October 17, 2007 - 11:11am
I am really fed up with Rite Aid that I have been going to for a while. It seems every time I go there they are extremely slow and to add to that, RUDE. And yesterday when I went to fill my anti-anxiety medicine (Ativan/lorazepam) they told me they couldn't fill it because it hadn't been 30 days since the last one. I counted the days it had been exactly 27 days, obviously I am out, and about every 3 or 4 weeks the dr. writes me a refill. HE saw me yesterday and deemed that I needed a refill not the pharmacy so I really just don't understand this. Not only that but the fact that I am having severe panic attacks, and I've been on this medication for about 4 months now and it even says in the PI sheets to not abruptly stop this medication and it cause seizures not to mention the extreme agitation of not being able to treat my panic attacks as I have been. What their reasons were for not giving me my medicine is that its a "30 day supply", {90 pills,.5mg} and should have lasted me 30 days exactly. Anybody like me who has panic attacks know that benzos are not like antibiotics where you only take 3 a day consistently, the doctors directions were specifically to take 3 if in the midst of a panic attack and then up to 5 or 6 a day AS NEEDED. So it's not like they can say its a 30 day supply when I take it as needed and every day is different. Is this a Rite Aid rule and can someone tell me do I have the right to get my prescription paper back and take it to another pharmacy instead of waiting 3 more days? Anybody else had this problem?
and gtrplayer if you could comment on my other question,because it seems we're in the same boat of having anxiety problems after car accident (a car crossed over yellow lane and ran me off the road into a fence, then the 4ft fence post came thru my windshiled directly at my head&at last second diverted into my arm, the anxiety didn't come from nearly dying but from the fear of how close it came to being over)My other question is does klonipin have a longer-lasting effect and longer half-life than Ativan? I like that ativan is fast-acting I can just put it under my tongue if having a p.a. but the relaxation effect only lasts 2 hrs and I need it to last longer for my night-time anxiety. How do I put it to my doctor that I want to switch without displaying "drug seeking behavior"?
October 17, 2007 - 12:32pm
#2
I dont ever have that
I dont ever have that problems at Walgreens, Schnucks, Medicine Shoppe and CVS.
Oh yeah, there is a Rite-Aid close by me, I have been there alot as well, but never had a problem with my rite-aid either.
Must be the Owner of the pharmacy that makes rules as such, i guess mine doesn't.
(edited by TeamPharmer)
I know by ALOT of experience only
October 17, 2007 - 12:40pm
#3
blondiecougar,Klonopin is a
blondiecougar,
Klonopin is a longer acting benzodiazepine than Ativan.
If you have insurance, I would ask the doctor about prescribing Xanax XR. I hate to sound so pro Xanax XR, but it really does work wonders for panic disorder. I was started on Klonopin, and it would make me extremely tired for awhile, and then the tiredness part would wear off and the medication would continue to work. However, with the Xanax XR, there is none of the peaks and valleys that are associated with Klonopin, and especially with Ativan.
I hate the way short acting benzodiazepine medications make me feel. I hate that when I have a true panic attack and have to take a short acting xanax, it pretty much guarantees me that I will have to take a nap at some point in the day.
I hope this helped, and I'm sorry for what you went through. Bad drivers are everywhere.
gtrplayer
October 17, 2007 - 1:13pm
#4
I have had several negative
I have had several negative experiences dealing with Rite Aid and their pharmacists. In my opinion, they are by far the worst of the big chain stores (and now there will be more of them since they took over Eckerd and Brooks.)
It is my understanding that most insurance companies allow for a few extra days for an early refill - usually around 28 - before it is deemed "too soon" for a refill. If you don't have insurance, and are paying cash, then I think it's up to the pharmacy to determine whether or not you're refilling your script too soon. When it's a controlled medication that you are refilling they're probably even stricter about an early refill. I believe it also depends on which type of controlled medicine it is. Ativan is Schedule IV, so I'd think they would be a little more lenient than if you were trying to refill a Schedule III drug, which are mainly all the various hydrocodone/APAP meds. A Schedule II drug (oxycodone, oxycodone w/APAP, etc) can't have refills, so if you brought in a new script a few days early, most pharmacies are even stricter about what is considered "too early".
Speaking from personal experience, I get a monthly OxyContin script that on occasion I've had to fill with not quite a month since the last fill. I remember Walgreen's being super-strict about not filling it even if it's only one or two days earlier, whereas Eckerd has filled mine after only 25 days (I was going out of the country and had to get it filled early,) It may even be up to the pharmacist's discretion, rather than company policy.
