Medication refill rant

[dez1978]

Why is it so danged hard to get my kids ADHD meds refilled??? I mean, I get it, because addicts ruin it for those who have a legit need for it. But it's infuriating. I can't request it more than 3 days ahead of time which I did on Friday. But his Dr wasn't in over the weekend so still hasn't approved the refill and he took his last one this morning. The pharmacy isn't allowed to request the refill on a schedule 2 med. I've called the Dr's office and they are just waiting for the dr to send the approval. But the dr isn't in that office today, she's working in the hospital...

Then I see on mom groups on FB about taking their kids meds or buying it from other people to take it to "get stuff done" and I get so mad, bc thats the stuff that makes it harder for our kids, or even adults who really need it.

 

[Meriweather]

Why is it so danged hard to get my kids ADHD meds refilled??? I mean, I get it, because addicts ruin it for those who have a legit need for it. But it's infuriating. I can't request it more than 3 days ahead of time which I did on Friday. But his Dr wasn't in over the weekend so still hasn't approved the refill and he took his last one this morning. The pharmacy isn't allowed to request the refill on a schedule 2 med. I've called the Dr's office and they are just waiting for the dr to send the approval. But the dr isn't in that office today, she's working in the hospital...

Then I see on mom groups on FB about taking their kids meds or buying it from other people to take it to "get stuff done" and I get so mad, bc thats the stuff that makes it harder for our kids, or even adults who really need it.

Yep.......DS has the same problem getting DGD's med

 

[LuvOrlando]

I totally hear you and feel bad sending wishes for some help your way.

No ADHA but I have brutal migraines all the time, which means I am often in agony which means I use the word hurts which means I am automatically put in a possible addict pile. I won't even use the word pain regarding autoimmune arthritis with those Dr's and just stay home instead, I won't even try to work because moving means pain and there is no socially or medically legitimate remedy for pain any more. I could probably more around a lot more than I do with some pain management medication but that isn't happening so I just sit around and try not to hurt anything & sometimes wonder how many other people are out there like me.

Such a shame how much damage the abusers did to everyone else who are just trying to live our best lives with what we have

 

[daisy2013]

My daughters doctor sends 3 scripts at a time with different dates so January February and March. I can use those scripts to refill for the following month. When I refill the last one I send a note to the doctor’s office and get three more unless we are overdue for a check in then I have to schedule the check in and will get scripts until that month. Can your doctor do something like that?

 

[dez1978]

My daughters doctor sends 3 scripts at a time with different dates so January February and March. I can use those scripts to refill for the following month. When I refill the last one I send a note to the doctor’s office and get three more unless we are overdue for a check in then I have to schedule the check in and will get scripts until that month. Can your doctor do something like that?

I don't think thats legal here. Like I have to request the script every single month and it has to be sent in each month. We don't get hand written scripts, it's all done electronically and just one at a time.

 

[dez1978]

I totally hear you and feel bad sending wishes for some help your way.

No ADHA but I have brutal migraines all the time, which means I am often in agony which means I use the word hurts which means I am automatically put in a possible addict pile. I won't even use the word pain regarding autoimmune arthritis with those Dr's and just stay home instead, I won't even try to work because moving means pain and there is no socially or medically legitimate remedy for pain any more. I could probably more around a lot more than I do with some pain management medication but that isn't happening so I just sit around and try not to hurt anything & sometimes wonder how many other people are out there like me.

Such a shame how much damage the abusers did to everyone else who are just trying to live our best lives with what we have

yes, in the attempt to crack down on the abusers they have very much screwed those with a legitimate need for those meds without offering any real viable alternatives. And the fact that Drs don't take their patients seriously when they complain of pain and just label them as med seekers is ridiculous. The fact that people with chronic pain issues whether its arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc just have to suffer because others abuse is stupid and sad. Added to the fact that while there may be other alternatives out there, the fact that they can't/won't do real legit studies on them bc it won't make the big $ for big pharma and others is ridiculous. I am sorry that you have to deal with this

 

[lanejudy]

We used to do similiar to what @daisy2013 mentions. The doctor would submit 3 scripts electronically, with "do not fill until mm/dd/yyyy" in the notes. We'd go to the pharmacy and pick it up (our account was set-up for the pharmacy to notify us when a script was ready for pick-up). Then we'd do a check-in with the doc and repeat for another 3 scripts.

 

[dez1978]

We used to do similiar to what @daisy2013 mentions. The doctor would submit 3 scripts electronically, with "do not fill until mm/dd/yyyy" in the notes. We'd go to the pharmacy and pick it up (our account was set-up for the pharmacy to notify us when a script was ready for pick-up). Then we'd do a check-in with the doc and repeat for another 3 scripts.

Was it for the same type of meds? Bc I was told this not allowed. The dr has to submit it each time. and only up to 3 days prior to the 1st one running out. Both the Dr office and the pharmacy said the same thing.

 

[mjkacmom]

My sons are either mailed to him or he has to go pick them up. He’s turning 24 so I think it’s time to find a primary instead of his pediatrician, he’s 6’1 with a beard. I’ve given him names.

 

[lanejudy]

Was it for the same type of meds?

Yes. Over the years we've used a few different ADHD meds, all controlled substances.

 

[kymom99]

My sons are either mailed to him or he has to go pick them up. He’s turning 24 so I think it’s time to find a primary instead of his pediatrician, he’s 6’1 with a beard. I’ve given him names.

Haha my sons pediatrician told him last summer that was the last time he was seeing him. He’s 22 with a beard. He doesn’t really need a doctor but he should have one in case of emergency.

