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Trouble with refills

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Posted 9/30/2012 6:14 PM (GMT -7)

Hey Gang!

I'm just wondering if any of you have the same constant problem with trying to get your pain meds refilled.  I regularly take 10mg of oxycodone twice a day, with Lortab 5/500(1 every 4-6hr) or 50mg Tramadol for breakthrough pain as needed.  My REGULAR schedule is the OXY and Tramadol gets refilled every 30 days, and the Lortab every 7-10 days.  My problem is that I have to manually track down these meds EVERY SINGLE TIME I need to get refills.  I have to call the pharmacy AND the PCP's office multiple times just to get refills written and processed every time I need them.  My DR won't write the scripts with refills on them, so I have to constantly pursue that the process is done on a bi-weekly/monthly basis.  It is such a headache to have to badger the pharmacy and Dr's office staff to get my meds, and I know they don't appreciate the hassle.  Does anyone else have to do this or do are you given refills on your scripts without having to get physically involved every time?  Just wondering...

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 9/30/2012 6:23 PM (GMT -7)
With schedule 2 meds like the Oxycodone....they never have "refills"...

The Lortab and the Tramadol can have refills depending on your states laws/regulations and what your Dr. chooses.

I am two Schedule 2 meds..MSContin and OxyIR. I see my PM every 3 months...When I leave the appt. I have my prescriptions for that month to fill asap. Then he gives me a set of post dated prescriptions for the next month. Then I go in to just pick up at the front desk my third month.

I think I have read that you aren't seeing an actual PM Dr.?

This is probably one of the reasons they are more stringent with you. The DEA and states are really looking at non PM Drs. now prescribing opiates/controlled substances long term.

I certainly don't understand why you have to go in 7-10 days though...that seems ridiculous...

Why not finally make an appt. with an actual PM to get treated?
Posted 9/30/2012 7:16 PM (GMT -7)
Hey Snowbunny,

Actually, I see a Pain Mgmt. clinic at the University of Va. Medical Center, but they require my PCP to write  my pain scripts.  Makes no sense to me.  Appparently, my PCP has a problem with writing scripts that are post-dated, so I have to manually make my refill requests EVERY time they are due.  My Lortab and Tramadol can be faxed to my pharmacy, but I have to contact the pharmacy to request each refill, then call the PCP's office to make sure they received the request and have passed it along to my doctor.  I have to pick up a hard copy of my Oxycodone script to hand carry to the pharmacy, but I have to call and request it every month, then wait for them to call me when it has been written.  It usually takes two or three phone calls everytime to actually get the process accomplished.  That's why I'm complaining about the process...it shouldn't be such a hassle to get regularly scheduled medications filled.  UGH!!!

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 9/30/2012 8:04 PM (GMT -7)
cranky,

sorry to hear of your problem with re-fills and such, that would be a major hassle.

on my Loratabs, I am given a script for (180) 10/500 every 30 days, with 2 automatic refills. I see my oncologist every 3 months, so he writes me a new script with each visit.

on my fentanyl patches, i get (15) 75 mgm patch script every 30 days, but because of its level of control, there is never ever a re-fill, automatic or otherwise. i have to call his nurse a week before i run out, and what is typical is that the script is mailed to me. Twice, I have had to make the 60 miles round trip in person to pick it up, so I didn't have to run out on a weekend.

hope for your sake, and piece of mind, you can work out a better arrangement. good luck

david in sc
Posted 9/30/2012 8:10 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Cranky,

I think we all go though this as you can't get refills on narcotics.

I can call in my vicodin (bt med) and go pick it up at the pharmacy but my Morphine ER can't be called in like that. To get the Morphine I have to call several days ahead, then go pick up the script and take it to the pharmacy every time.

My doctor gives me enough for 30 days on all of my meds.
Posted 9/30/2012 9:22 PM (GMT -7)
THANKS GUYS,

At least I'm not all alone in the boat when it comes to the hassle of refills.  I know narcotics have special refill limitations, but I think my PCP makes me really work for mine, figuring that he'll dole them out only if I really work for them.  If I don't have to put out the extra effort, then I guess he figures I don't need them as much as I really do...if that makes any sense to anyone.

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 10/2/2012 5:19 PM (GMT -7)
My PM dr will sometimes do mail order for 90 day supply of my LA med which is fentynal. Its sort of a pain to make sure I am home for the fed ex overnight delivery, but well worth it when I think of the calls and trips I would need to make every month to get my scripts. My drs office isnt to organized and it takes multiple calls and then its not usually ready anyway, even days after promised. I wish they would just give post dated scripts, or even just print them to have on file and ready at the office.
Posted 10/2/2012 6:52 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Cranky I am on The Fentanyl patch and oxycodone. We don't have a car for me to go pick up my prescriptions. There was several months that I was going into withdrawls because my doctor never got my scripts sent to my pharmacy on time. I started calling a week ahead of time before the scripts are to be filled. Now I haven't had any problems. I finally get my meds when I am supposed to.

Maybe you could get a different set up on getting your scripts refilled. I think having to get the one prescription refilled every 7-10 days is rediculous.

I wish you good luck on getting your scripts refilled on time with no hassle.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 10/3/2012 12:06 PM (GMT -7)
When I used to take oxycodone they would give me three perscriptions at a time to be filled evefry 30 days. I no longer take it. I do get 5 refills at a time for my butran patch and loratab. But I have a family physician so it may be different if you see a PM.
Posted 10/3/2012 12:45 PM (GMT -7)
Ryobi...thanks for sharing...

FYI, but the reason you get 5 refills with your Butrans and Lortab are because they are Schedule 3 medications and not anything to do with your Dr. Schedule 3 meds can be called in or have refills listed on the prescription bottle.

Oxycodone, Morphine, Fenantyl...those are examples of Schedule 2 medications and they require a hard copy prescription. My Dr. gives me two months of post dated prescriptions for my OxyIR and MSContin...

I hope you are getting good pain relief from the meds:)
Posted 10/9/2012 3:42 PM (GMT -7)
In British Columbia Canada,Dr.'s can prescribe our schedule 2 medications (oxycodone,morphine,ect.) for 90 days at a time.If you pay for the prescriptions yourself,you can get all 90 days worth but you better not show up early because you took all your meds too soon obviously.Most insurance plans (govt included) only pay for 30 days at a time on opiates so a trip to the pharmacy is needed but Dr. visits only every three months,thank goodness.
Posted 10/10/2012 1:40 PM (GMT -7)
I started, when I had a PM and insurance, saving a lot of time and hassle by filling the scrips at the hospital pharmacy (with the insurance, co-pay was the same no matter where I filled it as long as it was in network, and this one was) where he had privileges and his clinic was located. He could literally call in anything, or I could take an elevator ride to his offices for written scrips.

Don't know if that would help your particular situation, But maybe it could.
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