HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

pharmacy

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/2/2009 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had just left my Doctors office and got my refills for my pain meds and when I went to the pharmacy to get them filled. I have been going for over 7 years now and  I have never had any problems getting my scripts filled until today, I get 224 roxycodone 30mg and 224 oxycodone 5mgIR every 28 days and today the pharmacy told me that they could not fill them because they were out, so I went around to all of the other pharmacy's in town and everyone was out, so I called my Dr and I asked him if there was anything else he could give me until they get their shipment in on Monday and he told me that the only thing he could give me was oxycontin and they were out of that also now hears the kicker the pharmacy would not fill my scripts because they only had the 30's and did not have the 5's so I call my Dr and let him talk to the pharmacist and he told them to fill the 30's and when the 5's came in on Monday to fill them. now hear is my question why would he not just fill the 30's and then when the 5's came in fill them? he told me he had to fill both or none, now is that stupid or what?
Posted 6/2/2009 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
The DEA has some very specific and sometimes not too logical rules for narcotics dispensing. Don't blame the pharmcist, he is just following the rules.

Whether or not the rules make any sense is another matter entirely. Somehow, the DEA feels that making perscriptions difficult for us to get is somehow going to fix the problem of drug diversion. I don't have the answer but I doubt that this type of regulation is really effective.

Modelmaker
Posted 6/2/2009 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Sam,
Since you've gone to that pharmacy for a long time, you might ask (with a smile on your face so as not to damage relations!) why they couldn't fill it. That you want to understand in case it happens again - and it could because there have been shortages on the Oxocodone IR's for awhile evidently due to supplier problems. Were they written on the same script? If so, that could be the reason, as they can't fill part of a script for controlled substances one day, and the rest the next, even if they pharmacy is out. It's different than other meds. So I would ask the pharmacy what your options are for the future. If it's that they were written on the same script, possibly getting each medication on a different script would be enough.

But states also have their own regulations in addition to the federal ones. Modelmaker is right that all these regulations are to help stem the problem of drug diversion - and you know what the results of that can be. So there are some reasons that make sense, but I do think we CPP's have gotten the short end of the stick, to say the least.

PaLady
Posted 6/2/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
My doctors here in Belgium told me there are some serious shortages in pain medication in the States. Can anyone fill me in on the background?
Posted 6/2/2009 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Morgoth,
There are some older threads that went into great detail. Try doing a search of Healing Well to find them.

The other thing you can do is go to the fda.gov website and read some of the advisories they issue. Mostly the Oxycodone IR seemed to be due to a manufacturing issue; I think there was at least one plant that was shut down, and others were found not meeting certain standards. So then doctors prescribe the closest options like percocet, or oxycontin (which is oxycodone in extended release form) and it's like dominoes. The shortages start with those meds, too.

Others may add more info., but that's what I know so far.

PaLady
Posted 6/3/2009 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
hey all;

          To answer your question as to weather or not they were written on the same script, the answer is no each prescription was and is always written separately, There is however a prescription drug abuse problem in this area that I live in and as some of you know I recently had a problem with my son and I will not go any further into that here, and yes my son is progressing with his therapy as well as everyone else who was affected, to move on, it was just surprising to me that the pharmacy would do this, the owner of the pharmacy will be in tomorrow and I am going in to ask him to explain to me the reason and the rules so that in the future this won't happen. When I get an explanation I will inform everyone and maybe it will help someone who mite have this same problem, till then thanks for the advise.

Sam

Posted 6/3/2009 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to say that I'm sorry that this had to happen to you, and that you get your answers tomorrow when you
speak with the owner of the pharmacy.
Lots of soft Hugz..
and sure hope you get a low pain day...
Posted 6/3/2009 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Sam,
I'll be curious to learn the explanation, too. I don't understand why the one script wouldn't be filled, especially with your doctor calling. It might be some new regulations (or some old ones), but I doubt it's personal to you.

I hope you can get it resolved and get your medication!

PaLady
Posted 6/3/2009 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Sam, I use the same pharmacy each time and now, when I drop my script off they check and see if they have enough to fill my scripts. I am not sure what I would do if they did not have enough, but the phamacist did share that they know that my scripts are filled every 28 days and that they make plans for me. That is nice to know and maybe a benefit from living in a smaller town. It is also good to hear that your son is doin g well.
Posted 6/3/2009 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all;

           Well I have just returned from the pharmacy and I have my explanation, Here it is , with all of the recent events that has happened here the police have asked the pharmacy's to tighten up on procedure and the fact is I was one day early on getting my scripts filled and the pharmacist just handled the situation wrong and Mr Smith has assured me that he has talked to his employee and explained my relationship with his pharmacy, now I felt that was wrong to do that simply because she was doing her job and I told that to Mr Smith, but now everyone is on the same page, I understand their is a serious prescription drug problem in the area that I live and I support all the efforts that law enforcement is trying to do to solve the problem. there it is.

                                              Sam

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply