Nation Wide Methadone Shortage Mystery?

Updated

Yes there is a shortage and not just Methadone, and it is being kept very quiet but this month every day more and more people are finding out. In Oregon South Coast there is not one pharmacy within 100 miles that has any. They were substituting 5mg but that is now gone also. The suppliers are not getting it or any answers as to why or when they will. Also, other narcotics as Vicadan and Norco, and some Attention Deficiet Disorders (Concerta) also are not there to reorder.

Someone needs to get this out ASAP to the public. Call any phamancy in Brookings Oregon, Golds Beach, to Coo's Bay and find its not a rumour.

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1

its everything! I have M.S. plus a fractured tail bone, a compressed disc and twa slipped discs, I am in constant pain, every pharmacy is out , I get drug tested every where I go, I only do what they give me, yet I fail? I am imn oklahoma so its everywhere, no jobs? we should at least get to be comfortable, have real coffee,
soon we won't be able to eat and drive? what is this russia? where is America?

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2

I have chronic back pain, and my wife has fibermialgia, both of us are on methadone, I went to get my prescription filled yesterday at Walmart, and they told me that there was a back order, and had been for over two weeks. I was blown away. How can this happen. They told me that they called around a week ago and there was ONE pharmacy they found that had it in stock. Hopefully I can find one today.

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3

My husband and I both have chronic pain, and we are having a hard time getting our 15 mg oxycodone scripts filled every month and every month it seems to be getting worse. The pharmacists said they do not know why , but it is very frustrating and they don't seem to understand that if you don't take it you go through withdrawal which is very painful and very dangerous, also. All because of people who abuse it, it affects the people who really need it for pain, which is so unfair. Every since Micheal Jackson died it seems to have gotten worse. I have heard that it is the DEA doing this. The pharmacists recommended that we both write to congress, the president and anyone else in politics who may can help. However, i feel that the politicians all only care about getting more money for themselves and more power. But I will try by writing and the more of us who write letters , the more it should help. Just like when the bank of america started charging for using your credit card, a lot of folks changed banks, and then the banks had to drop that idea, so there is "strenght in numbers"

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4

I am very sorry that so many are miserable and having trouble finding their medications, but no, this site does not have any information on current shortages, nothing has been listed about it on the FDA site.

I've checked for any listing for all the narcotics I can think of and there is nothing, however, the manufacturers aren't actually required to list this information with the FDA.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Methadone/­

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Oxycodone/­

Has anyone had any luck getting theirs filled?

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5

I posted 2 sites 1, is the FDA that have all the drug shortages, the date, the reason, the companys and approximate dates, how long they have been on back order at the plant the majority of them are not narcotics, they are non Scheduled drugs. There is certain oxy's, roxys, dexies, and adderall and Ativans, out of probably over 100. Someone said, what is this Russia, What makes you think this country won't run into shortages, shortage of food, shortage of gas, of jobs, do you think we won't fail as a country because ????

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6

The 2 sites are under Oxycontin.

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7

I mean Oxycodone..lol

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8

There is nothing about it as they will not admit it. We are in a world of trouble.

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9

I have been having a difficult time getting 10mg methadone in NW Ohio. It is rediculous! Pharmacists know nothing. What? Something wrong here.

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10

We are okay here again however no one will say why this happened or is happening. Have heard that the pharmacy companies are given a certain amount per year and when its gone its gone until they again sanction the next round. Then I heard it was China and the other countries that now make our medicine had a contamination problem. On the FDA website they state that if a drug is not mentioned there that is having problems, its not considered a life threatening medicine and therefore they pretty much do not care if you get it or not. So we will never hear what the truth is until someone dies and their family has enough pull and money to make it public. Get off the Methadone and any other drug that will harm you if you stop, and that is pretty much all of them, as even insulin will make your pancreas dependent on it as will Calcium destroy your bones so you need it. Best bet do not take this junk learn how to eat, and other natural remedies like Cayenne pepper for cholesterol and HPB it also can stop a heart attack in its tracks. Now are doctors going to agree..LOL Watch the video "Dead Doctors Don't Lie".... You will be very surprised.

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11

I go to CVS in MI, never have a problem. I also to Walmart. I have been doing this for 2 yrs. If I call a store they will tell me they do not carry. So many places are afraid that they will be robbed that you have to go in to inquire.

