Early Refills

[rnb5972]

I am curious of how many days BEFORE your refill date can you get your script filled.  I live in Virginia and use Rite Aid pharmacy

[namnam46]

The only way to find out is for you to call your Pharmacy and ask them or to call your Doctor and ask him/her.  

Since you don't say what the prescription is for it's impossible to know.  Many times it depends on the Medication itself.

Good Luck.........Sherry

[rnb5972]

Hey Sherry,
I have never used a pain management community b4, I would love to know how it feels not to have severe pain almost everyday.  
The script is for Hydrocodone.  

[namnam46]

How many days early is it and why are you having to fill it early?

I'm wondering as it could effect your Pain Management.

Thank you for answering so quickly!  I really appreciate it.  :)  

[Tuckamore]

Hi Rnb,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum.

Normally you can refill your RX one day 29 for Hydrocodone, assuming it is ordered monthly. Some pharmacists and insurance companies will insist you wait to day 30. It can depend on how your RX is written. I have seen then written, "Must last 30 days" and they will not be filled one day before. I've also seen them written, "May refill every 28 days."  It also depends on how it reads. If it's a short tern PRN med it may read differently and could be refilled earlier.

I know this is not very helpful and I am not trying to give you the run around, it truly depends on how the RX is written for the most part.

As suggested, call your pharmacy as they will provide you with the correct answer. I wish you the best and hope you'll keep in touch. I'll look forward to your updates.

Peace,
~Tuck

[geminigirl1963]

Hello to a fellow Virginian!

Both Namnam and Tuck are correct - it does depend on the medication and how the script is written.  It also may depend on your insurance - some insurance companies, no matter how the script is written, will not refill a narcotic before the 30th day (presuming the script had been written for a 30 day supply)

As mentioned, your best bet is to check with teh pharmacy and they'd be able to tell you when a refill is available.  you can also check online if your pharmacy has that option - if they do offer online refills, of course, you'll have to register with their site.  I do this with my pharmacy and have found it very convenient - especially when I "remember" to do my refills after hours - I know they also have the automated phone system, but I've run into a couple of instances where, for some reason, my phone request didn't go through - but have never had any trouble doing it online.  

Whereabouts are you in Virginia?  I'm about an hour or so north of Richmond and about 20 miles from Fredericksburg.

[rnb5972]

Wanted to that you all for your response.  
The reason why I am asking is because we r getting ready to go on a camping trip in WV, where I grew up and it is in the middle of nowhere.  The script is due for refill on the 21st.
Sounds like I am going to be in trouble.  I will just check and see what happens.
Thanks again guys.

[Ptawillis61]

Most pharmacys will refill after 28 days and how many times you have requested your meds early. This is law not each pharmacy rules. NOW CIRCUMSTANCES do occur like a trip. Schedule your trip so that you don't run out early. Talk to your pharmacist or your doctor to see if he will authorize dispensing earlier. What I did.

[rnb5972]

Nice to find a fellow Virginian.
I have a stepson at VCU.  I live close to Harrisonburg.  Hope you have a great day.

[namnam46]

Listen, if you have a legitimate excuse for a refill such as a trip, you need to contact your Doctor and let him/her know what you are doing and ask them for permission to get an early refill.  He might be able to call the Pharmacy and you could possibly get the early refill.  Also, if there is a Rite Aid Pharmacy anywhere near the area you are going they can refill your prescription for you as they should be connected through the computer system with every other Rite-Aid nationwide.  :)  You can also, notify your insurance and ask for a "one-time" early refill for you.  It's definitely worth a try.  

Best of Luck and have a great time.  Please let us know if you are able to get the Early Refill!

Enjoy your Trip........Sherry  :)

[shellypenn]

if its a narcotic u usually have 7-10 days .....schedule 2 narcs are a different story. u cant usually get it refilled till the day u run out.

[chuchy717]

I went to the pharmacy today and I waited 3 hours for them to find out about the prescription,the pharmacy called the doctor to refill fill early and we waited and the pharmacy told me that the doctor said that there was a descriptionincies in the prescription could not be refilled there agian think that there should be a better way of getting this information faster,and not have to wait 3 hours to get told that the prescription is longer valid.

[chuchy717]

I went to the pharmacy today to get an early refill on my medications,and the pharmacy told me that they would have to call the doctor to get it okayed by the doctor,I waited 3 hours for the medications to be filled,and the pharmacy told me that I could not get it refilled,because  there was descripencies on the prescriptions,what they had on record there did not match what the doctor had written,,and canceled the prescription all together,I think that the people that are employed in the pharmacy need to be a lot more careful on what there putting into the records of the pactient,a lot of things concerning my health were at risk,and I think that bringing this to the attention of the doctors asosiation might open the eyes of everyone in the pharmacy,.

