Picking up your script on Day 14 or 15 - Do you ever have a problem?

By Amanda Tuesday, April 20, 2010

- A
- A
- A

I'm just wondering if this is a common source a friction between most chronic pain patients and their doctors' offices, or is it just my doctor's office.

Lately, my doctor's office, which is an enormous practice, has been giving me (and other patients that I know go there) a hard time about what day they can pick up their prescriptions. I always used to be able to pick my Percocet prescription up on days 12 through 14 before it was due. Day 14 is the last day I have any pain meds left. The doctor's office has been insistent lately that I don't need it until Day 15 so that's when I can pick it up; some days I have to wait most of the day on day 15 for my Dr. to get around to printing my script, signing it, and then giving it to a nurse so she can call me to pick it up when she gets around to it. I have tried to explain it to them a million different ways that when they do it this way, I wake up in Day 15 with no pain meds; morning (and night) are my absolute worst time of day and I need the meds to begin moving so I can function. In a way they're right, I don't need the meds until Day 15 but I need the script in my hands by Day 14 so I can get it filled and have it ready for Day 15. Does anyone else deal with this same problem?

On a side note - I understand the importance of DEA laws (I wish they didn't exist because they make my life a pain in the ass but I do recognize their place in the drug world) but some weeks I can call my Dr's office and if I get a nice/understanding/compassionate nurse who doesn't act like she hates her job and every 3rd caller, my prescription is actually sent to my doctor, signed, and ready for me early (days before I need it). Then, when I pick it up, I notice that not only was it ready early but it is also not post dated so I could have it filled earlier than 2 weeks if I need to. It doesn't make any sense and unfortunately, it doesn't happen too often!

Lyrica Question & Fibro Hip Pain - Unable to walk or sit comfortably

Comments (12) | Add comment

MillieKeyLargo

4/20/10 7:10am

I get my medications every 30 days, and I've never, ever in 6 years ran out of medication ahead of time. I see my PM Doctor monthly and he writes the script. I know that the pharmacy and that my insurance is not going to fill the script until the day that the old one is over and done, so even if I see my Doctor 2 weeks before my script is due (which it usually happens that way), I don't take it to the pharmacy until I the day that I can fill it.

If you are taking your medications as directed you shouldn't be running out of meds ahead of time. If I have to fill my meds on the 23rd, I will have enough medication to carry me through the 23rd, I take the script to the pharmacy in the AM, and by the time that I pick it up in the afternoon, I have my meds for the next 30 days again without running out of medication at any point. Like I said, I've been doing it this way for 6 years and I've never, ever ran out of meds.

lockdog_1990

4/20/10 10:18am

Yeah I do have sorta the same problem. I take this pill called Xolox 10/500 when I first started taking it 2 and a half years ago it worked great and 90 pills would last me a month. This last year or so I've been hurting so damn bad that 120 pills last me 2 weeks. My doctor has tried putting me on a pain patch Durogesic or something well im allergic to the adhesive. Actually im out of medicine right now and my doctor is out of town hes been gone for 2 weeks. My pain management doctor is in a bigger town 100+ miles away. So basically im screwed. But to answer your question yes my doctors office does give me hell about refilling my medicine earlie. Im going to to try to get stronger medication. This medicine seems to be less effective the more I take it. Kinda like what happened with Hydrocodone I was on that for 3 years now when I take it the way its prescribed it doesnt help. If I take more than prescribed all it does it make my dizzy needless to say I quit taking that medication.

Marion

4/21/10 12:13pm

She used to give me 2 weeks worth with a refill and tho the refill was fillable on Tuesday, I always run to that store and get a few things on my break such as bread and eggs, and I'd get my script filled at the same time (one day early). One day I got a nasty letter from the pharmacist in the mail and it said how I continually got that filled one day early and blah, blah, blah, and how I shouldn't even be taking pain medications for years on end and blah, blah, blah. I was MAD! I showed it to her and she about blew a gasket. She said he is not a doctor and it is none of his business how much or what you are taking and she told me to find a different store to fill at and she would make sure none of her patients went there ever again either because it really made her mad. Then she started just giving me a months worth so I wouldn't have the issue. I have ran out a day or two early and she is pretty decent when I call to get in a day or two early, even tho she chews my a** when I get there. She does know that I have a small farm, a horse I can no longer ride which breaks my heart, and other rescue animals, goats, etc, that I take care of, a family I cook a 5-course meal for every night cuz I love to cook, I work 44 hours a week, and have a gorgeous walk thru flower garden with fishponds, etc., that has been the love of my life working in for about 15 years, so she understands that sometimes I overdo it. She still gets mad, but she hasn't given me the boot "yet"...