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12

This country is in a shortage of medicines, you are just noticing the controlled substances. There has been many articles several months ago in public and medical magazines. I had only one and it was just down the street WalMart pharmacy that had either of the 2 doses of dextroamphetamine from 11/2011 to 4/2012. I had my other pharmacy call all over, went to several and before I finished asking I heard a NO, and don't know when. People had to drive to Phoenix a pharmacist told me.That is 110 miles away. The story on med shortage has been fatal in the hospital. People on dialysis did not have the med they needed ...can't take them off, for the surgery, so they just kept them on dialysis until.... they had no clue . The factor in many pharmaceutical factories, is they can't get the raw material. I have not heard of any shortage of hydrocodone , but it can always be just your area, as they may have enough for so many warehouses, and your area wasn't one. The area is usually serviced by one local warehouse that holds all the meds for pharmacies. I know Coos Bay, OR. down to Gold Beach Or. I wouldn't call it a metropolis, but with Medford, OR thrown in there, their is probably more than one. They don't advertize these warehouse,very big secret, but I had a friend that worked in one. :) Now there was the Schedule II fiasco with the DEA shorting the country for last year. As they decide how much of the drug in tons pure can be manufactures for the year. Figuring the year before and an increase of population in the country will need, so there isn't overproduction which causes, diversion of meds. Well it happened to me...almost, a lot of people are just getting some relief with oxycodone in South Florida, some, the pharmacies are still not up to normal and they are being particular to who they sell oxys to. There is a FDA site that tells you the status on drugs that are in shortage, could be, for see to be, and why, they don't go by area, just the country. They name the companies are short, and why and so on......there are much more than a couple, worry about when you go to a hospital for surgery. I know someone in Gold Beach, but I don't want to bother her. I lived in Coos Bay, Medford, White City (ugg) You bet bet is cross the border into California, but there is nothing there :))) Carl

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13

Pharmacies here won't even tell me on the phone if they have it or not. They say I have to bring in the Rx and then they will tell me. No info over phone. Good Grief. And they know me and my Rx's. What next.

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14

My 2 pharmacists tell me anything, how many they have, whatever. I'm friends with them though. But true, they won't usually tell people over the phone on Schedule II meds.

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15

where are you located

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16

Arizona.....and again these are friends, I talk to them on a first name basis.

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17

I live in Eastern South Dakota. I have recently moved to a new town and have tried to fill my Methadose 10mg per mg at every pharmacy in the area and the owners know me personally. They cannot get it! They showed me the computer screen from McKesson and one other drug distribution company and it says unavailable. This has been the case for months. Also at the one pharmacy that I can get it at 70 miles away. The price went up from 75 dollars to 100 dollars in two increments over 2 months time. This was about 6 months ago. That has also been how long the pharmacies in my new town have been unable to get any. So there is a shortage. The prices suddenly spiked at about the same time as the pharmacists in my area found that the Methadose 10mg per ml was unavailable. Good luck.

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18

The Detroit area is just fine with filling scripts. I use different pharmacies. I get 10 ml and for 150 I pay 12.00 to 15.00. You won't find out anything by calling. I found this out over 20 yrs ago. Pharmacies are afraid of being broke into or being robbed. One might say no over the phone but the actually do have it. I don't understand the shortage in other areas but I do feel bad for others. I have used CVS, Walgreen and Rite Aide. Good luck.

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19

I thought it had been fixed and did not have anymore problems till today again. I am being treated at a Pain Management facility and had to sign a contract that stipulates I can only go to 1 pharmacy. They may make exceptions for exceptional circumstances.
There is an app available for drug shortages but it says nothing about Methadone. You can report shortages by emai at:
[email protected]

Or by phone at: 888-463-6322
Maybe if we flood the FDA with reports they will get a clue. At least I can dream!

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20

I was in an automobile accodent and I go to a pain mgmt physican. I get 660 10 mg methaone tablets per month. I take 220 mg per month. My face was crushed and I am on alot of meds. I have not had a problem getting my meds until this month. I live in Jacksonville FL and can not find methadone anywhere. I am so scarred of withdrawing because I was in the hospital and went through methadone withdrawals because the doc gave me another opiod. But methadone is like no other class 2 drug. It is the most horrible violant drug to withdraw from. I had seizures, fever spiked to 105.7 I was incoherant and the worst pain imaginable. I was very lucky that I did not die. I am now facing the same thing once again because I can not get my meds and I am scarred to death. I don't understand how the DEA, FDA, drug manufacturers or who ever is responsible for this shortage can do this to people. If I withdraw because of this, I plan to sue their arses. I don't see how they can just leave patients like this. Something has to be done. But where do we start?

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27

I also have not been able to find methadone anywhere in Jax. Called my Insurance pharmacy and they said there is a manufacturing problem, I won't be able to get any from them until at least May 2016. I too will be in Withdrawal.