[Wobby65]

I worked in a doctor's office for years, and from what you posted, I believe the issue is with your doctor, not the pharmacy. From your post, it sounds like it was your doctor who cancelled your prescription. If they said there are discrepancies and the records at the pharmacy did not match the records your doctor has, that is a problem...if it was a written prescription, both the doctor and the pharmacy have copies, so they should match. If it was called in, again both the doctor and the pharmacy would have it recorded in your records, so they should match.

If they believed it was a "clerical" error in entering the script on the pharmacy's behalf, I don't know why your doctor's office wouldn't just issue a new prescription. If I were you, I would be concerned that someone believes that you altered the prescription, which is a very serious allegation.   If it were me, I would call my doctor's office on Tuesday to ask what the issue was.

[jackd523]

The pharmacists can be downright horrendous, but their jobs are indeed at stake by no fault of their own. However, in no way does that excuse being rude. I have Medco, which is supposed to be the worst. I've had people tell me their insurance hasn't even made a noise when they've asked to refill weeks early.But even with Medco, I've done this a lot: I tell my doc when I'm in a ton of pain (and I'm not lying), he gives me more, and then I ask the pharmacy for an override. They treat me like a scum bag, but then confirm it with the doc, and its all set. Without a doc on your side this is hard, so getting to the pharmacy in the evening can suck, but I think you can ask him to write something like "EARLY REFILL PERMITTED" and those ******* **** do it. If all of this fails, simply get a free prescription discount card (or app, like Goodrx), go to a place that doesn't know you have insurance, show them the discount codes, and you'll get it. It shows up on nothing but your states Prescription Monitoring Database, which is only used to prevent doctor shopping and lying to medical professionals (and you have every right to not use insurance). But for my sanity's sake, I hope the PMD is never expanded beyond that, they treat us like complete garbage already. Oh and don't ever "doctor shop." I have neuropathic damage but at one point I got a huge infection and abscess in my right shoulder, and I accepted the opioids being given to treat both because, well, I needed them. It hurt like hell. Point is, Medco (I shouldn't have gone through insurance, they gave me such low quantities at a time it would have been cheaper to use a coupon) gave me hell for it and almost destroyed the trust I have between my doctors and myself.

[shinty]

Do what I did. Give the prescription to someone you trust. Have them fill it for you, and FEDEX it to where your at. Even in the middle of nowhere there must be someplace somewhat closeby that you can receive the package.

[crisco75]

My husband went to fill his persciption and it is only 5mg oxycodone. Which is the smallest amout that can be written and he had to go to 7 different pharmacies do to no on had it. When he went to the 7th one the phamasist told him he couldn't have the script back and had to wait 3 days. The last script was written on the 12th and he brought the new one to the store on the 9th. We don't have insurance and I thought it was okay to get it a little early. We now have to wait and we were supposed to leave yesterday to go to our daughters wedding which is in 2 days and we are in florida and the wedding is in MA. We are driving and have to really book it now just to make it to the wedding.

[Webdevii]

I get my fills at Rite Aid in the Los Altos shopping Center in the City of Long Beach CA.  There is one pharmacists their whom is not licensed, but just has her BA degree (There is a big difference by the way look it up)  You have a Degreed Pharmacists and a Registered Pharmacists, The registered is considered the higher ranking because he/she is Licensed by the State whereas the one with the degree is not.  Anyways I was told by Pearl Nguyen the non registered pharmacist that I could not have my 28 day 4 week script until day 31.  As we all know opiate withdrawals are HELL and for a Pharmacist knows this.  Pearl belittles me in front of customers stating that I dont look like I need all this medication in her opinion she stated we need to cut you down.  That my friends is down right wrong.  But I respected her out of the way I am.  then talked to the Head Pharmacist and he said i was totally in the right.  The next month rolls around she denies me again, I brought up that the script for the Oxycodone 30 mg  (Roxies) are 1 to 2 every 4 to 6 hours and dispense #200 or 200 pilla I dont know about you but if you divide 8 pills a day into 200 pills dispensed that is a 25 day script,  she was not having any of it and flat out denied me once again.  and further more tried to have me banned from the store during her shift.  I took it to corporate with a letter and i will be updating you as more info comes in.

That Rite Aid's telephone number is  [phone] +3 then +3 again to get transfered to a pharmacist.

Thank you all for listening
Dev  

[Jean59]

I have been on pain management for over 12 years due to disc and nerve damage.  My insurance is State Ins. not Medicare.  I have to get preapproved for my Oxy 40's because there is no generic.  My question is my doctor wrote my script for the 12th which the org. due date is the 26th. when my preapproval is due.  Doc didn't want the preapproval process to deny my next script which is due on the 26th.  So the computer spit out the date to refill is 2 weeks earlier.  I am thinking the insurance will not approve the refill 2 weeks early but the doc said they might give me a smaller count giving me enough to last to the 12th.  Giving the office time to get the next preapproval without disruption.  Last time it took 2 months to get the preapproval approved.  Doc didn't want that to happen again so he changed the date due so it wouldn't land on the end of the approval time.   I think he would have to rewrite the script, saying 30 instead of 90 total, which 30 more would last me till next month.  Does this make sense???