 

[lanejudy]

So someone is giving you a line if they are refusing to put the script into the pharmacy queue any earlier than 3 days. How does your doctor's office even know the exact date you filled it last month? Any doctors here always take at least a day to get a "refill" sent to the pharmacy if I call to request one -- I think they hold all refill requests to work on once at the end of the day. So that's a lost day right there. And no guarantee the pharmacy filled it immediately or that you picked it up that evening. I'd try making the request more than 3 days out. The pharmacies here will simply sit on a script and not fill it immediately if called in too early. For ADHD meds or others. We recently had something odd with another med having 2 scripts called in maybe a week apart; the pharmacy said "we'll hold it and fill it in about 3 weeks." I had forgotten about it when we got the call about a prescription ready for pick-up.

 

[mom2febgirls]

Since we can technically get it refilled every 28 days I make sure to message my daughter's Dr a few days before the refill day. It usually takes a day or two and the pharmacy fills it when it's 'legal'. At present we are a couple of weeks ahead. Which is good because there have been times when the delay has been significant in getting her meds refilled and this way I have some buffer.

It sucks that we have to manage such a tight schedule, though.

 

[Christine]

It's been a few years for me and each state is different, but we used to do the thing stated above where we would get 3 scripts written out, even when doctor's preferred electronic, for those they would write them out for me.

Then when my son started with another doctor, we were able to get the 90-day order over the 30-day order. Not sure how they did that, but that was a real help. But still, even when you get to the end of that, there was still the runaround with the refills.

 

[dez1978]

Since we can technically get it refilled every 28 days I make sure to message my daughter's Dr a few days before the refill day. It usually takes a day or two and the pharmacy fills it when it's 'legal'. At present we are a couple of weeks ahead. Which is good because there have been times when the delay has been significant in getting her meds refilled and this way I have some buffer.

It sucks that we have to manage such a tight schedule, though.

My own adhd makes it ridiculously hard to plan this out lol. I am not very good at adulting.

So someone is giving you a line if they are refusing to put the script into the pharmacy queue any earlier than 3 days. How does your doctor's office even know the exact date you filled it last month? Any doctors here always take at least a day to get a "refill" sent to the pharmacy if I call to request one -- I think they hold all refill requests to work on once at the end of the day. So that's a lost day right there. And no guarantee the pharmacy filled it immediately or that you picked it up that evening. I'd try making the request more than 3 days out. The pharmacies here will simply sit on a script and not fill it immediately if called in too early. For ADHD meds or others. We recently had something odd with another med having 2 scripts called in maybe a week apart; the pharmacy said "we'll hold it and fill it in about 3 weeks." I had forgotten about it when we got the call about a prescription ready for pick-up.

They go by the date they issued the last prescription. So the last one was issued on say 12/20. They will not put another one into the system until 27 days after 12/20. Regardless of when you might have actually picked the last one up. It's stupid. It makes me angry that it's so difficult to get this stuff done and so many hoops to jump thru. But I can get my Zoloft refilled for an entire year without batting an eye.

 

[disney212]

One of my crohn's medications is $25k a month (not a typo) and every January when I refill I get a notice from insurance that it has been denied based on no evidence it is helping. Mind you I've been on this medication for 5 years. Doctor has to appeal every January. The office actually had a full time staff member whose job it is to appeal. It's not experimental and had kept me out of the ER and operating room for 5 years. NUTS.

 

[daisy2013]

We used to do similiar to what @daisy2013 mentions. The doctor would submit 3 scripts electronically, with "do not fill until mm/dd/yyyy" in the notes. We'd go to the pharmacy and pick it up (our account was set-up for the pharmacy to notify us when a script was ready for pick-up). Then we'd do a check-in with the doc and repeat for another 3 scripts.

Yup this is what they do. It’s all electronic. If I try to fill too early, they won’t let me.

 

[nicolita3]

I have the same issue but with a medication that is frequently abused by athletes. I hate it. I can only get 27 days worth of medication at a time. Every year the insurance has to run an auth. to see if I still qualify. It always takes at least all of January arguing to continue in the meantime I am off my medication and feel lousy. Makes me hate athletes that cause this and get millions of dollars in the meantime.

 

[superme80]

Preach! We had a huge issue during Thanksgiving. We were told we had a 3 month supply, and my husband swore he saw a 3 month prescription on file. Go to fill it, nothing. There is no 3 month prescription. The office is closed the day after Christmas. It took a week to get my son's med. He was 10, so school was out of the question. This is the many reasons I am grateful we homeschool. I can work with his issues. I feel for the kids who miss school due to not having their medication. His med is a top tier controlled substance. It is frustrating as it is such a small dosage, and no one can give you even a day or 2 to get you through until your doctor is back in the office.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't think thats legal here. Like I have to request the script every single month and it has to be sent in each month. We don't get hand written scripts, it's all done electronically and just one at a time.

What's the medication if you don't mind me asking?

What I found for MO is

• Missouri limits Schedule II prescriptions to a 30-day supply, while limiting Schedules III, IV, and V prescriptions to a 90-day supply

Examples of Schedule II narcotics include: hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), methadone (Dolophine®), meperidine (Demerol®), oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®), and fentanyl (Sublimaze®, Duragesic®). Other Schedule II narcotics include: morphine, opium, codeine, and hydrocodone.

Examples of Schedule IIN stimulants include: amphetamine (Dexedrine®, Adderall®), methamphetamine (Desoxyn®), and methylphenidate (Ritalin®).

Other Schedule II substances include: amobarbital, glutethimide, and pentobarbital.