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Send in for meds; not getting meds; yikes!

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 3/10/2009 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I am in Utah. I had to sign a paper with the pain clinic that I won't pursue pain meds from anywhere else. I also have to physically go to the doctor's office to get a prescriptions on pain meds filled (morphine and methadone).

I've gotten to a point a couple of times that I was nearly out of the methadone, and it was touch-and-go whether I'd have enough pills to get me through to when the doctor's office opened (they are closed on MONDAYS and remembering that is its own challenge).

I've seen here that some people appear to get their prescription (paper, not med) through the mail.

We're still narrowing things down, and I've only been going there for about 3 months. Is this something the doctor may offer after we are working together for a longer time? Mail would sure make getting the scripts a lot easier to manage; save time driving there and back, as well as save cost of dr visit.

I realize it may not work the same here as where you are, but thought I'd ask here since I probably won't see the dr for nearly a month, and your answers will help prompt me to ask the dr how that might work for me.
Posted 3/10/2009 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tony; I don't know if I welcomed you or not and if I didn't I do so now. I see my dr every 4-6 weeks usually its every 6. They mail my scripts that I call in to my home. You might ask your doctor about seeing if you can get your scripts mailed to your home. I don't know how far it is to your doctor, some won't mail scripts if your in the city limits and require you to go in to get them. I know mine is like this but since I am 2 hours away from them they mail my script in.

Hope this helps

Hugs

Scarred
Posted 3/10/2009 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
In California, you need to see the doctor every single month for Opiods. Always
try to save a few out of your supply in case you have an emergency. Kind of like
a saving's account.
Pamela
Posted 3/10/2009 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Only way for you to know is to ask your doctor about it. It wasn't something my PM "offered" to me. I had to ask.

In Illinois, you're supposed to see your doc every month if you're on C2's, but I can still get a script for 90-day mail order. I just need to continue scheduling monthly appointments with my doc, but it does save me a lot of money on filling the script (plus no chasing down medications all over creation). It is a lot of medication so not all doctors are comfortable writing for a 90-day supply and even those that are okay with it for some patients might not allow it for others. It wasn't clear to me from your post, but you do understand that the 90-day service is offered by your prescription insurer, not your doctor, right? You PM would just write a script the same as if it were a monthly refill & you would have to send it off to your prescription insurer to fill. Not all insurance companies offer this service, so be sure to check with them before getting a script from your doc.
Posted 3/10/2009 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Tony,
My pain meds are still being prescribed by my neurosurgeon's office even though it's been over a year since I had my surgery. I think they feel badly that my surgery failed. He told me I was only one of two patients for whom his surgery didn't help. But they're about 3 hours away, and they have been great to me - I call and his nurse mails me my scripts every month. But they're not a regular pain management office. I know once I switch life will change, which is why I hate to leave them. But they won't keep doing this forever.

I would talk with your doctor and explain the situation and see if the suggestions others have made might be possible. But also follow Frances' advice.

PaLady
Posted 3/10/2009 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, thanks everyone. A bit different for each, it looks like.

So far, my doctor has wanted to see me every month. But hasn't had a problem writing for larger numbers of pills for his own convenience (and mine, honestly) around the holidays because things are so hectic. He wrote for 2 months then, with a statement on the bottom when the prescription could be filled ('must last until xx/xx/xx') and ('can be filled after xx/xx/xx') so I didn't have to see him then and could get a prescription. He wrote a 4 day overlap so I could be sure not to fail to get them. Only problem was the 'overlap' was Friday thru Monday and my pharmacy is closed half a day on Sundays so I still had to time it right.

With the morphine I can do a bit of a savings bank. But with Methadone there is absolutely zero room to save even one pill for emergency. Same with the Cymbalta; the leash is very short. Those are the two I worry most about (of course), and that I think do most good for my pain.
Posted 3/10/2009 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Tony,
Could you maybe see your doctor a little less than 30 days apart? My insurance will fill a script as long as it's been at least 23 days since the last time it was filled. By doing that, I have been able to get a few extra pills for emergencies (obviously, that must be done under a doctor's supervision & approval). I sometimes see my doc every 28 days, so I could save up a whole extra 2 days worth of meds. It has been a godsend when he ends up with an emergency at the hospital and has to post-pone my appointment by a couple days.
Posted 3/10/2009 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
PaLady: 'But also follow Frances' advice.'

You mean get a 90 day script for simplicity, but see the dr every 30 to comply with regs? Yes, that sounds like a pretty good option.

For my insurance, I know they will do a 90 day supply for some medications at least, and when they do it is a reduced cost by quite a bit. And yes, Refills: 3 is a 90day supply from their standpoint so far when is was that long but they wouldn't go for the really expensive meds x 3 as a single refill.

But insurance have been stinkers for some of my medications, as well. Made me 'fail' on a lower drug type in two different situations before they would authorize the medication my dr was prescribing. In both cases they wound up paying for what the dr wanted (but after seeing the prices for the two versions I understand why they wanted the other version: $80/month vs $230/month).
Posted 3/10/2009 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, that's sort of how I save a couple of extra - but in my case it's usually by filling it maybe a day early. Thankfully, I had some awhile back when my percocets got really screwed up because of my pharmacy changing, and weekend, etc.

It sounds like your doctor is wiling to work with you, so maybe discuss your situation next time and see if you can get a refill like you did before. Some doctors will let you go every 2 months if it's appropriate and they trust you. It also depends on differing regulations.

PaLady
Posted 3/10/2009 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Frances: Excellent idea! I already have my next appointment set, but for sure I'll start trying to squeeze in a couple of days early for the 2 or 3 appts after.

Thank you for that.
Posted 3/10/2009 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
I usually end up seeing my Dr. every 25 days, so I end up getting my prescriptions filled a week early every month. My pharmacist at the small pharmacy never has a problem with filling early. But Walgreens won't fill it more then 2 days early. Now that I have my insurance back I'll have to see what happens.

Me.
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