-qh
October 17, 2007 - 1:16pm
#5
I've never had that problem
I've never had that problem with a pharmacy, but I would suggest calling your dr. and telling him the situation..hopefully he will take care of it with the pharmacy and you won't have interrupted treatment with your medication. As you know, it is important not to just stop abruptly when taking benzos..so making that call would be a good thing to do IMHO.
October 17, 2007 - 1:21pm
#6
my favorite thing is when
my favorite thing is when they do refill early over a period of a few months and then when you go in for a refill they say you will have to way this long to get your refill due to the early refills...so you have to suffer a week or so of withdrawls...spendid.
I am not a Dr. I just play one on TV.
October 17, 2007 - 2:56pm
#7
I don't understand a few
I don't understand a few things, so if u could clear them up it would be helpful. What does it say on your prescription, like "take 3 per day as needed for anxiety" or "take up to 6 per day as needed for anxiety"? And you also go into the pharmacy with a paper script every time? Are you going thru insurance? This would be the only problem I can see as most will only pay for scripts every 30 days or 28 or so. You can def. get your prescription paper back to take somewhere else, it is your property. Anyway I can say that most pharms won't refill sch. 4 meds until atleast 28 days from the last refill.
Check with a licensed MD before you take any suggestions!
October 17, 2007 - 3:23pm
#8
I always get my Xanax 3
I get my Xanax, Fentanyl and Soma 3 days, sometimes 4 days ahead of time. If you get them early for awhile then it usually catches up with you and you get the "refill too soon" or "carryover day supply remaining", even with a new prescription, if it is the same drug, same dosage.
the 26, 27th day most of the time, so I know I will not run out. But I only do that maybe 6 times a year. Since it does catch up, and then you will have to wait. (but in beig fair, if you got them 3 days early, then next month get them 3 days early, soon, you will have 6 days worth of meds (carry-over) left.)
But that also depeneds on the insurance. If you are paying cash, they will usually let you get them 2-3 days early, unless you have been getting them early a couple times or more before that. Then it is up to the Pharmacist to decide if they wish to let them go or not.
I know by ALOT of experience only
October 17, 2007 - 3:23pm
#9
Goat, wow I've never heard
Goat, wow I've never heard of that one before..if I filled a script slightly early they would lose me as a customer in the future if they did that..that seems really unethical to me. If thats their policy they should forwarn people about that when they pick up an early script so they don't have it sprung on them unexpectedly..not to mention it could be very dangerous for a person to have to stop suddenly with certain medications with no warning. Thanks for the heads up on that.
October 17, 2007 - 3:47pm
#10
well I just found out from
well I just found out from the pharmacist that it may have been the way my doctor wrote the prescription, He verbally told me if you're having a panic attack take 3 at a time, then up to 4,5,or 6 as needed for relief. But on the prescrip. it says take one 3 times a day instead of 3 at a time. Also I am doing it thru insurance instead of 48.99 I'm paying $4.46 which is pretty good. I asked for my prescription paper back so I can fill it somewhere else and I couldn't really understand the pharm. but I think he said they threw it away. The pharm. said I could have my doctor call and change 1,3times a day to more but I know that's not going to happen because I seen the dr. yesterday and I know his secretary is out for this week and she does the phones. So looks like I'm going to just have to grit my teeth and bear it until this is filled and remember to NEVER go to this Rite Aid, or likely any Rite Aid ever again.
October 17, 2007 - 3:54pm
#11
Okay finally someone that
Okay finally someone that speaks english called me back, and told me they didn't throw my prescription away and I can come pick it up. Should I try CVS?
October 17, 2007 - 3:57pm
#12
Rite Aid is bad news
Rite Aid would have to be the last pharmacy in town before I would go there to fill a script. I have used them a few times in the past, but when I discovered some of their pricing was three times what other pharmacies were charging, it really got me. I picked up some meds for my Dad before he passed away and every time I went in there, I got rude treatment from the techs and pharmacists and they always had a million excuses why a fill wasn't ready. They always have plenty staff working, but they have to be the slowest group I have ever encountered.
As I said, Rite Aid is at the bottom of my list!!
Director
October 17, 2007 - 4:03pm
#13
Good pharmacies
Hey Blondie...I don't know where you are, but I'm on the west coast and I use Safeway. They have always treated me great, even though I'm on a high dose of Methadone. They're good and they are professional. Also, I've heard Albertsons (Sav-On) are good, but Walgreen's I've heard both good and bad about. We don't have CVS here, so I can't comment on your question. Good luck, where ever you go.
