Have you talked to the pharmacy manager about this? I would go in 3-4 days before my refill and ask them to prepare for it. Let them give you a partial with the balance due. That way your script date is correct.

If the pharm manager won't help call corporate and ask for their pharmacy department. I can understand their problem but it is their problem not yours.

Hi JT, I agree with Tigg. If they don't agree with you or aren't willing to accommodate you I'd switch pharmacy's. I've been with Walgreens almost ten years & love them. There have been a few times they were either short or didn't have an Rx in stock. They gave me the option of picking it up the next day as they would have it shipped from another store or they would give me the option of going to another Walgreens that had it in stock. I've done that a couple of times, but I always told my PM Dr. Why I had to go to a different location so there were no issues. I really hope your situation is resolved soon.

Hugs & God Bless
Lisa

hugs!!!!

I also agree with tigg...incompetence is no business in the pharmacy so the pharmacy losing pills is a nightmare because someone is stealing them.....take it up the chain of command at CVS

Hi guys. They will NOT do a partial and they never offered to bring the meds in from a different store. And any time I question them on anything they claim it's due to Federal law.
Lisa, I tried to go to Walgreens but they don't accept TriCare...
I did just find out that the manager from my local store has been axed but I have ZERO confidence that anyone at CVS cares one way or another, ever since they bought Longs the pharmacy has gone down hill rapidly. I'm very unhappy buy the nearest Pharmacy that take my ins. is several miles away and I like being able to walk the 1/4 mile and back.. I'll have to see an improvement in the new manager of they will lose a lot of business, some of the drugs I'm on are very expensive.

Have you considered changing pharmacies? I've used Rite Aid for 15 1/2 years and never had a single problem or had to wait for a single medication.

You can't do partial fills on narcotics/controlled substances or Schedule II meds. If you get a partial fill you forfeit the remainder of the pills. So that's not really an option.

When you say they "start the clock" the minute you fill the script, that's normal, insurance companies tell the pharmacy when you can refill your meds, the pharmacy doesn't make that rule.

kat

Strange that you posted this today because I had a similar experience but a very different outcome.

I switched to a new pharmacy in Jan after mine of 10+yrs refused to accommodate my change to a higher class of narcotics. (No explanations I was just SOL.) When I dropped off my scripts today, I found out they only had 5 days worth in stock. BUT since it was their mistake, the computer didn't automatically order enough meds like it's supposed to, the pharmacist gave me the 5 days he had & I'm going back later in the week for the remainder. He did what he could to make it right. And probably put his tail on the line to do it. He called all the other local stores but none had enough so he placed an emergency order and gave me what he had.

He didn't have to. He could've just let me suffer until he had the whole script. It is against the law to partially fill a scheduled med. He accepted responsibility for the error & did what he needed to do to make it right for me, his customer. And that's why I've transferred all $8,000 of my scripts to his store since Jan. The other pharmacy lost that by treating me like a number they could care less about. I drive 30mi out of my way to get there but that level of customer service, respect and kindness is worth it to me. I like to reward good service & my wallet is the only power I have.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time getting your meds & that your pharmacy is acting like this. I assume yours works like mine with their computer automatically ordering the needed meds every month. They should know what you need on a regular basis. If they want your business there's always something they could do to make things right. If transportation is an issue for you why can't they call other stores & have the meds sent to them for you to pick up?

I hope things get figured out. You shouldn't have to suffer every month by doing without 3 days worth of meds because they mismanaged their inventory and/or dept.

Take care,
Emerald

This medication shortage is concerning; it's not just pain meds. My pharmacy has a difficult time getting my Methotrexate.

I had a really hard time getting my pills this month. I did the same thing asked them to please get some in so that I won't have to go to another pharmacy. But nope 3 mths I haven't been able to fill there walmart was out and walgreens will not fill for this doctor with their new policy of wanting records and diagnosis. Then I looked for a cvs pharmacy in next town and they refused to fill for my doctor then went to another walmart, pharmacist seem fishy saying he's never heard of mser. Then said they had none. Went to sams they had none but he was kind enough to call the walmart next door and they had it. I was so happy. I was already thinking I was going to have to go to ER that night. So so scary.

The small mom & pop pharmacys will almost always bend over backwards to help their customers. They need your business, the big chains don't. It may cost more, you may have to drive further and the times they are open may not be as convient as the big chains.But, you're treated like a human being.

