Pharmacist overrides dr in deciding when my meds "can" be refilled, arrgghh

A year ago I had to change pharmacies, my old one closed. I have been a customer of thier pharmacy, exclusively, for years. I know I wrote about a while back but need to vent.
I am treated like a drug seeker there. The "new" rules are as follows; monthly customers must bring in their script a day in advance and it will be filled the next day, the pharmacist decides if he will early despite insurance rules for filling and written dr note on script stating ok to fill early, scripts are only allowed if they follow the new federal guidelines, and it is recommended that you call prior to refill date Mon-Thurs to ensure they have it or will order it in time.
The day prior to my knee surgery the pharmacist engaged me in a half hour conversation about my history, my meds, my conditions and MY DAUGHTERS. This was not the first inquisition either.
Since my surgery my cervogenic pain is screaming at me, my fibro headaches are ramped up in combo with my post concussion syndrome headaches, my knee is usually on fire, need I say more?
Today I brought in a script for my Norco with drs note on it ok to fill early. I requested a two day early fill. The pharmacist claimed they had zero in stock, on a Tuesday? And he would not fill it until the day it was due, thirty days- Friday.
I picked it up and walked out.
Why am I upset, let me count the ways. As an advocate let's think of all the persons with medical disorders of any type who take public transportation and need to go constantly. Let's take me; I have several meds so how many times a month do you think I have to go in? Just because I have chronic pain I should not be made to feel like a drug seeker, go in to the pharmacy five times a month, be grilled by someone not my dr, and denied assistance.
Wow.
I have a stronger medication from surgery that I am now going to take as I search for a new pharmacy, hopefully an I dependent one that engages with as I am, a human being.

i took out the name of the pharmacy. Saying negative things about a business could cause HealingWell some problems.

Sherrine

Post Edited By Moderator (Sherrine) : 4/28/2015 7:18:02 PM (GMT-6)

Pharmacists are between a rock and a hard place. They can be held accountable if you are given narcotics early...along with the doctor. You can read about this here.

www.medscape.com/viewarticle/749833

Also they are,clamping down on narcotic use so your pharmacist is just playing by the rules. I'm Sorry you are dealing with this.

Sherrine [\blue]

I tried t copy and paste it and it wouldn't let me. I just started googling narcotic drug refills and there is a ton of info on the subject.

Basically, the laws have changed plus hydrocordone has been put on a higher schedule. Pharmacists are held accountable if they prescribe drugs early. I know some states say your doctor has to orally okay an early refill. But the pharmacist is just protecting themselves from lawsuits and possibly dismissal from their job. If you've gotten early refills before, they do keep track of that plus pharmacies are checked out and they can see if the pharmacies are giving out early refills.

You are to take the medication as prescribed and no more. This way you don't run out. We have had members who were having a tough time, took more of their pain meds and then had to go several weeks without pain medications because they couldn't get a refill.

I'm sorry you are dealing with this but it pretty much is the way the law is written. They have clamped down a lot on narcotics because there has been more addiction problems. I hope this helps you understand better what is going on.

Sherrine

Thanks to all
Sherrine, I know hydrocodone got rescheduled and a lower amount is allowed. This bussiness has it's own mission statement on addiction. They do not sell nicotine products anymore as a result of the policy. I stand behind it. I have worked in the addiction field and it has personally effected people I know. In ca 28 days is legal w the handed in script. My dr took the added precaution of stating ok to fill early due to constant bombardment from this pharmacy and pharmacist. It was 28 days.
I really never experienced this in 14 yrs until I changed to a new place, same business. My record w them is honest and there is no questionable dr history or pharmacy jumping. It is a simple matter of desiring to work w my drs and not get treated as an drug seeker. I feel chronic conditions of pain are more than enough to handle in our daily lives. I can't change his opinion or job mission statement but I will change how he makes me look, and subsequently, feel.
Thank you for your research; you a wonderful moderator
Blessings

Thank you again Sherrine. Yes, a few have made it difficult. I only wish that persons with legitimate drs and clean history were not taking the brunt of this policy.
It seems fairly simple to look through histories, data bases and know the difference. Like in my case :). This pharmy knows all my diagnosis/ history, surgery, etc. After doing some research myself tonite, I conclude the paperwork they are responsible for is also a huge deterrent. I actually found a thread from that business written by pharmys explaining how to get rid of any patient who took over a certain amount or more than one, opiate.
I am glad I understand options and self advocating! I can't abide the loss of humanity so common in society today. I have worked w too many made to suffer from shame created from stigma due to ignorance.
Compassion is not just a word, it is an action.
Blessings

Well all I know is I pick mine up every 28th day, never had a issue with it. :) Hope everyone has a pain free day.

What pharmacy are you using? Is it a national chain or a local pharmacy?

Discussing negative things about a certain business could cause problems for HealingWell.

Sherrine

Post Edited By Moderator (Sherrine) : 4/30/2015 5:19:33 AM (GMT-6)

I use the chain for years that you spoke of and I love them. I have never had a problem with them, my prescriptions are ready on time, and everyone is so pleasant. So your experience isn't true of all of the stores in the chain. They will abide by the rules set, though, and they aren't going to be more strict because there is competition out there and they would lose business.

You can go to other drug pharmacies and see what their policies are and switch if they are different. They should be the same if they are abiding by the law.

Sherrine