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26

I'm In Hastings Florida and I been over three county's looking to get my prescriptions filled and I get 15 mg morphine and methadone and it's been really hard to find wal-mart where I normally go said it was getting to hard to find so we did away with it all together I'm not a abuser or anything like that I just have terrible arthritis in my legs do to a major accident and it's the only thing I can take to ease the pain

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25

I have sad news to report,IT IS THE DEA who has thrown a wrench into any company (be it manufacturing or distribution) I live in the state of Florida,where the DEA has shut down WALGREENS distribution center (the largest distribution center they have) for a period of 2 years. Dea claimed that WGs kept improper paperwork on sales of OXYCONTIN. I have been on methadone for over a decade now,and the DEA has made my life + the lives of chronic pain patients statewide a living hell.During this decade i've been most fortunate to become friends with my pharmacist,who inturn has kept me in the loop of what DEA is upto and what i hear is pure hell is coming to all pain patients.The DEA has lost the war on illict drugs,so to keep earning their paychecks they've gone after pharmacies. The new rule here is you must not travel more than 30 miles to see your MD or the law will not allow your prescription to be filled,or DEA will shutter the store, now i've never used OXY-anything (due to the damage agent orange did to my body true opoid drug do nothing for me ,but methadone (which was developed by the NAZI's during WW2 to keep their soldier fighting with no side affects -unlike morphine which is all about side affects) but methadone (even tho you can't feel high on it), has been thrown in with the heavy hitters of pain relief, leaving millions in indescribable pain because the DEA deemed it a narcotic w/ abuse potential. DEA COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOU. WE ALL NEED TO WRITE OUR CONGRESSMEN (when they're not infighting about where there next payola will come from. DO NOT DEPEND ON SOMEONE ELSE TO WRITE WASHINGTON... WE ALL NEED TO GET BEHIND THIS OR OUR DOCTORS HANDS WILL BE TIED,LEAVING ONLY SUICIDE TO ESCAPE THE UNRELENTING PAIN. THIS IS NOT AN OPINION, THIS IS FACT PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL REAL PAIN SUFFERERS, THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE YESTERDAY. I wrote this 5 minutes after my pharmacist called me to report methadone shortages, and to advise me to split my last doses because when my refill is due in 8 days, they will not have anything to give me.

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24

I have the exact same problem. In January, they told me to call around, but now, in February, they won't tell me anything by phone - they say it's against their store policy.

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23

So now after many months of research and lots of detective work at mom and pop pharmacies, im convinced thats its not a shortage. Just like the DEA says. There is more than enough medication , to go around. But contrary to what your pharmacy is telling you they can get the products they just prefer not to. And here is why in a nutshell.
Prior to the DEA closing down all the PILL MILLS the pharmacies were filling stacks and stacks of controlled substance and or narcotic prescriptions and a majority of the patients were paying CASH to get those prescriptions filled. At a pretty penny I might add. If my memory serves me correctly, approximately 120 tabs of 80 mg Oxycontin would be about $700 OR MORE easy.
So multiply that one prescription numerous times daily and the pharmacies were really making a good little profit. That kind of money made it worth the trouble of dealing with the problems of filling those medications. And we all know all too well the certain sketchy patients AND their families AND their friends AND aquaintances that often come along to the dr.visit and subsequent pharmacy fill.
Well, now that there arnt so many drs writing so many.prescriptions, all thats left are the critically ill, and bonifide injured and or ill, pain management patients and most of them carry prescription insurance by the way, not cash. So theres another down side, its a case of economics. Its just not worth the trouble to carry and fill these medications. For example. A bottle of 300 tablets of 10 mg methadone costs about $50. Considering all the other medications out there, and the hazards involved in dispensing them its really obvious why the pharmacies are doing what their doing. I mean why keep them in stock when all were going to make is maybe $400 but the possibility of getting robbed and or killed is very real?
I dont agree with it, and I think its wrong, but I honestly cant think of anything to do about it especially when you add dea quotas to the mix. Each pharmacies is only allowed so many tablets of each controlled substance medication each month. And its not a huge amount. Its about a bottle of 500 I think. And it changes frequently. If one customer gets 300 pills, he can run out after 2 customers!!!!! Now you CAN BLAME THE DEA FOR THAT CRAP!!!
All I can suggest is try to form a relationship with a pharmacist prior to the day you get your prescription. Go in and explain your situation 2 wks in advance. So they can get to know you. Unfortunately this medication has created a scary environment for many pharmacies. Many have lost their lives over these pills. And....fill more than just your pain meds there also to make it worth their while. Good luck

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22

Does any one know what the dea is gonna do to help with withdrawels?been taking methadone for 8yrs. When you cant miss work from being sick because with out warningdoctors to wean you down is the least they could have done.i have a family to provide for.does any one know a pharmacy that will fill or have them in stock in jax.fla area

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21

Your only hope is mail order pharm. Im in jax an getting methadone here is a life threatening adventure not kidding. Ive given up and asked my dr this month for an early appt so I can get my prescriptions filled fairly on time through the mail. The first time it takes approx 2 wks so u have to overnight it to them and have them overnight it to you the first tie but ive heard after that it becomes faster. Good luck neighbor

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