I take methotrexate too. During last year's shortage they allowed more non-US suppliers into the market. But recently one of few (2?) US suppliers has stopped making it. Something about costing more to produce than they were making. It's a relatively cheap drug as those type of meds go. Biologics are where the money is. Ca-ching! Since it's a children's chemo drug they get 1st dibs. My mail order pharmacy has had issues, but Walmart has had the 10ml vials in stock. It's roughly $25-or was when I pd cash last yr- and lasts about 12wks at my dose. I'm not sure about the pills since I take injections. But the last time I checked the FDA website they said its expected to be back on track by late July or early August.

Pain medication is kind of the same problem. (This info is straight from my PM who asked me again today if I've had any problems getting my meds filled.) Late last year the DEA started "requesting" manufacturers decrease their production especially for hydrocodone. Some pharmacy chains are putting limits on how many pills they dispense a month and drs are being limited to how many scripts they write in a month. It's just a "request" right now but some are doing it. Then again limiting the acetaminophen to 325mg in hydrocodone was just a request too.

Since Walgreens & CVS were both fined for dispensing too many meds last year both of them now have implemented limits on a monthly basis. I mentioned my problem getting my meds filled today in another thread. The pharmacist said he placed an emergency order & told me "corporate" didn't like when he/pharmacists placed orders outside of their auto ordering system. My guess would be due to the limits they are trying to abide by to avoid further fines (Walgreens paid the biggest fine ever imposed) or shut downs of their distribution centers. My dr says the problem will just get worse especially over the next couple yrs. (The DEA requested the FDA make several changes last yr and they didn't get all they asked for. They probably won't quit trying until the do.) The WHO tracks all meds manufactured worldwide-by the ton not # of pills- and the amount of hydrocodone & oxycodone has been decreasing substantially since 2009. 2013 may be the least amount ever produced if it follows the pattern. Which means 2014 will be even lower. (The US is by far the biggest consumer of both meds)

Geez I have too much time on my hands! It all fascinates me though. I like to know how & why things work like they do. It's a much more involved process then I ever considered. Hope I didn't bore everybody to tears. But if you take any of these meds you could be affected in a big way.

Emerald

Myouchie, I can't believe that Walgrens demands medical records. Surley, I can't be the only one who thinks this is insane. Who wants their medical records out there floating around? I'm surprised HIPPA allows this! Our rights really are diminishing. This is how careless people are with medical records. An agency sent someone's medical records to my house. I didn't know this person. It was his entire medical history, including an AIDS test. Then, I requested my medical records years ago, and a different agency sent them to my neighbors, whose kids went to the school I worked at!

Scary

Emerald, you have really researched this. I couldn't imagine my life without Methotrexate, I, too, take the weekly injection. When I have to go off for even a week, due to an infection, I can barley walk or use my hands. Not fun knowing that access to meds could be severely limited.

Thanks for all the info

Walgreens didn't ask for my actual records but they did ask for my diagnosis verbally & have requested the Dr write my ICD code on my scripts. He also has to write take x per day "for chronic pain" for each med.

Journey, my hands don't work either without mtx. I also get the random icepick stabbing joint pains. After almost 4yrs I'm starting to get the fun side effects like mouth & nose sores. Even tripling the folic acid hasn't helped and this month has been the worst yet. At least I'm not losing my hair on top of everything else. I'll take my blessings where I can.

Take care,
Emerald

And to think I almost didn't post this originally because I thought I would appear to just be whining. I really appreciate the amount of thought and research you guys put into the things you talk about on here. Well, most of you, LOL! (Sorry, I had to say it!) But seriously, this is turning into a big problem, the Gubbament seems to attract those who can only over react. First there are such tight restrictions on pain meds that we are literally dying from it, then they get so much heat that they freak right out and loosen it so much that people are supplementing their incomes by selling their excess pain meds. Then back to the draconian restrictions and forced limits on production. Last night I heard an NPR report on a lawsuit against manufacturers for not making it clear enough to MDs that Narcotics can lead to addiction! What MD doesn't know that!!!???In 35 years with chronic pain I have NEVER seen a Doc who was loose with the drugs, And as I mentioned in my original post CVS in a 50 mile radius "LOST 37,000, that's thirty-seven THOUSAND" Hydrocodone pills. Almost half of those from MY PHARMACY. I just want to weep. It's bad enough to spend every waking moment in pain, (also my time asleep is troubled by dreams of burning.) But to also have to deal with thieves and overzealous politicians just makes me feel like we're fighting a war on two fronts.
Thanks you guys, I'm so glad to know I'm not in it alone.

Jerry