And Then There Is Banzel

It took over a week to get the medication since Dr. Mower added Banzel to Raquel's anti-convulsant schedule. After we spoke the last time I posted, he immediately called the prescription in. I was told by the pharmacy the next day that I was denied the medication, and it went back and forth, and back and forth between my health insurance company and Dr. Mower's office for about a week. My insurance wanted Dr. Mower to substitute Banzel with a less expensive medication. Remember, they start with the cheapest drug possible and then add more expensive, more appropriate drugs in the mix after unsuccessful trials of the cheap one are determined to be ineffective. Yes, just my opinion but I've been dealing with this nonsense for several years now. Dr. Mower said that if he wanted Raquel on a different medication, he would have prescribed that. Just more pharmaceutical/insurance drama. But Dr. Mower holds his own. My kind of doctor.

I got a letter in the mail yesterday from my health insurance that stated the reason for them denying Raquel the Banzel: "After an evaluation for medical necessity, your request for Banzel cannot be approved due to an inadequate trial of Lamotrigine (Lamictal)."

Really?? I thought 2+ weeks on Lamictal was pretty significant - especially considering she ended up in ER and at Children's Hospital for a week due to the life threatening allergic side effect called Stephen Johnson's Syndrome. I guess they had no problem paying the hospital bill and want to do it again. Where's the logic here?

Today, I picked up the Banzel and am hoping and praying she responds well to it. It's one of the newer, more expensive mediciations out there. I have a journal and am documenting everything - all behaviors, eating changes, mood changes, etc. She had her first dose this morning at 11am, and I did notice she got really tired about 30 minutes later, and her walking became very unstable. I'm sure there will be an adjustment period. She is still on her regular Keppra schedule, the Banzel is in addition to this, so it's typical for her to experience different side effects until her body adjusts. At this point, I'm just hoping for the best. She really is such a trooper.

Unfortunately, due to the increase in seizure activity, particularly happening at school, I've chosen to pull her out of kindergarten until she is more stable. I spoke with her teacher yesterday and, if all goes well Banzel wise, will try to start her back up in class this coming Monday, October 10th. I'll just have to see how the rest of the week goes. But I've got high hopes for my Rock Star. :)