Alabama

Updated

Two months ago I went to my pain clinic to pick up my prescriptions for 120 60mg morphine pills and 90 30mg morphine pills .My prescriptions were changed without warning to 60 100mg morphine pills and 45 30mg morphine pills. I've been on this medication for 5yrs. and the dosage for over a year.My pain was manageable but not now. I was told everyone was cut back due to dea regulations. That they could legally only prescribe this amt now n Alabama.Is this true?

5 Replies

Earliest Newest Votes
1

Yes, it is true and actually the regulations for this have been in place for quite awhile, but no one was strictly enforcing them.

However, due to increasing concerns over improper prescribing and over prescribing, the DEA has had to crackdown and enforce the dosing limits.

Pharmacies also got served warnings, because they weren't obeying the stock limit regulations that dictate how much of any given medication they can order and have on their shelves each month. Thus, even if your doctor wrote for more, you wouldn't be able to get any pharmacy to fill it.

But as an example, since the 100mg Morphine tablets are time released and meant to be taken every 12 hours, that does equal 60 tablets being a month's worth.

Learn more Morphine details here.

I'm sorry, I understand that the changes are causing problems for many people and I hate to see anyone suffer, but it isn't just in Alabama, either. It's actually been all over the east coast and into much of the mid-west, wherever the DEA found these types of problems.

Is there anything else I can help with?

Was this helpful? 0
2

Based on my research, if there were any laws in place that made this illegal, the DEA would likely be the one to break it. Quoted below is an excerpt from an article that was written a while back, but it does indicate that the DEA is "allowed" to break their own laws and regulations on how and when doctor's can prescribe pain medications:

"DEA Backs Away from Negotiated Painkiller Guidelines

A new statement published by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on physician guidelines for prescribing morphine-based painkillers omits ground rules negotiated over several years by DEA officials and a group of leading pain-management experts, the Washington Post reported Nov. 30."

"Under the Controlled Substances Act, morphine is a Schedule II drug. Doctors must be licensed by state medical authorities to prescribe it legally. They must also register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and obtain a DEA number to use when writing the prescriptions. The DEA number helps keep track of how many prescriptions a doctor writes. Any trafficking in morphine — or any other Schedule II drug — results in federal penalties of up to 20 years."

Other than this information I haven't come across any details specific to Alabama. It sounds like a nation-wide thing though and not just a lock down on certain states.

If anyone else has more info on this, please do share!

Was this helpful? 0
3

I am in Montgomery, AL. My primary care doctor, due to the recent enforcement of new narcotics regulations, says he can no longer prescribe all my pain medication. I have for several years have been prescribed 120 - percocet 10/325, 60 - 100 mg morphine ER and 30 - 60 mg morphine ER. I have overheard another doctor saying that there's a pain clinic in Birmingham, AL that is OK with prescribing multiple narcotics. The doctor's exact words were that "they have no limit." Unfortunately, he did not mention the name of the Birmingham clinic. Does anyone have an idea of who he is referring to??

Was this helpful? 0
4

Yeah there used to be a doctor in Huntsville that seemed to have no limit either...needless to say he's no longer there...But yeah out of no where my meds got cut in half about 3 or 4 months ago too..

Was this helpful? 0
5

No, the doctors can provide if can prove medical need. They claim regulations to make their lives easier.

Was this helpful? 0

More Discussions:

Alabama medicaid question about suboxone / subutex

Does medicaid in Alabama pay one day early on suboxone? I have a thirty day supply for 4mg suboxone twice a day. Will me...

14 REPLIES
Alabama Doctors who prescribe Xanax

Where is the easiest place to get Xanax prescribed in Montgomery, Alabama? SWIM has seizures and no insurance and is hav...

12 REPLIES
alabama pain doctors

Need an pain clinic too treat my pain i have had 2 knee surgerys and taken 2-3 Norco 10 is not treating my pain i also h...

4 REPLIES
alabama and medication

This is so sad. If medications were legal for responsible adults, we would not have this problem. This problem lies with...

3 REPLIES
alabama pain refill changes

My pain doctor just informed me that he can longer offer refills on my norco because of it being classed as a schedule 2...

2 REPLIES
alabama. Adderal

A 22year old is prescripted adderal. It makes her on highs and lows. At times she is very violent and hurts people . Thi...

1 REPLY
alabama Florence, Muscle Shoals, Huntsville

Laminectomies L4,5,6 Cervical plate-6screws Ilieostomy gastroplasty Fibromyalgia Osteoporosis w/left knee replacement Re...

1 REPLY
does alabama medicaid pay for oxycodone op

Will alabama medicaid pay for oxycodone op 30mg ## Does Alabama Medicaid pays for morphine ## I'm not sure if this i...

2 REPLIES
Mobile, Alabama pain management doctor

I am moving to Mobile in two months. I am trying to find a cronic pain management doctor that will continue to prescribe...

5 REPLIES
Florence Alabama

Where is a reliable doctor who still prescribes and treats my anxiety with xanax, ## Hello, Lizzie! How are you? If you ...

3 REPLIES