Shortage on my pain meds

So i went to pick up my prescription today at the pharmacy I have been using for a few years. I was informed that there is a nationwide shortage and they are 7 pills short. I can wait to March 18th to fill or take today and just lose those 7. Waiting two weeks is not an option. Being 2 1/2 days short not a real good alternative either. I will make it.

B, by chance do you use a chain pharmacy? I have ran into this before & they would call a different store to see if they had enough to fill my script. I am also wondering since a reduction in production of 25% was enforced last year if this is the issue. It's scary having to chase down getting a full script filled. Be sure to take a picture of your bottle showing the amount you received.

Sorry this happened.

Maybe I misunderstood...I have had times where the pharmacy did not have enough medication and they filled what they had and 'owed' me the rest. I picked the remainder up later in the month. Is that the case, bigecase?

I was informed that my narcotic prescription (schedule 2) was void with a partial filling of the prescription. Ex. Where the pharmacy did not have sufficient stock in hand to fill my monthly prescriptions for hydromorphone and Fentanyl patch. I took what the pharmacy had available. My physician then wrote a new prescription for the deficit amount, which I filled at a later date.

I now routinely take my prescriptions to the pharmacy 5-6 days before the full date to give the pharmacy sufficient lead time.

Whether a pharmacy can fill the remainder of a partially filled prescription may depend on the class of narcotic for which the original script was written, as Darla and Lynwood have received benefit. A prescription for a hydrocodone-based narcotic would be less restrictive (schedule 3).

Either way, big case, I think you will have avenues to claim the shortfall of the 7 pills. Talk with your pharmacy and physician.
Karen

Bigcase:
My situation has been exactly as yours.

The pharmacy did not have the full amount of hydromorphone (dilaudid) or duragesic patch (fentanyl) on hand to fill for the 30 day monthly prescription.

The pharmacy gave me what they had available to dispense (filling for less than the full prescribed 30 day supply). The original prescription was considered voided with the partial fill.

My physician then wrote a new prescription for the amount of the shortfall. It was written with the same prescribing terms (take x quantity y times a day) as the original 30 day script. I filled this script within the next 7-10 days as the pharmacy had replenished its stock.

Your physician will write your new script for the 7 pills that were lacking, using the same terms of dose/frequency as your original script. You will fill it within the same 30 day period as your original script.

I do take my schedule 2 prescriptions to the pharmacy about 5 days before the fill date. You might consider giving your pharmacy a similar lead time or “head’s up.”

You should be able to obtain the shortfall of 7 pills by talking with your physician and pharmacist.
Karen

I have had shortages in non-opioid meds and have been able to get the remainder filled the next day or so. Not a problem.
I suspect that the other answers are right. If the pharmacy doesn't have enough of an opioid or other controlled med, you shouldn't accept a partial fill unless your doctor is willing to write another prescription. I would wait a day but not several days.

This is another good reason to keep a couple of days of something you really need for emergencies.

bigecase I think that is the best (but of course, unacceptable) option. I am not sure what other people have found these days as far as pain management but in Fl it is really tough. All Drs refer to pain mgt clinics where you have one or two Drs and several nurses or PAs and tons of patients. Last week I was there for TWO hours. And that is not the first time. It is like waiting in a bus terminal. And nobody seems to think that is not OK. If you dare to ask how long it will be you risk a problem. I am well aware it is difficult to be in PM these days but I pay a specialist co-pay, not cheap, and just want to be treated like a patient. My point is that any changes that involve the Dr doing something or getting in touch with them seems like a difficult thing. Do your best going with less for now. It is not easy and I am sorry for your aggravation and pain.

That's good!

The deciding factor here depends on the type of opoid prescribed. A schedule II opioid or a schedule III or IV.

A schedule II opioid will not be availing of being able to later pick-up medication from an original prescription that is partially filled when there is lack of supply on hand. A prescription for a schedule II opioid is considered null and void with a partial fill. Thus the need for the physician to write a new/second script for the number of pills foregone from the original script.

A schedule III or IV opoid is less restrictive on the matter of a partially filled prescription. A pharmacy can provide you will a partial fill of the prescription and provide you will the remainder a few days later when additional supply is available to the pharmacy.

I have had a similar scenario as Bigcase. Bigcase should be able to get restitution of the 7 pills in chatting with her physician to write a new script for the 7 pills that the pharmacy did not have available in stock at the time. Good Luck, Bigcase. You are not asking for anything other than was originally prescribed for you.
Karen

Seashell, if I remember correctly. Codeine combined with other medication. is the only Schedule III opiate. Codeine alone is still a Schedule II

Seashell, mine was a schedule II, they "owed" me some quite often. The key is if THEY run out, it's ok to fill the rest when they get the next shipment in a couple days. If I can't afford the whole prescription and only want part, that's when the rest would be void.

If a pharmacist does a partial fill on a Schedule II. But the remainder does not come in within the time frame state laws allows. The patient has to get a new prescription for the remaining amount. That is why most pharmacist will not do a partial fill.

Some doctors will not write the second prescription. Some require the patient to come back in. Which means an additional co/pay. The insurance company treats it as a new prescription. Which can cause problems with a Schedule II.