Director
October 17, 2007 - 4:04pm
#14
They are lying to you when
They are lying to you when they said they threw it away. They cannot do that until it has been copied and/or been put thru the system. Also they have to keep it for atleast a little while.
It is your property until it has been filled.
I know by ALOT of experience only
October 17, 2007 - 4:10pm
#15
Sorry, didnt see where you
Sorry, didnt see where you got the call and got it back.
But I would try some other pharmacy, I personally don't like CVS for multiple reasons including thier privacy policy.
Taking it somewhere else might not help for this specific reason, if it is being rejected by your insurance for example. It wouldnt matter where you went to get it filled, if you used your insurance there it would probably be the same result. However I dont know what the real problem is. You could take it to a pharmacy that you have never been to before and pay cash, without mentioning your insurance if you really need them.
I know by ALOT of experience only
October 17, 2007 - 4:18pm
#16
I was thinking the same
I was thinking the same thing Dr. Knight..they don't just throw those away...glad you posted that info.
October 17, 2007 - 4:51pm
#17
Okay, thanks for clearing
Okay, thanks for clearing that up. So I guess you can see now why I asked those questions. Insurance isn't going to pay for presciption that should last a month more than every 28 days or so. I really don't think it is Rite Aids fault in this case (not saying I like Rite Aid, because last time it took them 4 visits to give me 60 1 mg Xanax). The prescription is written wrong and therefore the insurance is not letting it go thru. Also it doesn't seem like the doctor is giving you enough medication, or do you just schedule an appointment when you start to run low on meds? Anyway, CVS is a pretty good pharmacy-at least where I am from, but they have a similar policy on waiting at least 28 days to refill any scheduled med.
It kind of seems as though everyone is blaming the pharmacy for something that shouldn't be a problem if you are taking the prescription properly. They give you a few day window so you don't have to worry about not being able to get your medicine the day you run out.
Check with a licensed MD before you take any suggestions!
October 17, 2007 - 5:13pm
#18
A lot of insurance plans
A lot of insurance plans dont exclude refills that are done too early, its usually a set quantity per so many days that will kick back the bill from there system. Like with my insurance I could only get 180 Hydrocodone combo products per 25 days, so if I tried filling my 100 count supply that was written for 25 days early they would only refill 80 of the 100, if that makes sense.
There where several options available to the OP though. She could have asked for the script back (which it seems she did), asked them if she could just pay cash (some pharmacies will let you, some wont) or went and explained the situation to a friendlier pharmacy and had them call and get it transfered there (Best option in my opinion unless bound to this pharmacy by a contract).
Anyway you look at it the pharmacy doesnt have to fill it early, unless the doctor calls and requests it. When the doctor originally wrote it, it was for a 30 days supply, not a 27 days supply.
October 18, 2007 - 12:08pm
#19
So Knightmetal you were
So Knightmetal you were right, it was definitely my insurance which has a specific 30 day policy for a lot of medicines, I guess that's the price of getting them so cheap is I get them when they want to pay for them. I still didn't get them since CVS had my insurance on file too I forgot, and I don't understand why paying the full price for them isn't an option but I guess when they have your insurance on file that's what they go by. For those of you who said I wasn't taking my medication properly, I was I was going by what my doctor verbally told me which is generally 3 a day or more as needed. And my appts with the dr. were generally spaced 3 weeks apart, it just turned out this was the first time I ran out before 30. And really I want to look into taking the Xanax xr so I don't have to take it as needed but have a consistent amount in my system to relief my anxiety.
Rite Aid was to blame for one thing and that is their poor service! I shouldn't have had to call 10 times to get a clear answer, they first made it sound like they just didn't have the medicine, then the guy said I couldn't get my paper back, then the girl said I could and the whole runaround was distressing. The funny thing is, this Rite AId pharm. is understaffed and now they're building another one less than a mile away!
Thanks for all your comments~
October 18, 2007 - 1:20pm
#20
info
Glad I could give you some good info.
I have alot of experience when it comes to the pharmacy not wanting to release drugs, insurance and RX drugs.
