Hydrocodone Com Meds Schedule II in 45 days

I just read that link, as a former tutor of statistics I found 2 glaring statements that had no backup either in the statement or a footnote. Where did they get the " 7 million people are addicted to opioid pain medicines" statement and where did they find that more people die from Rx overdoses than in car wrecks. Through ing around numbers like this is irresponsible.

Further, they are lumping Hydrocodone in with all opioid pain meds making it seem like it's just the hydro that's doing all the damage. Not enough direct numbers were provided to be able to see what damage hydro alone is doing. Things like this make my blood boil . . . Q

Hi M&G ,
That's exactly the point I was trying to make, don't trust the numbers. Thanks for putting it out in a different way. . . . Q

Alcie,
Do you think that with all the tightening up on class II Rx's that you might now have to get a script a month like you do with other class II meds like Oxycodone? Right there is two extra trips and phone calls. The pharmacies here in NM won't let you fill a three month script for any class IIs unless you prove you are going on a trip and all of that hassle. This change is not for the good of the patient, that's for sure. Hopefully you will notice no change, I would call my pharmacy and make sure first . . . Q

PS: As for cancer drugs, here's a good one . . . Medicare is charged $14,000 every four months for my single 30 mg IM injection of Lupron. This price doubled from $7,000 when my private cancer center was bought out by a large hospital chain called Christus. When I asked my MO about it they said since we are now part of the hospital they can charge it as a hospital procedure. We don't get anything out of it. Sickening, isn't it. I also have to pay for my bone density test OOP.

Thanks MG, I was aware of that, I was just wondering if Alcie was aware of it. An extra two trips to the dr. Is a hassle. I realize that some Drs. Bend the rules and give out three post dated scripts for Class IIs but they sure don't at my cancer center. They may be liberal on their Rx's but not on when they are given out. Last month the triage nurses gave me a big pat on the back for never calling in early in seven years. I guess they have a problem with that there for them to get so excited over something so minor . . . Q

I love this forum, I learn something new all the time. The Dr. Who told me that it was illegal was my former MO . . . He was a real jerk! One of those God complex types, I was so glad to get rid of him. Imagine him telling me a lie like that. Thanks for straightening me out MG! . . . Q

You're right MG, they really have no reason to hand out misinformation, now in question a lot of things he told me. The reason I switched MOs was because he wouldn't authorize a full Hep-c test for me. Two close friends of mine died of Hep-C last year and I was fairly certain that I had good reason to believe that I had contracted it from at least one of them. He would just say that I didn't have Hep-C and change the subject
When I reported this to my new MO she was aghast, she told me that having Hep-C would affect my choices of therapies. She immediately referred me to a GE to be tested and sure enough I was right, unfortunately. . . . Q

Every single month I have to get a paper script and it's been that way here in FL since I started on Morphine ER and Oxycodone IR and before the morphine, it was also the same for the oxycontin ER. It's all I've known.
The hardest thing was finding a pharmacy that had them or could get them. err.....

Oh, wow! I didn't realize there are no refills on schedule 2. As everyone but me seems to know, that means monthly trips. There are days when driving is impossible here in the winter.

Thanks, M&G for the link. Since post-dating isn't allowed, we really do have to make monthly visits. That means a couple extra co-pays ($30 for me) and 3 hours gas round trip, lunch on the road, and a whole day lost. (I can't do more than one thing in a day.)

My docs have a notice posted that it takes 24 hours for the script to be ready for pickup after a call, and Monday after a Friday call. I hope I can make a standing appointment for every month!

I just got a new 3 month Rx to pick up on the 30th. The Sept pick up should be OK, but the one in Oct? Do prescriptions crossing over the change date (45 days from the 21st I guess) suddenly become unfillable?

How about the just called-in Rx for my tramadol? That's a 3 month - turning schedule 3, which will require a paper script. Will I suddenly be told I can't get it and have to make an appointment to get the paper?

On re-reading the law, it does say we can get a 90 day supply. I guess that takes care of going to the office every month.

Post Edited (Alcie) : 8/25/2014 3:30:32 PM (GMT-6)

So, M&G,
Alcie's big choice is to call her Dr. and ask if three 30 day post dated Rxes are going to be an option to the long drives and extra co-pays. Otherwise she will have to change her schedule. My Cancer Center's policy has always been one visit, one 30 day script. I'm good with that as I schedule my monthly blood draw with my meds . . . Q

Post Edited (quincy17) : 8/27/2014 2:45:53 PM (GMT-6)

Dixie, trying to stop the proliferation on the streets would be too much work so the DEA has chosen what seems to be easier , darn the torpedoes, all speed ahead . . . Q