The Cvs Pain Police (Page 2)

CVS, a company involved in scandalous behavior in the past is now going to dictate policy on pain meds and prescribing. I urge all pain patients to contact your public officials to not allow this company to now play god with what is prescribed to you superseding your doctors orders and for many patients to file litigation against this company and the CDC or any other governmental agencies that allow these criminals to become your doctors and set the rules. This organization cannot be allowed to set the rules when it comes to your healthcare. They have again overstepped their authority and this latest fiasco shows how they have no regard to patients who need these medications for quality of life. Trying to take medication from people who need it is criminal. Just google this company and see how many times they have been involved in behavior, it's insane. This company should not enact any type of policy. I'm ashamed of the media who carry their messages and any politician in cohorts with this company should be booted out of office immediately. Again, I urge you to contact your officials about the pharmacies who attempt to tell you what, how many and when you can take your meds. Total insanity. " In a new effort to tackle the deadly opioid addiction crisis in the United States, pharmacy giant CVS announced Friday that it will limit opioid prescriptions to seven days for certain conditions. This restriction will apply to patients who are new to pain therapy. The new pharmacy program will also limit the daily dosage of pain pills based on their strength and will require use of immediate-release formulations before extended-release opioids -- intended for severe, long-term pain treatment -- are dispensed. The changes will roll out February 1 and cover all commercial, health plan, employer and Medicaid clients. " [1] [1] http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/health/cvs-prescription-restrictions-opioids-bn/index.html Editor's note: News article quote and citation added

REPLY

REPORT

Re: Pissedoff (# 7)

Who said I am not in chronic pain? You should do your homework before you call me out. I am the person in the motorized cart at stores with my son or his girlfriend to help me get the smallest item into my carriage.

I was able to deal with my pain from age 20 until I was 26, just on Percocet when needed. When I had my son they reherniated 4 discs (that I had 3 prior surgeries on) in my lumbar spine. I was put in a nursing home when my son was 3 months old for 2 reasons. 1) I couldn't stand up to change his diapers. 2) I was sitting on the couch with him and was unable to get off the couch. Luckily he slept, I was stuck there for 5 hours. Did I mention he was born with a birth defect, a club foot, and had to take him to a hospital every week? I was pushed in a wheelchair with him in my arms...So yeah, I was away from my infant because I couldn't take care of him or myself. My husband was amazing.

I didn't want anything more than Percocet and Flexeril. I missed everything. A car ride was too much for me. I finally started Oxycontin, when the shots stopped working, after 5 surgeries. After a year I was on 80mg x3, Percocet for breakthrough pain. I also tried the patch, Neurontin, you name it, I tried it. So, on Oxy 80's for 10 years, and everything hurt. I had 2 more surgeries.

I am now on Suboxone for pain management. My head is clear and I can do more things. I still can't do the dishes, vacuum, take wet laundry out of the machine, walk without pain to my mailbox. I still use the scooter at stores and my wheelchair if I need to walk more than 75-100ft. I slept on the couch for 6 YEARS, because I can't roll over on the couch. Surgery #4 I rolled over in my sleep, and reherniated 4 levels. We just bought a $3000 king size bed that adjusts the head and feet...like a comfortable hospital bed. I wake up every morning with heartburn, but I can't roll over.

So yes, I am a Chronic Pain Patient!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

CVS has been doing this for a long time, it's fore-front now because they have now collided with most of the major insurance providers, like the Union's, to make it so that they are the only pharmacy the employees or policyholders can use. I have also found recently that Medicaid providers such as Fidelis are also in collaboration with them. I figure it's the kickbacks the provider must get. Still, to me, it stinks of Civil Rights being stomped again! You are right but we have to get enough people together to protest it. Start some sort of Civil Rights litigation. And I don't know how to do that. No one should be able to tell me I can't continue using the same privately owned pharmacy I've been using, or for that matter, no pharmacy or pharmacist should be able to dictate how my MD prescribes! I have been on narcotic pain meds for at least 10 years and it was a last resort when I started. I've dealt with chronic pain most of my adult life and tried everything else. That's the other thing, they want to stop the use of medication (narcotic) but offer no better alternative. I will not allow spinal cord surgery, I am an RN, and have seen too many failures, infections, and the need for multiple repeat surgeries to go that route. Wish I knew what to do. I have called and written to my senators and have been ignored. Don't bother with Schumer or the other one from NY. I'm sorry I can't remember her name right now. They don't have the guts to get involved because narcotics are such a baaaad thing. Nobody mentions that there are less negative physical side effects to narcotics than the man-made crap like Tylenol (destroys liver) or anti-inflammatories which destroy stomach and kidneys or cause fatal bleeding.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 6

Re: BL (# 20)

Thanks for the link and I read the media release. While I agree they are probably well intended, I still think CVS is overstepping their authority over that of a Doctor when it announces a limit to seven days.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Re: Big Mike (# 16)
and Pissedoff

Piseed Off stated..."Did you ever think that the medications is the only thing that will help get you through the day just to be normal working or doing normal things?"

