OT-Vacation Prescriptions

[Gigi22]

Has anyone else had problems getting a prolonged absence (vacation) prescription filled? There’s no pain killers, or anything like that involved, my pharmacy just seems determined not to fill my dr.’s prescriptions with the full amount of tablets and has split them into two amounts insisting I wait for a month before completing one prescription. I’m confused. How do “snowbirds” who are away for months at a time manage?

 

[Donald - my hero]

Has anyone else had problems getting a prolonged absence (vacation) prescription filled? There’s no pain killers, or anything like that involved, my pharmacy just seems determined not to fill my dr.’s prescriptions with the full amount of tablets and has split them into two amounts insisting I wait for a month before completing one prescription. I’m confused. How do “snowbirds” who are away for months at a time manage?

We always get 3 months at a time to save on the dispensing fee and have NEVER had a problem getting them filled like this. We've also never had a problem getting them filled early if we're heading on vacation - last year we were gone for 3 weeks and they filled the entire 3 month supply, even provided a smaller labeled bottle for everything so we didn't need to cart massive bottles with us!

We use Shopper's BTW if that helps. Only concern might be if you have insurance that covers a certain amount at a time -- when we needed something that was covered by OHIP they would only dispense 30 days at a time but they did mention if we needed more for a holiday situation that would be ok. (The pharmacy should have made you initial the script to confirm that you were receiving less than the amount written by your Dr btw)

 

[kuhltiffany]

It can be up to your doctor (get them to write dispensing instructions directly on the prescription of how much they will allow you at once), or what your insurance will allow. I have paid out of pocket before and then submitted to insurance when the time period is over to get around that one.

If it's not either of those, I would go to a different pharmacy...

 

[Silvermist999]

I would either talk to the pharmacy manager/owner or go back to see your doctor for a new script.

I’ve had bad experiences with certain pharmacists who don’t know best, or are rather illogical. For example, I saw a dermatologist for a skin condition, was given extra refills on the ointment for future flare ups, because he would not be seeing me in the future, without another referral from my family doctor. Luckily I went almost a year with no issues but then when I needed a refill, the pharmacist on duty refused to fill my prescription since it was over a year even though I still had 3 refills on it! I escalated this to the pharmacy manager/owner and made sure my refills were kept on file or I would transfer my prescription elsewhere.

 

[BLAZEY]

I always get mine 3 month at a time as well. The prescription was written as 300 tablets which is 100 days worth. This is the max my insurance will do at a time. I would go to a different pharmacy if they are giving you less than what the doctor has prescribed. I did get a month at a time when the was a shortage of my med in the generic form and had to pay big $$$ for the name brand version, even the dispensing fee was nothing compared to the cost of the name brand drug. I just did not wan to buy more of the named pills if my generic was made available.

 

[BLAZEY]

I would either talk to the pharmacy manager/owner or go back to see your doctor for a new script.

I’ve had bad experiences with certain pharmacists who don’t know best, or are rather illogical. For example, I saw a dermatologist for a skin condition, was given extra refills on the ointment for future flare ups, because he would not be seeing me in the future, without another referral from my family doctor. Luckily I went almost a year with no issues but then when I needed a refill, the pharmacist on duty refused to fill my prescription since it was over a year even though I still had 3 refills on it! I escalated this to the pharmacy manager/owner and made sure my refills were kept on file or I would transfer my prescription elsewhere.

New prescriptions expire 1 year from when they were written. Always be sure to get that last refill BEFORE the 1 year date it was written. A Pharmacist CAN at their discretion fill it. In that instance the pharmacist WAS correct.

 

[Gigi22]

OP here. It was three new prescriptions, with the dr. specifying the larger amount in each case. I know, because I copied the prescriptions so I could take the copy with me when traveling. And, I notified our medical plan to request authorization to dispense a larger amount than usual, and then as the medical plan requires, I waited a few days for the info. to get to the pharmacy. And still... I think I’m done with this pharmacy.

 

[Silvermist999]

New prescriptions expire 1 year from when they were written. Always be sure to get that last refill BEFORE the 1 year date it was written. A Pharmacist CAN at their discretion fill it. In that instance the pharmacist WAS correct.

Maybe this rule you mention applies for certain meds only. Don’t know. I do know for meds such as Epipens and asthma meds, this has never been the case. In my case, the pharmacy owner who is also an experienced pharmacist refilled my ointment and reinstated my refills on my file. I couldn’t afford another 8-10 month wait to see the dermatologist again just to get a new script for the same condition. That’s why he prescribed all the refills in the first place. The junior pharmacist had no right to delete all the refills from my file.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Maybe this rule you mention applies for certain meds only. Don’t know. I do know for meds such as Epipens and asthma meds, this has never been the case. In my case, the pharmacy owner who is also an experienced pharmacist refilled my ointment and reinstated my refills on my file. I couldn’t afford another 8-10 month wait to see the dermatologist again just to get a new script for the same condition. That’s why he prescribed all the refills in the first place. The junior pharmacist had no right to delete all the refills from my file.

It's the law in Ontario at least for a script to "stale date" the script should remain on your profile but technically they shouldn't fill it. What I do with my scripts from specialists is have my family doctor write for the interim ones between visits if need be. If you've been going to the same drug store for years and the staff knows you (ours see us coming and grab them before we even get to the counter!) You might get better service but I've been caught short by a temp pharmacist who is playing exactly by the rules.

 

[ellbell]

Maybe this rule you mention applies for certain meds only. Don’t know. I do know for meds such as Epipens and asthma meds, this has never been the case. In my case, the pharmacy owner who is also an experienced pharmacist refilled my ointment and reinstated my refills on my file. I couldn’t afford another 8-10 month wait to see the dermatologist again just to get a new script for the same condition. That’s why he prescribed all the refills in the first place. The junior pharmacist had no right to delete all the refills from my file.

I graduated from a pharmacy assistance program in Ontario and prescriptions are only valid for a year and in the case of controlled substances such as heavy pain medication it's 6 months.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I graduated from a pharmacy assistance program in Ontario and prescriptions are only valid for a year and in the case of controlled substances such as heavy pain medication it's 6 months.

Likewise, which college did you go to?

 

[ottawamom]

New prescriptions expire 1 year from when they were written. Always be sure to get that last refill BEFORE the 1 year date it was written. A Pharmacist CAN at their discretion fill it. In that instance the pharmacist WAS correct.

It's the law in Ontario at least for a script to "stale date" the script should remain on your profile but technically they shouldn't fill it. What I do with my scripts from specialists is have my family doctor write for the interim ones between visits if need be. If you've been going to the same drug store for years and the staff knows you (ours see us coming and grab them before we even get to the counter!) You might get better service but I've been caught short by a temp pharmacist who is playing exactly by the rules.

I graduated from a pharmacy assistance program in Ontario and prescriptions are only valid for a year and in the case of controlled substances such as heavy pain medication it's 6 months.

I don't use many prescription medications. Reading this suddenly makes a lot of past comments from pharmacists make sense. I had no idea. Learn something new everyday here on DIS.

 

[ellbell]

Likewise, which college did you go to?

TrIOS. Just a private career college but it does the job.