PBurchins

4/22/10 5:54am

Yes, I have had problems with the same thing. My doctor would do a 30 day script of medication and then my doctor would order a new type of drug that would need to be ordered or the pharmacy was out of. Also, I would get the script and the insurance company would take 3 days to approve it because it was a weekend and claims adjuster was not working.

I started to make my appointments on Tuesday to stop the 3 day hold because the insurance company was not available on the weekend. The doctor agreed to write a script for extra medication for a few months to build a small inventory. 10 pills or such to keep as an emergency supply.

Also, when you make have a monthly appointment make it for same day of week you always make it for then it is 28 days vs. 30 days. Another thing people forget the months that have 31 days.

Diane

4/22/10 8:03am

I've never had a problem like you described with picking up meds. Sounds like your doctor is super afraid of others who examine his/her records, and look for protocol with narcotics. This still doesn't explain the behavior to me. Our practice here is for me to call the pharmacy first, and they fax the doctor, and she faxes the script back, that is, if it is no longer re-fillable.

Amanda

4/26/10 3:48am

You can't refill Percocet (at least not in the state of MA). I have heard of Vicodin being refilled but nothing stronger than that.

randy100

4/22/10 11:31am

This does not seem to be reasonable as far as how you are being treated at your pain management clinic. You are correct in that you need to stay ahead of your pain and the only way to effectively do that is to take your pain medication as directed. Putting a person in the position to run out of medication is not a good practice and if I were you, I would bring it to the attention of your pain management specialist or the clinic director since they probably are not aware that this is happening with you. If it is happening with you, it is most likely happening with others as well.

This appears to be an issue with certain staff in your pain management specialist's office and not you physician. It has nothing to do with enforcement agencies. It sounds to me it is more likely a staff person that feels overburdened or does not like their job much or can't keep up with a fast paced medical clinic.

I came to this conclusion by reading just what you wrote since I am not there and it sounds as though you know it is just a nurse or staff person that is causing the difficulty in getting your prescription in a timely manner when you need it which would be before you run out of your pain medication. That is just good pain management practice, to keep a person with pain out of pain because once it starts; it is much more difficult to control again.

Best of luck to you and I hope you get this straightened out soon, there is no need to be in pain if you don't have to be and it seems as though your pain medications are taking care of that when you have it to take.

WARRENGANG

4/22/10 2:02pm

Find a new doctor! I have never heard of something so ridiculous. My doctor would prescribe me a months worth of morphine and methadone, and write two more Rx for each so I only had to see him every three months!

Liberty

4/25/10 11:44pm

Ive been on pain medication since I was 13...Im now 36.

Im sure the Pharmacutical Companies just LOVE me! My pain meds come to $1150 a month.Thank GOD for benefits.

I get my prescription every 30 days.Not ONE day BEFORE!

My Pharmacy has been the same for many years..I just change locations if I move.Easier than explaining my painful life over and over.

I have tried to get my meds early...LEGALLY they CANNOT give me them early.

My pharmacy is good...but I have had issues in the past with them.

OPIOIDs are VERY valuable on the street.SO,I count my pills when they are given to me.I make sure not to be ripped off.I already HAVE been.I have been shorted pills on a FEW occasions.(Same Pharmacy).Losing out on 6 Morphine pills one time..My pharmacy knows I COUNT PILLS now.

LEGALLY they CANNOT give you your pills EARLY.

So...dont blame your Pharmacist...or Pharmacy staff..they are doing their job.

Making sure the narcotics are for the people who NEED IT! Not to abuse it.

Amanda

4/26/10 3:44am

I think I need to clarify my message or at least the end of it where I stated that I could pick my meds up early (if I had the prescription).

I am very much aware that pharmacies are not allowed to fill meds early and my pharmacy does not and will not fill early.

It has to do with the way my Percocet prescription is written; I get 90 Percocet and the script is - 1 to 2 pills every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain.

So, when I have a flare up and can't move my head, I can take 2 every 4 hours but if I do that for more than a couple of days, I will run out of my script early because my Dr.'s office will only give me a written prescription every 2 weeks. If you do the math, I can legitimately run out this prescription in 7 1/2 days. Right now, I am unable to walk without experiencing excruciating pain, nor can I sit or lay down comfortably because something is wrong with my hips. It's either a new scary Fibro symptom or something is seriously wrong but either way it's unbearable. I went to the Dr's on Friday in tears and they gave me a Lyrica prescription and told me it should work in a few doses and to continue taking the Perocet as directed but I shouldn't need 2 every 4 once the Lyrica starts to work. Well, I get to the pharmacy at 4:30 and my insurance won't cover the Lyrica without a Prior Authorization so I called the Dr's office back and of course, the nurse tells me that they won't begin the paperwork until Monday. She advised me to continue taking 2 Percocet every 4 hours, and I made her write it in my chart that she told me to do it and I would run out of my Percocet early and need a refill 5 days before its due. Regardless of her note though, getting the written script will still be an argument because nothing is ever easy but then again, I'll probably be back for another office visit because the pain is unbearable and dealing with the doctor directly is definitely easier.