I know by ALOT of experience only
October 19, 2007 - 11:19pm
#21
my last question was why
my last question was why wouldnt either jus let me pay cash if i was willing to?? it was my first time ever running out of this kind of med. before the 30 day thingy and needing a refill was soo impt. because of the kind of medicine it is and I know i have a tolerance to it now.running out unexpectedly=bad maybe also need better communication with my dr. and ask him why what he tells me diff than what he puts down on the script, is that sumin having to do with my insurance? like i have to have so many psychotic disorders to get so many psych meds a month? lol it's fun learning about all this stuff- thats for sure!!
(edited by TeamPharmer)
October 20, 2007 - 8:40am
#22
Wrong-Aid
Hi Blondie,
I don't know where you live but each state has different laws re: this matter of supply and refill dates. I USED to do business at Rite-Aid however I am uninsured and Sam's Club and Walmart is much cheaper. About the date and supply issue I am always given 3 days and they did it for me on 4 one time. I don't force the issue. If you are having trouble keeping track of your meds try a daily dispenser, I know I forget that I even took the pill sometimes. I am also one that believed that if 1 works, 2 will work better.I changed my thinking but do fall back into that mode when I am eaten up by pain. I have been on Xanax for about15 years now. different strengths over the years. Dr. has me on .50 2x a day. Sometimes I need 2 at one time. I can feel it. I have a long history of nerves, insomnia, depression, and severe mental illnesses , just to name a few of the many defects that contaminate our gene pool.
My mother commited suicide 3 years ago on the 27th of this month, WHILE SHE WAS IN A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY!!!!!!! I begged and bribed her to check in because her paranoia was consuming her. I told her she would be safe there, as she was obsessed with the idea that this person or that person was going to kill her. Yes, it was awful and still is at times. The mind is a very difficult thing to treat.
Have you ever tried Xanax? I know the Dr.'s don't generally like to write that only because it is one that people abuse. You could call the Board of Pharmacy in your state and find the law about refills and grace dates. Sometimes I will give a few pills of my muscle relaxer (Soma) and my pain pills (Norco) to my husband to save for me for when it gets really bad.( pain ) that is. I too have been damaged by 2 total car collisions. I have to endure alot of chronic and acute pain most all of the time. Put it this way, when I have a pain free day I write it on the calendar. My job that I work 50+ hours a week just adds fuel to the fire. Ultra repetitive motion distorting my neck and shoulders as well as my wrists and at times my lower back. This is one of those times, I got out of bed the wrong way 4 weeks ago pulling something in my lower lumbar,I usually get Sciatica but this time it is different. I am scared. I really don't have the money to spend for an MRI, but I need one. Maybe Santa could bring me one. Hey, have you ever tried the Lidoderm patches? Sometimes they help but there like 300$ a box of 30. I have found a miracle drug kind of. Cymbalta I have been on it since mid-May. I find that it takes away the general burning in my muscles in the shoulders deltoids & traps. while giving me an overall sense of well being. It may be a false sense but I don't care, LOL When we suffer thru chronic pain our friends and loved ones sometimes suffer thru us. My pain has caused a few other problems in my life. 2 of them fear& depression and 60 mg in the morning helps to lessen the load of emotions assoc. with pain.
Well, I will leave some space for someone else. I hope I was of at least a little help. And I amsorry about your accident.
Good luck and don't let the pill counters get ya down!! Check out the LAW! I would say that 75% of the time or higher, you are talking to a pharmacy tech. and they might not know that info.
October 20, 2007 - 4:06pm
#23
If you had taken the script
If you had taken the script to a different pharm you probably could have paid cash without a problem. The problem is that you are in Rite Aids system and they know when you last got your meds. A lot of people think they are being jerks but they have legal restraints on controlled meds that they must abide by. If you took it to some mom and pop place it wouldn't have been a problem I doubt. And yes you need to have a discussion with the doc about what he writes on the script, because this seems to be the root cause of your problem.
Check with a licensed MD before you take any suggestions!
October 21, 2007 - 12:11am
#24
Blondie... I read your post
Blondie... I read your post and besides all the problems you have and other things you wrote about that you are having because they won't refill your prescription.... I see one other thing that stood out though, You said it had been 27 days since your last pick up, you shouldn't have to wait til the 30th day exactly to pick up your prescription... I take clonozepam(klonopin) which is also a benzo, not much differnt than ativan and I ussually drop off and pick up my refill when my bottle gets down to 2 or 3 days worth. Oh yea, I go to CVS.
My mom fights with rite aid all the time. She never can pick her meds up before time ( im not talking about anything even half at controlled as yours.) . But she always just gets the Dr. to call them and say to fill it. Maybe just call your doctors office and tell whats happening. I hope they can help you!