46 year adventure, of course i have tried nearly everything there is.

except: cephaly.  my new neuro kind of scoffed at it.  when i went on costco.com just now, they don't seem to carry it.  update, anyone?  costco is likely to cost less than anywhere else, should any of us here want to try it.  i've shopped at costco for over 30 years, and never had a problem returning anything.  but maybe they don't carry it now.  

thanks, dianne

I ordered mine online directly from the company. You have to send them a doctors prescription for it as it is FDA approved. My GP was skeptical also, but had no problem writing me a prescription when I asked him to. He also gets migraines occasionally, so he has been most sympathetic and helpful. It took about 3 weeks to arrive. I don't know how one would return it, but it is an option if Costco does not carry it.

I couldn't find it on the Costco web site, either, although I've read on other forums about people who got theirs at Costco; a couple people said they returned them for a refund. I got mine from Europe before the FDA approved it, so I not only didn't need a prescription -- it's sold over the counter everywhere else in the world but the US -- but I also got the Cefaly that has both the treatment and the prevention modes. The model sold in the US has only the prevention mode, I'm told.

I'm sure someone will get offended or upset over what I have to say next, but so be it and here goes: If I lived in Spokane, WA, I'd drive to Canada and buy it OTC if I couldn't get a prescription. Yeah, it can be tricky, but it's worth a try, IMO. (Plus, you'd get the treatment and the prevention modes.)


ETA: This is from the www.cefaly.us web site:
"Refund policy

Sixty days money guarantee is only for the Cefaly device (accessories and shipping charge are not refundable).

The money back guarantee period starts for sixty days from the day of the delivery until the date of the return expedition."

lorente, thanks for the reply.  of course i'm not offended; i could certainly drive to canada to get a cephaly.  my bro lives in B.C. so i could even have him buy one for me and bring it when he visits in the spring.  but as you can imagine, in 46 years of trying everything on the planet, and visiting over 100 doctors of many kinds, i am just a bit skeptical.

the reason we can't find it on the costco website is likely because the pharmacy is not included in the search......anyone off the street can buy prescriptions from costco pharmacy without a costco membership.  (i just thought of this).  so i will call them and ask the price; then ask my bro to get the canadian price, for comparison.  but as you have explained, the 3 settings from devices other than the u.s. ones sound so much better and worth whatever price it is.

i do appreciate the input on this and all my other desperate queries!!  dianne

p.s. TO LORENTE:  i've read all your posts on cephaly and otherwise.  one little q:  you leave the glue on your forehead all the time?  nothing i've ever tried to stick on my body STAYS there; like pain patches.  so that might be a problem to be forewarned about...?

I certainly understand your skepticism. I also have suffered from migraines since I was 19 -- 44 years -- so I know how you feel. Your Costco explanation makes sense. I've never shopped there, so it didn't occur to me there might be a difference on the web site. You're lucky to have family in Canada to help you out with this.

The Cefaly electrodes are embedded in a flat piece that has a gluey substance on the back. You stick the whole piece on your forehead. The Cefaly rests on and sits over the electrode. You press the button, sit back and relax, and for 20 minutes, you feel like your brain is having a massage. But, yes, you do have to "wear" the electrodes the whole 20 minutes; the Cefaly doesn't work without the electrodes.

To make the electrodes stick better, you first wash your face with soap and water and then use one of their special wipes (included with the Cefaly) on your forehead. I have tried going without the wipes, using witch hazel and such, but I'm beginning to believe their wipes really do help the electrodes stick to your forehead better and last longer, so I'm going to buy some more. I'd recommend using them. (Otherwise, I've been known to scotch tape the thing to my forehead, which probably isn't kosher, so I'm not necessarily recommending that!)

It's just a little stick on patch. I use astringent to clean my forehead first (removes makeup, oils, etc...). The patch peels off easily for reuse. I seem to get about 3 weeks of reuse per patch before it stops sticking very well. A packet of 3 patches cost about $20. They are not messy at all. You only wear the patch for the 20 minutes you are using the Cefaly.

Migrainegirl, where do you buy your electrodes for $20? I've been paying $35 (including shipping). Thanks in advance.

You might try swabbing off the electrodes with rubbing alcohol when they start to get un-sticky.  I worked as an Occupational Therapist and that's what our clinic did.  Seems counter-intuitive, but it extends the life of the sticky stuff.
Michele

My doctor still is dragging her feet on letting me get a Cefaly. We are still in SC for another week and a half. At some point when we get home, I am going to put some more pressure on her. If she hasn't given me a prescription by mid summer or so, I may just take a little drive up to Canada.

Thank you, Michele. I'll try it.

They currently show as a packet of 3 for $25 online at Cefaly. I don't know what they cost at Costco, but I plan to check it out. I will also try the rubbing alcohol suggestion. Thanks!

Hi Dianne, in response to your concern that the pills are counterfeit: you can dispute the charge with your CC company. Usually the earlier you do this the better (ideally before you pay the bill). Some banks are better than others, but whenever I do this I get my money back.

Micheletroyer, the rubbing alcohol works like a charm. Many thanks.

This is for anyone that is thinking about driving to Canada to buy a Cefaly devise.

I live in Canada and could not find any brick and mortar place that carries them. Costco Canada sells them, but only online. I ordered mine online from Costco for $299. If you actually were going to come and get one from here, call around to make sure you can find it. Sometimes I get stuff shipped to an address in the USA and bring it across the border. Perhaps any of you could do the same and just use a Canadian address. The exchange rate is great right now!