No, I wouldn't know about working through the day. I used to have an amazing job, working for the State. I was Medically Retired at the age of 20. (1st surgery at age 14, second at age 20. I am 46 and am up to 7 surgeries.) I am not surgery happy, I only have surgery when it hurts so bad, that I have a commode, that my husband has to empty when he gets home from work. The meds make you so constipated, I ended up with 3 bowel obstructions.

Big Mike,
I have had many surgeries on 4 levels. One exploded and the doctor had to pick out pieces from my spinal canal. Luckily I only had drop foot for 4 months. Now I just have the nerve damage from my knee to toes, plus the butt to knee sciatica. I have DDD, Spinal Stenosis, Facet Disease, Broken tail bone and cracked bottom vertebrae, should i continue? Have you walked in my shoes?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Okay Everyone,

Not everyone knows but my friend works at the Corporate Office at CVS. (Located in Woonsocket, RI) I will copy a post and send it to her, and see what she has to say about your questions. Write out whatever you wish to know. The post with the most votes is the one I will send to her. The deadline is Monday morning.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Me (# 25)

Votes with the most huh? I have nothing to say to or about CVS. I'm my book they've been blacklisted. Good idea if it was anybody but CVS

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I have yet to see one person addicted to "opioids" other than heroin and trust me I have seen a LOT having been to prison camps and jails in two states, both federal and state.

Zero people have I ever met that have some horror story about a painkiller addiction. Alcohol is the most prevalent; after that coke and heroin.

This is utter nonsense and witch-hunting.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Re: Tommy (# 26)

Votes, as in checking off Was this helpful.

There are a lot of opinions and articles going around, and I figured I would go to my friend at the Coorporation and ask her exactly what is going on.

Just trying to help.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Re: Me (# 28)

Sure I understand, I wasn't making fun or downing you just CVS. Carry on friend

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I mean who does CVS think they are? They're not my doctor, they have no clue what ailments I have. It's a legit script from the same doctor for years on end! It's hard enough to fill once a month cause you walk in the pharmacy not sure if it's the same pharmacist that helped you last time and filled for you. But now you have to walk in 4 different times a month and hope you don't get the d*** head pharmacist who wants to play God and not fill your script. Plus theirs the time issue who has the time to go down to their pharmacy 4 different times a month. And what is the benefit to all of this? They say in the report that they would rather you fill your Instant release instead of your Extended Release again what is the point of that. Most Extended Release has a time release coating made right into the pill itself so it makes it *ALMOST* impossible to abuse. So instead they're wanting to give out the IR's or instant release again. What sense does that make? I'm just glad I'm not filling at a CVS and I feel sorry for the people that are. But just so you know I will BOYCOTT CVS. I won't spend another penny in that place and I'm telling all my friends to do the same. I also will post on social media in hopes to put this company on blast in hopes to hit them where it hurts (their pockets and their stock).

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

Re: Sandra (# 19)

That’s right they will go out of business. In my state Pennsylvania, they stopped selling cigarettes and they lost customers and to do this to people's prescriptions they will go out of business; they are the only people that shop in there now. These CVS stores are empty now. Wait CVS, you will have no customers after this starts next year in 2018!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

Re: Poo (# 31)

Hi, I think anyone that is taking a narcotic should just totally boycott CVS. And your loved ones and your friends should boycott CVS as well to support you. I'll never ever go to CVS. Neither will my family members nor my friends. Bye bye CVS. You're not going to control me. Or my family or my friends.
Eventually you will go bankrupt.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 8

Re: BL (# 20)

Hi, I think anyone that is taking a narcotic should just totally boycott CVS. And your loved ones and your friends should boycott CVS as well to support you. I'll never ever go to CVS. Neither will my family members nor my friends. Bye bye CVS. You're not going to control me. Or my family or my friends.
Eventually you will go bankrupt.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

Re: Kelly (# 27)

That is the biggest joke I have EVER heard. Most start addicted to opiate pain pills. They then get too expensive, so they turn to H.

