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CVS Caremark contacted my doc about pain med prescription

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Posted 6/19/2011 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
hi all one thing that can be an issue with us with Crohn's disease is absorbtion...I am on percs- 10/325 x 6a day for my crohn's pain...we discussed other options such as oxicontin bc it's extended release...the issue is that with crohn's the extended release pills might be a huge waste of medicine and money bc the meds are not absorbed well and the plld tend to pass rather quickly- taking the relief with them...when i discussed this with the PA at my pain clinic he said you're right- that option probably wouldn't be the best for you...just my quick 2 cents regarding pharmacists etc who may think the "pill count" is too high...
Posted 6/19/2011 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
In my area...just outside of Washington DC..in Northern VA...the CVS Pharmacy is one of the most expensive one's..**.it is literally 3 times the amount of what I pay for the exact same medicine...

This is why I have never gone there...and I go to Sam's Club Pharmacy...by law...you do NOT have to be a club member to use the Pharmacy....and they are actually cheaper than some of the Walmarts...even though it's the same company..They just have access to a broader range of medicines and more buying power so they are cheaper...

I have been going there for 10 years...love the head Pharmacist as I've gotten to know him over the years...as well as the other few staff members..so if there was ever an issue...he would talk with me about it...

He knows all the surgeries I have had...he knows what and why I take my medicine...and I talk with him when/if there are any changes...this way..he is part of the team of my health care..

One time, when for some reason the shipment of OxyIR was late...and I always go right on day 30...they only had about half of the amount...and by law...they are not supposed to do a partial fill on any narcotic...If they do...you lose the 'rest' of the prescription...and then have to have another prescription written for the remaining amount....But he actual gave me a few days worth free of charge....because he knew that I would have to drive to my Dr.s again to pu another script....He then gave the rest of the prescription to me when I came back, for free, as he felt so bad that I had so much trouble...and make so many trips..

This was all because he knows me...and I've given them my business for so long...

So this was two fold...it shows it's not only best to find a Pharmacy and Pharmacist that you like...

But also call around your area to check on the prices (if you have any money out of pocket) on what is the least expensive...
Posted 6/19/2011 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
I am in north central Texas and CVS is one of the high pharmacies too.Walgreens is much cheaper than CVS. We had trouble with CVS shorting us on pills when they first opened here and we immediately changed.

Costco is another one that is cheap and you do not have to be a member there either.
Posted 6/19/2011 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Yep..I even mistakenly assumed in the beginning that you had to be member's of those types of big box Pharmacies...but since it's a nationwide law they can't make someone pay the fee just to use the Pharmacy...it's good for people to know...I have a Costco right near me...but I've been going to this Sam's so long the little drive each month is worth it!..

Also, the gas prices there are almost 40 cents less per gallon!...(but that you have to be a member)....but I make back the fee in two tank fillings!! LOL
Posted 6/20/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry guys, I was MIA. It was Fathers Day and my husband is deceased and our kids are young and we just ran off and avoided the day. LOL....Let me try to answer some of the responses. Snowbunny 21, the 5/13 refill was posted twice by accident. I posted my entire Lortab refill history. The 60 qty prescriptions were given to me by my FNP until I was able to be seen as a new patient with my rheumy. I didn't have a refill in November because I had a MRSA Staph infection and was in and out of the hospital.

I spoke with my pharmacist and the doctors assistant. CVS Caremark contacted them because of the quantity I was having filled each month. It appears that they are only worried about the cost each month......not my quality of life or the amount of pain I deal with everyday!! My doctor went by their recommendations and lowered the qty each month. When I told him that my pain wasn't controlled on the lesser amount he increased the mg dosage.

I am going to try the 10 mg and see if they improve my pain level. If not, my doctor will contact CVS Caremark and I will either go back to my previous dosage or he will find a better way to manage my pain level.

Again, thanks so much for taking the time to respond. You guys have the best advice, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your personal experiences :)
Posted 6/20/2011 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Harley you nailed it I use CVS Caremark too and its the all mighty dollar those idiots are interested in. I do hope you can get all of this resolved in your favor. Take care.
Posted 6/20/2011 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for more information...I guess I am confused as to why CVS would care about the cost...if you get a lesser prescription, they are getting less money...

Either they are being paid by your insurance, or paid by you...so they don't care either way...they get more money if you are self pay...but still...