[philnoir]

Preapproval date is different from fill date.

Generally, preapprovals (or prior authorizations) are good for a length of time, 6 months, one year, etc.

This is probably why your doc wrote the Rx 2 weeks early. When doctors write early, they usually include a Do Not Fill Before date.

Because your medication is a CII controlled substance, the rules on when you can fill, and how many days dose you can receive are restrictive. I doubt if you would be able to get 1-1/2 month supply when you fill your Rx.

I understand your fear of running out -- this is a big problem for people like us who are maintained on long-term opioid therapy.

Stay in touch with your pharmacy or whomever has submitted the request for pre-approval, so there are no surprises when it is time to fill the Rx. If the state is again slow in the pre-approval, notify your doctor's office of the situation, as if they do not come through on time, he may be willing to write an emergency Rx for a  few days worth of medication until some bureaucrat gets your paperwork in order.

I'm hoping the can generate an approval in less than 10 working days.

Best wishes.

[Jean59]

Thank you for getting back to me.  I told my doctor to remember that I was up for preapproval again at the end of this month and that is why she moved up the refill date.  He said the pharmacy would probably give me a partial fill, but the script says a full script.  I don't think it said "Not to Fill before" and I feel that the insurance won't pay for another full script because I do have two weeks left, but he said they would give me a partial fill to last me till the second week of Dec.  I am so confused!!!  I think what I need to do is have the doc write a script for a specific amount like 40 since I have taken 50. That is the only way my script would last until the second week of Dec. giving the doc/pharm enough time to get another 3 month approval so I don't have to do an emergency fill. Do you think they would approve an amount of 40 pills that would carry me into the next month?  Changing my due date from the 26th to the 12th?  The 12th is also the due date of my short term meds.  I would like to get the both of them on or around the same day as I have been on this schedule for years until I got on the State Ins. which screwed up my due dates.  I will be talking with the pharm this week, I will let you know what they say, but I truly believe the script will have to be rewritten for a certain amount to be added to what I already have to make it a 30 day script.  Did I lose you?  Please I am interested in what you think?

[philnoir]

Jean, unfortunately, if the Rx is for a presciption opioid analgesic, like Vicodin, OxyContin, or morphine, the pharmacist is not allowed to give you a partial fill.

Yes, you lost me, but let me go over the rules.

- Prescriptions must be for 30 days only if covered by insurance / medicare. Some insurance allows 90 day Rx but never for controlled medications.

- Sched II (CII) medications cannot have refills, and cannot be partially filled. This class now includes all the opioid pain medications. (Actually, they can be partially filled at the pharmacist's discretion within 72 hours, but you won't find a pharmacist who will do it anymore. They're all afraid of losing their license to dispense.)

You're going to have to catch up somehow so that the two-week prior authorization cycle doesn't put you into opioid withdrawal.

If you indeed have to get a prior authorization every month, you and your doc are going to have to get creative. If the prior auth cycle is two weeks, perhaps your doc can give you a two-week script that you pay out of pocket, start the prior auth process, and you fill the 30 day script after the two week processing period.

Then you'll still have to call your doc two weeks before your next appointment to get them to start the prior auth process again.

I can't believe you're the only person on Medicare in your state that has this problem. This has to have been worked out so that patients don't go into withdrawal every month.

If your doc has other pain patients in this situation, then she knows how to manage it.

[Jean59]

Just contacted my pharmacy, yes they will not fill it tomorrow, but they did say if she wrote it different like 2 instead of 3, different mg. then it would not be a problem.  The amount would differ also, giving me enough to carry me through till next month.  Since it is the same medication, but different mg's is okay.  Still giving the doctor time to do a preapproval before the 26th of this month.  Then if he wants to change me back to the original mg. he can do that next month.  Thank you for all your help, you were dead on with your information.  

[philnoir]

Good for you.

Good luck with it.

[Jean59]

Just to let you know, I got my new script and it was filled.  Also yesterday I got news from the State that effective January 2015 they are changing my insurance.  Here we go again!!!  I will probably have to get all new preapprovals and also get a new referral for me to see my pain specialist.  Also have to go for a CT scan and my PCP had to pull teeth to get the doctor of my current insurance to approve.  I am also in the middle of getting Physical Therapy.  I don't know about the transferring from one State Insurance to another State Ins.,  but I pray I don't have to go through the preapprovals of my meds again, just when I got everything fixed. Ugh!!!

[philnoir]

There are some Americans who still claim "we have the best medical system in the world!"

I believe these people used to be called "dittoheads," but they remind me of the ostrich.

Best of luck with navigating the system.