Migergot, Cafergot

Introduction

Written by Jen Seabright, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Molly Becze, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on December 1, 2023

Ergotamine/caffeine (er GOT a meen & KAF een) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for migraine headache in adults. Ergotamine/caffeine is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of ergotamine/caffeine with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ergotamine/caffeine to treat or prevent vascular headache. This refers to migraine and forms of migraine.

Read on to learn about ergotamine/caffeine and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about ergotamine/caffeine, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

Cost of ergotamine/caffeine

Like other medications, the cost of ergotamine/caffeine can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use

To find out how much ergotamine/caffeine costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for ergotamine/caffeine” section.

Coupons for ergotamine/caffeine

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of ergotamine/caffeine. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for ergotamine/caffeine

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of ergotamine/caffeine. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for ergotamine/caffeine. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking ergotamine/caffeine long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Ergotamine/caffeine is a generic medication. It’s available in an oral tablet form, but it doesn’t have a brand-name version of this form. The brand-name rectal suppository called Migergot is available, but not in generic form.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

If your doctor has prescribed ergotamine/caffeine but you’re interested in taking Migergot instead, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

If you’d like to learn how the cost of ergotamine/caffeine and Migergot compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about ergotamine/caffeine and cost

Here are some common questions about ergotamine/caffeine and their answers.

How does the cost of ergotamine/caffeine compare with the cost of sumatriptan?

Like ergotamine/caffeine, sumatriptan is a generic medication that’s used for migraine headache. Sumatriptan comes as an oral tablet, injection, and nasal spray. The cost of sumatriptan may depend on the form and quantity your doctor prescribes.

To find out more about the cost of either medication, ask your insurance provider or pharmacist. If you have questions about which drug is best for your condition, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What to ask about ergotamine/caffeine

This article provides cost information related to ergotamine/caffeine. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for ergotamine/caffeine.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Will my dosage of ergotamine/caffeine affect its cost?
• Are there other medications available to treat my condition that cost less than ergotamine/caffeine?
• What options do I have if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Ergotamine tartrate and caffeine tablets, USP 1 mg/100 mg. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/d7acf745-e17e-009d-e053-2a95a90ab32e/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.