Walgreen's has started new narcotic program..

What are you meaning "each script has to have it's own paperwork"...?

I go to Walgreen's.... my scripts are all printed on one 8x11 piece of paper.... I don't have to show my ID as they know me well in there.

--Tina

We've had to show ID at the Sam's club, (I'm in VA), for a few years now. All my prescriptions have to be on tamper-resistant, laser printed paper and each prescription has to have it's own 5 x 7 sheet. The way the prescriptions are done, the only thing that is written on is the Drs. signature so someone can't change the amount or the type of meds.

It's actually a great thing in my eyes to prove that you are the one (or an approved person/relative) picking up your prescriptions as I had a big issue with one of my old PM Drs. back in 2005 where they said I went to the office to pick up my prescription but that was impossible as I was in NC that entire week and not leaving until the next day when I called them! But they swore it was me...a woman with blonde hair...LOL

If they had required a signature at the Dr. office for my prescription, as well as ID at the Pharmacy..it would have been easier to track down who was the person who stole/filled my prescription.

So..I'm pretty sure it's a requirement in the state of VA but not positive if all Pharmacies are adhering to this but glad my Sam's club does.

I don't see how these two particular things cause a real issue for most of us if it's required? Again, you can easily have another name on file with your Dr. and the Pharmacy of a family member if they are also allowed to pick up your prescriptions or work with your Dr. on having something with a photo ID if someone doesn't have a driver's license.

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 4/24/2013 5:14:13 PM (GMT-6)

That is what I like about having a pharmacy in my small town. We basically know everyone and our pharmacist knows everyone. When I pick up a prescription she will tell me if my mom or sister has one that needs picked up so I can take it to them or the other way round.
Our pharmacist took over for her dad, so we have had basically the same pharmacist since before I was born.

Take care,
Bill

Vickie...the other things you are mentioning are not things we have to do in VA. We are allowed to fill a prescription anytime the Pharmacy is open.

The exceptions are if it's a brand new patient to strong opiates or it's from a Dr. that is not recognizable in the area then they may want to check the Prescription Monitoring Program or contact the Dr. directly...But for myself, I can fill during any Pharmacy hours.

I would work with one's DR. to let them know and help you build up a bit of a reserve ( a few days worth of all meds) to have for these type of situations. I definitely have about 5 days on hand as we ran into a large storm last year where power was out close to 7 days. And then before that it was a super snowstorm and shipments of meds weren't in, hard to drive anywhere, etc.

So, I have talked to my Dr. about this and he has given me the ok to take a few pills less here and there on the ones I can or he will prescribe a little bit more for one prescription to have extra.

I happened to be at my Drs office for therapy when Walgreens had faxed the paperwork to them and she brought them and a release of information form back for me to sign.

She said I could look at it and that my Dr was advising me to change pharmacies as he believed it was a little too much information for them to have and for me to be aware it would be entered into a computer that had nationwide access by any Walgreens employees.

The parts I scanned over asked how long I had been on current dose of current meds. List meds tried prior to this and why they didn't work. What other modalities are being used,surgical procedures performed, all diagnostic codes,are these automobile accident related, workmans comp,injury accident or disease related, how long current Dr. Has been treating and are there anyother Dre treating. Then normal things like name,age,address, ss#,dob.

I tried to explain that here changing pharmacy was not an options since I've been filling there for 10 yrs and all pharmacies only fill scheduled meds for existing patients .. so stuck with them no matter what.

Vickie

I have had to show an ID for any controlled substance for at least 7 years here in Louisiana at any pharmacy. I am using Walmart right now so I do not know what Walgreens procedures are. Heere in Louisiana the drivers license number is entered into the state database even for my son's ADHD meds. The lady at Walmart knows my name birthdate and my kids names and birthdate and she still has to see my ID by law. I thought that was a federal law to be honest.

Now on the subject of making you wait to verify the prescription with the doctor, what if you just had surgery and you need your pain meds? I have had so many surgeries where I have to get my pain meds after doctor hours. That's gross and negligent harm to deny a customer a legal prescription as long as the DEA number and signature of the doctor plus the watermark is on the prescription. Just wondering how can they do that.

There is a federal law in the works that, if passed will require a prescription for opioid medications to have a physical prescription and an electronic one and both must match before the script can be filled.

As far as showing ID goes many pharmacies have gone to this when dealing with narcotics. I know the CVS I use here (IL) required me to show my ID the first time I filled my pain med script there and they made a copy of it, with my permission and also wanted to know who else might be picking up my scripts. Since my wife is the only other person who I allow to get my scripts she also let them make a copy of her ID. This way we don't have to show our ID every time. Also any time we pick up a pain med we have to sign for it. At first it was in a paper log but recently they went to an electronic one where we sign for it on the customer credit card reader.

I've been going to the same pharmacy for years. Yes-they know me very well, but still ask for ID. Pharmacist told me it's mandatory, even if you've been going for years. Similar to carding for alcohol. Pharmacist told me that there is always the possibility of someone coming in to see if rules are being followed. I don't care-no hassle for me.

No problems like those described here in SC. I don't use Walgreens, I use the same CVS for at least 12 years. On my controlled meds, still have to show a driver's license, but I have always had to do that. And I can have any med filled anytime the drug store is opened, has nothing to do if my doctor's office is opened or not. Never heard of such a thing before.

Of the meds I am on, only with the Fentanyl do I have to have a physical prescription to hand in, the other meds, can be called in or faxed.

david

These situations are not isolated to Walgreen's at all. I go there and am very happy.... never any problems filling all my monthly scripts which include 3 Class II meds (including oral fentanyl); soma; etc. I go to the same pharmacy each month; know my pharmacist well; he keeps my meds stocked for me each month.

CVS has a mess of issues going on w/ the DEA right now:
www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/04/03/cvs-settles-with-dea-over-drugs/2049629/

--Tina

I stumbled across this forum... I am a semi -retire Pharmacist and a chronic pain advocate/consultant. The pharmacy chains are being shoved around by the DEA.. since most of you probably have some sort of insurance.. you pay the same no matter where you go... You have to make a choice... a independent pharmacy normally have more realistic policies on these issues...
--
Secondly, you are having to show your driver's license, because 40 odd states have a prescription monitoring program.. where the pharmacy sends each control med filled info to this state database..
--
By state law, the store has a PIC ( Pharmacist in Charge).. and is legally responsible for the operation of the Rx dept.. these new rules are being made by someone up the corporate ladder.. may or may not even be a licensed pharmacist..
--
You could file a complaint with the state board of pharmacy (BOP) over this... most have a consumer complaint form on their website... IMO... all of this nonsense ...falls under denial of service/care and patient abuse, and would file a complaint against the pharmacy/Pharmacist with the BOP.
--
IMO.. someone is eventually going to file a lawsuit over patient abuse against these chains... maybe even a class action law suit.
--
Some of these young Pharmacists are riding a "ego trip" about what authority that they have... they forget that they are there to take care of patient's needs and as we all know.. the needs of a chronic pain patient doesn't fit into a nice, neat formula..
--
They feel easy in doing this.. because .. most of you are physically/mentally depleted and don't have the physical/mental strength to "fight them".
--
The more of you that just "take in" and don't "strike back"... the more embolden they become.