Thank you for telling me to count my pills when I pick them up from the pharmacy; I have never thought to do that before. There was a time that I was short but it was during a flare-up week and I just figured I miscounted how many times I dosed with 2 instead of 1. I will be more careful from now on.

Liberty

5/ 5/10 3:05pm

Sorry,I think I interpreted your comment wrong the first time I msgd you. But I now understand what you were saying,in regards to meds EARLY.

I totally understand,that some days you/me need MORE than the "regular-dose" that has been prescribed to you.Some days ARE MORE PAINFUL than others. For Instance:We women, have our monthly"GIFT"/period,or rain/weather-effecting arthritis..

THOSE days we DO require MORE than the normal everyday dose...which in turn, makes you RUN OUT of your prescription EARLIER than the 30-day script.I TOO HAVE had that happen. Unfortunately, the Pharmacies CANNOT give your pills early.The ONLY thing that could help,is calling your Family Doctor,or your Pain Specialist.Let them know that the dose is too low., and you still require MORE as you are STILL in pain. Ask for another assessment,or to be referred to another Pain-Specialist. There are other meds they should try....but it depends on why you are on Pain Medication,and the seriousness of your disability/injury.

Unfortunately,because of the abusers of pain-medications, the ones who ARE in PAIN are the ones who suffer.

Tonio Larabi

4/29/10 10:40am

The ONLY person responsible for your body's care, is you! We don't live in Grey's Anatomy, where we see the physicians think about OUR problems...Piff. Having a Chronic-Pain disease, I also do not have a "leave it to Beaver" life. I do travel WAY further than 1,000 miles away from my home and doctors.

If your meds are monitored this way, it is very stupid. Seriously, you're going to get a refill for 60-90-120 pills, yet they will not ALLOW you to keep your own standard of living. When I run out of Medication, I might be in Britain, France, South America. I cannot plan each of my monthly trips around a doctor! HE SHOULD SCHEDULE MY DISEASE AROUND MY LIFE. Otherwise, I'll end up in a foreign country, run out, get whatever medication I need and as many as I want, etc.. Is this BEST for the patient (i.e. ME)? Hell no. I need a doctor to follows me, once he/she has committed to treating me.

According to a paper I did, some years ago, I had proven that real people, who hold a DEA License, cause normal, every-day people, to get their medication another, EASIER way! This crap in the USA and Arizona does not keep a druggaddict any more, or less of an addict, if they have three, or four extra pills? Give me a break!

Come on SCIENTISTS, use that side of your head. When I get ready for my month, I just refill all of them. My Insurance pays 10 days prior, but will pay, if I am leaving sooner. So whichever physician wants me in his/her office can pay for it. Right now, that would cost the physician approximately $2,500.00 (COACH/ECONOMY). It will be a different amount, if the need to match my current trip.

I cannot reinforce this enough; It is YOUR HEALTH, YOUR BODY, YOUR FUNCTIONALITY, it is you getting up at 4:30 AM, to catch a flight, have an early meeting in Argenta. Have afternoon meetings, then diiner with all of them. After you return to the hotel room, at 03:00 (AM), then have another B/F meeting. The last thing that SHOULD be on my mind, is worrying about the EXACT day I need to see that ANAL-Retentive physician. DEA allows any physicians, any amount of time, to prescribe schedule II Narcotics. DEA does not say that all physicians MUST WORK "7 days a week, 365 days a year". So, I guess that two, or three days in ONLY for the convenience of the phycisian God forbid to ever include who is PAYING YOU!

If they enforce this, then I would require that the clinic be open THE EXACT DAY I AM OUT (SUNDAY). If they want to "MAKE UP UNREASONABLE RULES", then they take golf days off and actually see the patient's butt!

Otherwise, I have to trust that physician mor than they trust me, so if they think I need to come in for a lousey refill, TWO DAYS PRIOR, that sounds really Eastern European to me, I'm talking when it was USSR.

I should give my MD that Month's itinereary, then they all work from thst sheet, not work around my disease!

Thanks.

Picking up your script on Day 14 or 15 - Do you ever have a problem?

Ask a Question