Migraine Mini: Do Not Chew or Crush

When I "graduated" to the heavy-duty prescriptions for migraine control, my two options were Depakote and Topamax. Both of these drugs are anticonvulsants, used for epilepsy as well as migraine. Depakote is available as "sprinkles," (which I've administered as a caregiver in supported homecare settings for disabled individuals) and Topamax is swallowed whole. The other main difference is that Depakote cannot be taken while pregnant or trying to conceive, and Topamax is only "risky" as it is known to increase prevalence of cleft palate and cleft lip in the developing fetus. I never thought I'd need to consult with a neurologist about family planning, but that's where I found myself in 2015. I took the Topamax.

"Do Not Chew or Crush" 4×6 inch mixed media on canvas.

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This series is as much about the issues of drug prices as it is about my life with migraine disease. My maintenance medication has a sticker price of $1200 per month. Why do they cost so much? I assume they are made of gold… so I crafted these little golden pills. So each of 30 completed works of art costs as much as one day of my migraine meds: $40

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