2012 Oxycodone 30mg Shortage In Florida (Page 3) (Top voted first)

My spouse, who is in severe, chronic pain, has been a customer of Walgreens for many years. We live in Pinellas County, Florida. Everyday this week we have driven from Walgreen's to Walgreen's trying to fill his prescription for Roxicodone 30mg, to no avail. I cannot get any help from his regular pharmacy. I know that it's dangerous for them to tell a total stranger which store has them in stock, but I don't understand since they know him, why they can't call around or give us any assistance. I am at a total loss as to what to do & would appreciate any information that you could provide. It is so hard to see him in so much pain. Thank you.

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okay...haven't posted on here in a really long time mainly because I finally found a pharmacy to help me out and I've been going along just fine. However, I'm posting today for two reasons. 1) I stupidly went to a different pharmacy (Walgreens) because my usual Walgreens was low. My regular pharmacist said to have the pharmacist at any other store look up my profile and I should be fine. NO!! I went to a different Walgreens with a pharmacist that thought she was God and she said my prescriptions (the one I've been filling now steadily for 2-1/2 years at Walgreens) did not "qualify" under their guidelines and she was not comfortable filling it. Okay fine....she has a right to her opinion and to do what she wishes in her own store. I don't think it right, but everyone has what they consider their "ethics" so fine. HOWEVER, she put something into the Walgreens system that basically prohibits me from filling my script at ANY Walgreens ever again!!!! Are you kidding me??!! I spoke to my regular pharmacist about this and he said it's a new rule that Walgreens just put into place and once a pharmacist does that another cannot undo it. I think that's a bunch of crap. She doesn't know me...I'm not her patient and she hasn't been filling my meds for over a year. How can she make that call for everyone??? It doesn't make any sense. My pharmacist tells me the only way to fix it is to either change doctors (which we all know is a bad thing) or change medications (which again is not the best plan). I take oxy because it works for the pain AND allows me to still function rather than lying in bed in a stupor not being productive. If I could take Vicodin or some other drug that works AND allows me not to be stupid all day, I would...obviously much easier to come by. Anyway...that's that problem.
2) To the "pharmacist"....a) We're not in India!!! If you are, stay off this board...if you're not, then who cares what happens in India???? This is America and this is a problem here...we don't care about there. b) You are not God! You are not a doctor! If your "ethics" or laziness (not wanting to fill out paperwork or whatever) keeps you from wanting to fill narcotics, then so be it. But don't assume you know how anyone else feels...EVER. You don't. I will admit there are other drugs that work for my pain. However, again I will say it's all about quality of life. I would gladly take something else that is easier to come by and I wouldn't get looked at like a criminal or a drug addict. However, I would have partial pain relief and I would be laying in bed like a bum all day instead of up working like I should be doing. I suppose going on disability is a better think than working to support myself though huh??? You just might want to think before you say stupid stuff. I realize and agree that everyone does have their own opinion and as an American citizen you have a right to that and a right to voice it. However, you cannot go assuming everyone is like you and that everyone is either an addict or a dealer. We are not!!!! I'm just saying. You can have your opinion, but I really don't think this is the correct place to voice that...unless you want people ranting at you :)

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@ Elinor, it's a horrible situation. No one can fill roxycodone, that's been taken away from all of us. I had to switch to opana, and thank God, I'm able to fill with same pharmacist for quite some time now. I see ppl coming out of pain clinic in tears bc Dr is cutting their meds. Idk, but it's probably those who are getting 2 meds, long and short acting. I get 1 med, and that's 1 too many, some jerks in here think we like to have to take these meds, like it's a joy ride. Only those who have experienced chronic pain could understand our suffering without a med to give us some quality of life. Idk what advice to give you, other than a small pharmacy, with a pharmacist you can build a trust with, and is willing to help you. I get nervous every month that I'll be told they can't help anymore. What a way to live in fear that the rug could be pulled out from under at any time. I'm sure 40 pharmacist is loving this post. There are so many like him, a cold blooded heartless person. God bless you and hope you can fill your med

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Sadie, when did they fill the script and when did you receive the notice to fill locally? Most importantly, what department and employee at Rightsource and Humana did you complain to? That is absolutely wrong that they to sent them and then deny you. What explanation did they give you?

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I wish I was able to dispense the medication but honestly it is from all the presure that the DEA, local and state law enforcement and legislature. not to mention big pharma.... they don't want marijuana legalized because it will take away from pharmaceutical sales.
let's be honest let's say that you have a back injury and when you first heard it maybe you tube medical marijuana first and it worked 100 percent you could continue to take that everyday for the rest of your life and not have problems, but on the other hand if you have to take an opiate for more than a month to three months you are now physically and sometimes mentally dependent on it and that is why I believe so many people want this medication because maybe they have taken it for an extended period Of time and without a day do not feel normal I understand this the brain is the most complex organ in most important organ in the body and if you have been taking medications years and abruptly stop your brain goes haywire.
honestly I seen all of this happening back when Governor Scott was elected shortly before that Purdue reformulated there oxycontin and everyone stop taking it and switched over to the oxy IR Purdue's big money maker took a crash on the stocks because nobody wanted to put that crap in there body. around the same time Governor Rick Scott turned down the initiative to have a drug monitoring program and then when he came under fire he approve did with the condition that would be paid for by..... guess who Purdue!

am I the only one who sees this?

