Steve, hopefully you can answer this question, thanks. I can never get a straight answer from the pharmacists who work at "W" chain store about this policy. When I tell them that I don't understand the policy, the pharms just tell me that it's because of 'abuse' or 'diversion', etc. They don't seem to understand my question. I'm not asking WHY they have this policy, I'm asking for the details of the policy.
I understand that about 2 years ago (or so) the DEA instituted this policy of 'limiting' the quantity of each pain medication that an individual pharmacy can order per month. I have no idea why "W" chain store could no longer get my full quantity of dilaudid suppositories, while the indy pharmacy down the street could get the FULL quantity in only one day! (It takes other stores almost 2 weeks to get the order for this med, if they get it at all).
Now, the ONLY indy pharmacy in my area has finally closed down, so I'm no longer able to get my meds from them. I feared that this day may occur, since indy pharmacies are closing every day. They had been in business since 1935.
When I filled my regular meds at "W" chain store, I told the pharmacist that the indy store where I'd been getting my dilaudid supps had closed down. I told her I have no idea what I'm supposed to do now. She told me that they have one other patient who gets a certain quantity of dilaudid suppositories per month, and that's the reason why they are no longer able to fill my script for dilaudid supps.
The pharmacist told me that she would send an email to their distributor, asking for an exception to this stupid rule. IF they make the exception, it will make my life SO much easier! If they deny it, I'll be in a world of pain. I'd have to drive 60 miles round-trip every single month, because that's the location of the ONLY indy pharmacy left in my area. I'm in too much pain to handle the drive, plus gas is crazy expensive and my car is old.
My question: Is it each individual "W" store that is limited to receiving a certain quantity of dilaudid supps per month? If I took my script to a different branch of "W" pharmacy, might they be able to obtain it? When I asked my pharmacist this question, she just said they'd have to order it, which I understand, because almost no pharmacies keep dilaudid suppositories in stock. But she made it sound like another branch of "W" would NOT be able to fill the full quantity, either. I'm very unclear about this policy.
The DEA 'limits' must be per each store? They couldn't be for each city or town, because population varies from town to town. I'm just wondering if another branch of "W" pharmacy might be able to get my dilaudid supps? We have several branches of "W" chain store around here. What we lack is an indy pharmacy.
I currently left my script for dilaudid supps at a grocery store pharmacy. Not surprisingly, they were only able to get a partial quantity, and it will probably take them 2 weeks to get the full quantity, if at all.
Steve, thanks so much if you can explain these 'limits' to me! I'm in chronic pain and just need my meds. This is all very frustrating. Maybe if I understand the details of the policy, I'll be able to figure out where to take my script to get it filled.
Thanks,
Eva
I understand that about 2 years ago (or so) the DEA instituted this policy of 'limiting' the quantity of each pain medication that an individual pharmacy can order per month. I have no idea why "W" chain store could no longer get my full quantity of dilaudid suppositories, while the indy pharmacy down the street could get the FULL quantity in only one day! (It takes other stores almost 2 weeks to get the order for this med, if they get it at all).
Now, the ONLY indy pharmacy in my area has finally closed down, so I'm no longer able to get my meds from them. I feared that this day may occur, since indy pharmacies are closing every day. They had been in business since 1935.
When I filled my regular meds at "W" chain store, I told the pharmacist that the indy store where I'd been getting my dilaudid supps had closed down. I told her I have no idea what I'm supposed to do now. She told me that they have one other patient who gets a certain quantity of dilaudid suppositories per month, and that's the reason why they are no longer able to fill my script for dilaudid supps.
The pharmacist told me that she would send an email to their distributor, asking for an exception to this stupid rule. IF they make the exception, it will make my life SO much easier! If they deny it, I'll be in a world of pain. I'd have to drive 60 miles round-trip every single month, because that's the location of the ONLY indy pharmacy left in my area. I'm in too much pain to handle the drive, plus gas is crazy expensive and my car is old.
My question: Is it each individual "W" store that is limited to receiving a certain quantity of dilaudid supps per month? If I took my script to a different branch of "W" pharmacy, might they be able to obtain it? When I asked my pharmacist this question, she just said they'd have to order it, which I understand, because almost no pharmacies keep dilaudid suppositories in stock. But she made it sound like another branch of "W" would NOT be able to fill the full quantity, either. I'm very unclear about this policy.
The DEA 'limits' must be per each store? They couldn't be for each city or town, because population varies from town to town. I'm just wondering if another branch of "W" pharmacy might be able to get my dilaudid supps? We have several branches of "W" chain store around here. What we lack is an indy pharmacy.
I currently left my script for dilaudid supps at a grocery store pharmacy. Not surprisingly, they were only able to get a partial quantity, and it will probably take them 2 weeks to get the full quantity, if at all.
Steve, thanks so much if you can explain these 'limits' to me! I'm in chronic pain and just need my meds. This is all very frustrating. Maybe if I understand the details of the policy, I'll be able to figure out where to take my script to get it filled.
Thanks,
Eva
Comment