They must have skipped that part.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

You really think the % of your opiates they sell or don't sell is going to bankrupt CVS? Haha! First you all were in a panic when your doctors dropped your doses or refused to continue to write for you. You scrambled and found a pain management doctor and thought you were good to go. Then the pharmacist decides to fill your pills when they are due? Following the law? It doesn't matter if your insurance says you can have it at 28 days, you get a 30 day supply!

Yes, many people need these opiates. But if you have a construction job, or any job, you shouldn't have these meds. They are for bedridden people, those who legally qualify for a handicapped plaque, who are unable to take care of themselves due to pain.

If a surgeon and a second opinion say you should have surgery, you should have to have to have the surgery, and be proactive in every way to reduce your pain. Being afraid or hearing horror stories are an excuse and you should have your meds taken away.

Not having surgery but being on opiates for 10 years is NOT why opiates were supposed to be used for. If you could possibly be in less pain or no pain vs. Opiates for 10 years, duh.

That is why all this is happening. How do they get on the streets? From so called legal people. They find out they can keep getting it from their doctors, so they sell all or half of their meds for the money.

And what really screwed everyone is Cash Only Pain Clinics on every corner in Florida. People would go from other states by the car loads and bring the opiates to their States. People would pay others $500 to go to 5 clinics a day. That's 6 oxy 80's on the street, great profits.

So I think there are a lot more people to blame than CVS.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

HELLO! Terry here - Been a subscriber for a couple years on this Blog.... Well (with ABSOLUTELY NO NOTICE). I just found out that Aetna is now limiting my Oxycodone benefit to 120 per month! And I also get the Oxycontin in the middle of the month and can't wait to find out what they are limiting that to! UNBELIEVABLE! Our (GROUP HEALTH) policy does not EVEN EXPIRE till 12/31/17 and they ARE CHANGING THEIR RULES BEFORE POLICY EVEN EXPIRES! KEEP IN MIND EVEN THE WALMART PHARMACY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT! Their phones are ringing off the hook! Sure hope someone reads this and gives a reply!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Thanks for this great post.
I admire your passion to pursue and not stop. I am with you 100% and myself and creating 2 petitions at present, to stop this Oligarchical sabateurs of Human rights. I just read up on their Feb.1 roll out of their 'regulated Opoid caps' / qd limits, and it not only stinks, but it was also enough to get me up off my heating pad and send CVC a messge, telling them their war and socialistic regulations don't apply to responsible prescribers, and they have taken one more step up in inflicting human cruelty, and told them "they may as well nail us to a cross" I'm glad they're not my Rx provider anymore.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Re: Big Mike (# 6)

Polititians, docs, etc. should not be worrying about opioid dependence when a person is safely taking them for pain. It's not the drug they should be attacking but the reasons behind why people take so much that they block out reality. Whether it is alcohol or any other drug they won't solve anything by making life miserable for those legitimately taking the meds with a prescription. Mental health issues need more funding but aren't as politically attractive. I will be checking out the CVS angle and they may have just lost me as a customer.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

First the Federal Government THEN the STATE government and NOW private businesses are taking it upon themselves to regulate what I PUT IN MY OWN BODY.

WHAT KIND OF NANY STATE IS THIS???

REPLY

Was this helpful? 6

Re: KellyMe (# 39)

Now Cigna the Insurance Company will start next year not paying for any prescriptions of Oxycontins. All these addicts do is ruin things for people that really need the medications .

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Yesterday I had heart burning and found difficult to eat, however I was hungry and ate bread with salami. Since morning ...

5 REPLIES

I am a 36 yr old woman that has suspected that I have RA for over 15 yrs. I finally went to see a rheumatologist last ye...

1 REPLY

I was having pain in legs from last two months which increased in the pain of both hands. I feel extreme painin my right...

I have severe pain in my upper arm around to my neck up to base of my skull and down my spine around the waist and in bo...

1 REPLY

I've had a pain pump since 2007 until April of 2022. In all those years I never missed a refill for one thing as to ...

Chronic pain is a multifaceted inflammatory condition that often requires immediate access to any feasible form of treat...

i'm taking 200mg twice a day of MS-contin and have been for many years for my severe back/leg/hip/sciatica pain but ...

6 REPLIES

I'm on 10 mg of hydrocodone. I have surgery in 3 weeks on my colon, the fifth one in a year with 2 more to go after ...

11 REPLIES

I am in dire straits. I suffer extreme pain from endometriosis (pelvic pain) and from extensive joint disease. I have pr...

7 REPLIES

Has anyone with severe chronic pain been told by their pain management doctor's that they and everyone else has to c...

3 REPLIES