They usually want people to be on more medicine.....so this isn't making sense to me..

It also still doesn't make sense that your Dr. would change his prescribing to you based on CVS...they have no affiliation....if he wanted you to stay on the same dosage...he would just tell you to go to a different Pharmacy if it's causing you issues...He doesn't care where you go to...if you have a contract with the Dr. based on taking narcotics...they just care that you tell the name of the Pharmacy...

So...I"m still scratching my head as this is all still fishy to me..(not on your end...but your Dr.s reasoning)...
Posted 6/21/2011 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Snowbunny21, I have figured out our confusion. LOL......CVS Caremark is a part of my insurance company. UHC uses them for our mail order pharmacy. I have to order from them on certain prescriptions. My local pharmacist explained to me that UHC has their own pharmacists on board to monitor misuse and money saving prescriptions. He also tols me that they want us to use a lesser amount due to it saving the company money. Hope this clears up the confusion. I'm sorry that it took me so many posts to clarify all the details :)
Posted 6/21/2011 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Wow...thanks for that information!..I had no clue that CVS...which is just a drugstore up here to buy makeup, tp, etc. with a Pharmacy in the back...I didn't know it could be and was a part of your insurance...So yes..lol...that changes everything from the first post:)....

No worries...that just shows how things work in different parts of the country...

Can you not use any other Pharmacy that you want? Or do you have to use them for the Lortab specifically?...This is where my Dr. would be livid to ever change his actual prescription amount based on an insurance company...I mean..yes...insurance can decide which formularies they want over others..and usually push people to generics over brands...especially new medication on the market....

but never dictate the total amount (milligrams) of the dosage that the Dr. wants you to be taking...

I am without insurance...so I have to be on whatever is the cheapest of medicines...which generic MSContin and OxyIR are really cheap...but my Dr. makes sure that my dosage is matched on what I was taking before which was Oxycontin....

Thanks so much for explaining in your post...no wonder we had so much confusion...LOL...:)
Posted 6/22/2011 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I have always  had my ortho write on a script of lortab NO MORE THAN 6 a day. My GP who writes for it now, has the bad habit of writing one or two every 4-6 hours, 45 tabs, 5 refills. He knows there is a copay wit every time I refill it, but that is the way he wants to do it.  So I live with it as it is $5 each time, when it could be $5 monthly.  Insurance companies have made such restricted lists anymore it is hard to get to take anything they are willing to pay for. My insurance does pay for oxycontin, which my dr prefers, so for now I use it,also.
Posted 6/22/2011 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lahaina, Welcome to HW:)...We would love to learn more about you and it would be great if you could introduce yourself by posting your own thread..

**In this thread...it turns out that CVS Caremark are the OP's insurance company...not just the Pharmacy...***

I just wanted to say that one's Pharmacist should actually be an important member of your health care team...

By law...a Pharmacist is absolutely allowed to contact your Dr. just as the Dr. contacts the Pharmacist for any issues they deem to be of a concern..

They are also allowed to reject any type of prescription if there is a concern...just like some Pharmacies have the 'morning after' pill, and others don't....

There are new laws that are going to be in every state...and in a lot of them now like where I live in VA...That has a Statewide monitoring system for prescriptions...So if I filled a narcotic prescription at one Pharmacy, and then went to another the next day...it would come up in the system that I filled one yesterday and then would contact their Dr. or tell the patient to do this and refuse the fill.

This is to help prevent people who 'Dr. shop' by going from one to the other getting different prescriptions..

As well as some Dr. periodically request a printout from the Pharmacy about the prescriptions filled by their patient and all the fill dates...

So...that is why most of here recommend finding a Pharmacy that you like, and actually becoming friendly with the staff there so that they do know you, and know your situation...

I have been going to mine for 10 years which is a Sam's club Pharmacy...My Pharmacist knows all my surgeries...all of the meds I have been on over the years...and has helped me at times when they didn't get their shipment on time...

I'm glad that you have found a good one at a 'mom and pop'....but there can be good/bad one's no matter how big or small...It's just about finding a good fit for each person...and then make them part of your 'team'...

Hope to learn more about you with a thread of your own:)

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 6/22/2011 5:02:37 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/22/2011 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
What the heck is Caremark anyway?????

I mean I know what it is but who asked for it??? All of a sudden I was getting letters from them when I wanted Botox for spastic muscles.