I work at a large chain pharmacy our distributor in Orlando wants to charge us close to 1.20 per tablet most insurances will not pay s no more than 80 cents a tablet and with are corporate office and Eforce not wanting us to accept cash patients it really puts us in a position to where we can lose our job or at worst be incarcerated in lose our license.

I too don't like what's going on but my hands are tied.

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Hi Tudor, I'm sorry you are suffering but hey, if marijuana is making a dent in the pain and cutting your need for rx pain pills, keep doing it! It has been a life saver for many in pain, and shouldn't be illegal for that use in any state (my opinion). Anyway, Fentanyl patches can still cause constipation, but taking an all natural stool softener will really help, and it won't have negative side effects. Narcotic pain meds in general all have that constipation factor for most folks. Your doctor can also write you a script for a stronger laxative if you need it, but generally the drugstore OTC stuff works just fine.

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Brim is correct. Most narcotics cause constipation. fentynal patches ( I know its misspelled) is 100 x's stronger than morphine. That is 1 drug that unless you're in very severe pain, is over the top. It's also very pricy as I have a family member w/ stage 4 cancer that is using them. Roxycodone is almost non existent here in FL. The family member I spoke of also takes 40 mg oxycodone, and can fill them more problem. It's up north though.I was also taking them for over 2 yrs, & haven't been able to fill them on over a yr. I don't understand, BC I know someone who goes to PM & gets theirs thru mail order pharmacy. I too gave up, it's over, and have switched to another very expensive drug. My next step is to either go cold turkey or get RX for suboxone. I believe now more than ever why they won't fill roxycodone. It's not only the terrible misuse & crime, it's all about the $$$. It's cheap, & there's no $ to be made. The risk of any pharmacy carrying them isn't worth it financially and legally. Take care, as you're not alone.

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* I meant family member takes 30 mg roxycodone. For constipation, try the combo Brim spoke of, it's sennokot & stool softener combo.it comes in generic form to save $ as well as miralax too. Also miralax. Prune juice works well too. Rx for lactulose works well too.

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a dude- you sound like one of those a**hole pharmacist trying to play doctor. people develop a tolerance moron. obviously you've never dealt with chronic pain.

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By the way "a dude", what medical training do you have? Right. None. Thought so. Therefore your post is meaningless and based on nothing but the opinion of a random person with no education on the subject. Your uncle was ONE person. Each patient has different needs, different pain levels and different pain tolerance. To say only oncologists should be writing that dosage just sounds like an uneducated response from an uneducated kid.

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ever needs to stop using walgreens CVS an any place else that wont fill our lagit perscriptions. dont even buy toiletpaper. show our appreciation. im done i wont use them let lie,an go out of business

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Flatom...you've been posting & reposting the same story over & over again for quite a long time now. What are you using the copy & paste? I'm pretty sure we got it the first 16 times you posted it. Surgery gone bad, mean nurse made you walk, rip sound in your back, junkie young adults never worked & don't know what pain is, .....boy oh boy. Join a support group or something. Please. I'm tired of having to scroll through mini-novels to read other peoples posts concerning what the topic is actually about. I've been reading this forum topic for almost a year & keep getting emails alerting me to a new post, every time it's the same thing rather than new info pertaining to the forum topic. Maybe you should start a new forum topic....just a suggestion... I'm 35 look younger, have a long list of medical problems including fibromyalgia, RA, Herniated discs w/nerve compression & was recently in a bad car accident. If you looked at me you would judge me as unfit for pain relief! Thanks to ppl like you many younger CPP are looked upon as junkies. I have no idea what's going on out there in the streets, IDC! I have never went to a pill mill. I am aware there was a problem, but the government has taken the steps necessary to curb the use & abuse of illegitimate docs prescribing unnecessary meds. It has worked! I believe the problem with infesting meds is now the pharmacists judging & denying everyone they don't know well based on looks & age as well as fear of repercussion from the DEA who limits what they can fill weekly/monthly. The DEA is crooked but what sense does it make that they would take bribe money from the docs just to turn around & place strict limits on the pharmacies.
Another thing, swimming pools kill x amount of kids each year as well as cars, OTC meds, fires, tobacco etc.... But no one is.crying foul & signing bills to make these things illegal or limit the amount of lighters, vehicles, pools, cigarettes & Tylenol you can sell each month. The responsibility lies with the consumer & in this case the patient, it's not BIG BROTHERS JOB to pick & choose what they will "ALLOW" to "KILL" us! Is our responsibility to use these products, items safely... Period!! If young adults are dying from overdosing on prescription medication they are to blame as well as the doctor because they are responsible for themselves & it's the docs responsibility to identify the signs of the abuser. FYI I have little no problem filling my scripts at Walgreens. I need my meds to take care of my children & husband, household etc... Sounds to me like if you were on the other side of the pharmacy counter I'd be SOL...and it would be the wrong judgment call on your part.