Why is there now a need for a third party? Notice how third parties are popping up everywhere... it's just to get more $$$$$$$

In my state scrips for pain killers CANNOT be called into the pharmacy... you have to go each and every month to get scripts and then play the game of whether you are gonna get the meds in before you run out.... also, urine tests are done about every 3 months....

The big thing was.... I got fingerprinted picking up a script.... I felt so violated.
Posted 6/23/2011 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
Lahaina...

Re: what Snowbunny was saying....

Most of here like to encourage "new" members to start their own threads of introduction. Go to the button that says "Post New Topic" and introduce yourself. That way - as many people as possible will see your posts - and be able to give you a proper welcome. You can share as much of your situation as you feel comfortable.... many members share about what their health/pain issues are; some share about their families or support systems; and so forth. Anything you are comfortable with....

Again the point is for as many to see it - so that we can welcome you!!

One more thing.... and this is not meant as a critique at all - so please don't take it that way!! It's just many of us here have problems tracking posts... due to our health issues (concentration issues, tracking issues, exhaustion and so forth). Some abbreviations are just fine (ie - "PM" instead of Pain Management).... but we try to write out as much as possible vs. using all the abbreviations used w/ texting ("to" instead of "2"; "people" instead of ppl). Just a thought! (We'd rather you post and use those, than not post.... so this is just food for thought!).

Anyway, look forward to getting to know you better - let us know if you have any other further questions.

--Tina
Posted 6/23/2011 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Lahaina...yes...it would be great for us to get to know you since you are new...to tell us a bit about you, what your pain issues are and diagnosis, and how you cope with living with daily pain...just an intro of sorts if you like:)

When you look at the main page...you will see a button on the left hand side (underneath the 4 videos near the top)...it says "Post New Topic"....

This way...you can have your own thread that more will see and welcome you to HW:)
Posted 6/23/2011 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Harley,

I have UHC as well but we have Medco for our meds and I know others hate them but I have had real good luck with them. I even had a pharmacist call and talk with me about my meds(not narcs). Is it an option to change to Medco or do you have to stay with the other?

Posted 6/24/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
I think the pharmasist may have been more concerned about the acetominaphen then the hydrocodone.

8 pills is 4 grams of tylenol-the absolute max per day you should take. And, dangerous for long term use.

Your doctor by upping the concentration of the hyrdro and reducing the number of pills greatly reduced your acetominaphen dose while not reducing the hydrocodone by the same percentage.

If you are in more pain this month mention it at the next appointment.

Posted 7/23/2014 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
CVS Caremark made the local news in my neck of the woods too.
After serious injuries last year and getting off of oxycodone (of my own volition) I was taking librium for nerve damage from an exited ulnar shaft (in just the wrong place) next a large nerve center running to my hand, along with tylenol or ibuprophene swap-overs. Needless to say, this didn't work well do I requested over the phone Tramadol because I know someone for whom it works quite well.
It was granted by the nurse and called in to CVS without a prescription.
So, after my next doctor visit, he prescribes Tramadol at 1 or 2 every 6 hours and Librium at 1 or 2 every 8 hours with a mere 2 moths max in refills.
I stretched it out to four months, as I had learned what works for me, being in construction and suffering different levels of pain from various activities.
The nurse last week decided to try and convince that I was only supposed to take one tramadol per day.
So after confirming all my prescriptions from CVS for two years back, and that they only print dosages according to the doctor's orders, I returned to see my doctor, who increased my supply by three times, knowing me most of my life and that I don't abuse drugs and would rather not take ANYTHING in the first place.
The nurse must have seen the news.
Either way, I don't like being lied to and I think I will change my doctor.
Posted 7/23/2014 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
...sorry about typo's. My phone screen is entirely too small for typing with my thumb, and my other hand still jitters with nerve palpatations.
The message screen nearly disappears also when the keyboard comes up and I have to type in-the-blind.
Posted 7/23/2014 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Jack & welcome to the chronic pain forum. Jack we ask all new members to make their own intro thread so that all members will see it & be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard. By posting on an older thread such as this one not many people will see. What you have written above would make a perfect intro thread. You can copy & paste it if you like. To start a new thread look to the left & click Post New Topic, type in a heading either type what you like or use the above.

We like to keep these older threads off of the main page so this one will be locked so no further posts can be made. Thanks.
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