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941 BTown: I couldn't agree more! Flatom is very ignorant and judgemental, not to mention an ageist. It sounds like he's bitter and takes it out on everyone else.

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Flatom: I've seen drug addicts in all walks of life, not just at a clinic. You think because you owned a furniture moving company you know more than someone who works with addicts every day?? Your long rants aren't even readable. You don't know As much as you think- not even close. No one is impressed with your grammar, nor your "experience". Moving furniture is absolutely not relevant to experience with people addicted to pills. Ridiculous.

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I agree with you mostly. I saw the other comments (yes you are right, lengthy). I have similar issues as you, as well as major back surgery, and I understand your type of pain and sympathize. I though have also had some problems with pharmacy's, eventually have them filled, but ugggg. I've shopped the same place for 20 years, meds changing, body changing. The pharmacy's have taken on more responsibility (which I understand), however I still believe the majority of the problem is with our state laws. They make it easy for those who don't need pain meds to get them. It has improved some (as you stated), however we have a long way to go. I think that the pharmacy's are afraid, understadibly, and it's not the best way to go. I also understand that If I were working there, I would not want to be robbed, or threatened by the dea. Seems much easier ways to control this issue, as many other states have implimented. I'm glad you are getting help to take care of the family, it's a chore. (smile).

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Thank you lawlady. Those that know the least, seem to have the most to say. I think most intelligent people know addiction can affect anyone at any age. I'm familiar with several young people who have become addicted. I also know several older people who are addicted too. Anyone @ any age, & from all walks of life can suffer from it. If you don't know what you're talking about, or are a judgemental jerk, no one wants to hear your garbage.

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@JVK absolutely no apologies necessary :) I think we can all relate. Living with pain can be very frustrating & more often than not leads to depression & even anger. Especially when you can't get your meds & you desperately need them while others are paying upward of $700 to crooked pharmacists them turn around and either full up a spoon & needle or party for a few days then sell the rest. I've always said imo if someone is paying that kind of cash for their medication they must be selling them. who can afford that? I once had a pharmacist at one of those small mom & pop places tell me that my insurance wasn't enough, that he had my meds in stock & would fill my script, but he would run my insurance & I would have to pay $500. Out of pocket cash!! I was in shock! Surely this was illegal... Apparently its not! I told him, I wasn't selling my medication & that I would simply go to Walgreens where my insurance covered 100% of my script & they didn't practice shady business & play games with patients! I also knew a girl who was pulled over & searched. She & her boyfriend had 3 different types off pills on them & a junkie kit containing needless, spoons & i don't even know what else.... She said she thought fur sure they were going to be arrested, but that because their scripts were legal & there was no law about how to self administer your meds, they were free to go!!!?? Thus was about 3 years ago when illegitimate docs were rampant & you could go into a pharmacy & ask fir specific brands of oxycodone, pay the pharmacist tons of cash, get a bag of needless in with your script & be on your merry way. Thus was a HUGE problem. I'm glad the DEA stepped in, but the system us still flawed. Those who obey the laws & respect their medication can't seen to find a pharmacy to fill their scripts while people like the aforementioned bribe mom & pop places & walk out to a car full of waiting sponsors. It can be maddening! I understand your anger. My issue with flatom is simply the ignorance in his rants. It drives me crazy! He sounds selfish & narcissistic like no one under 50 should be prescribed pain meds unless they are dying. Its just an ignorant statement. One in which not much thought was put into. That makes me angry because to many people think like he does. I know plenty of 50 something pill addicts, like bad off. Abusing & selling their meds while I sit at home following my doctors orders suffering daily because he's afraid to write the only med that ever truly worked for me because of all the hear surrounding the oxycodone. Instead I'm forced into choosing between nothing & morphine. I hate the morphine. It stops working effectively rather quickly & makes me tired & sick. Iread that its but meant for long term use... So yes I understand your feelings & hope you do mine. Have a wonderful night, God Bless

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Thank you Lawlady & 941Btown. You're both encouraging & kind. God bless you :)

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@941Btown, I had same problem w/ morphine. Sleepy, nauseous & not good pain relief. The opana offers more pain relief, but still feel sick & lethargic. My Dr will write RX for roxycodone, but we all know it's not worth the paper it's written on. If I knew this new pharmacist better, I would ask if 15 mg roxycodone would be possible. I'm so afraid to roll stones, & lose ability to fill opana. I'm already getting nervous about calling next WK to order for me. In the mean time, I've had to cut back what I'm prescribed so in case the bottom falls out again, I won't suffer as much as I did last month. Praying everyday for so many like us.

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Flatom, why WOULDN'T someone studying to be a medical doctor (me), with experience in drug addiction treatment belong on this page?? I know about the laws and shortages firsthand. Duh. I didn't think I would need to spell it out for anyone. It's called helping people out with your knowledge. Perhaps you still don't understand, but even so, who said this page was ONLY for people who can't get their scripts filled?? You? And that's all I read from your post. They're too long and far too difficult to read with all the run-on sentences and grammatical errors. I don't mean to make fun of you, I just can't read those long posts unless they are at least semi properly constructed.

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By the way, I'm also LawLady.

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