Connect
← Return to Did I miss something?
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Good afternoon, and thank you, sueinmn, for your reply. I did the same as
you. I wrote a lengthy reply and my network didn't send it. I still don't
understand why the pharmacys can limit the quantity of the pain medication
they dispense. I have a script for 150 tablets for a one month supply. The
pharmacys will only dispense 130 tablets. How is that happening? All of the
major pharmacys are following that "rule". My pain management doctor
authorized the prescription for 150 tablets. I have been prescribed that
amount for over 5 years. Now the pharmacies will not fill that amount. I
researched online to see if my state (Texas) passed a limit on prescribed
opioid medications.
There is not anything online about limiting the amount of prescribed opioid
medications. I was informed by the office manager that all major pharmacys
are following this policy. She said to find a pharmacy that is a standalone
pharmacy to fill the amount prescribed. If the standalone pharmacy can fill
the script in its entirety, it's not illegal.
My Medicare plan has nothing to do with that medication , I pay for it with
one of the medication apps.
So how is this issue happening? As for no authority for the
pharmacy/retailer, I disagree. They have the authority to limit quantity
of my medication they fill. I would just like to find out why. The
explanation given to me is the opioid crisis. I thought the hoops I have to
jump through and going to a pain management physician was designed to stop
the prescription mills. It seems that the retailers/pharmacys are now in
the prescription drug regulatory business. I would like to know the how
and why of this policy.
Replies to "Good afternoon, and thank you, sueinmn, for your reply. I did the same as you. I..."
Did you ask the pharmacist who filled it why? Do they fill the the extra 20 when you are close to running out or do you have to get a new prescription? If it's just a minor inconvenience to get the remainder I'd just live with it for now.
This sounds like something that happened to us a couple of times. However, my pharmacist took the time to explain.
My husband took a certain dosage of pain meds but sometimes needed less, sometimes more. It always came out even at the end of the month. To make it more flexible the doctor prescribed small dose pills. Over the years, that amount went up. At some point, the pharmacy was no longer allowed to dispense that many individual pills. It's a federal law. We had to get larger pills (10 mg rather than 5) so the total number of pills was smaller. I don't understand what difference it makes, the monthly amount was the same. I think it has to do with people sharing or selling pills, though that doesn't seem like it would matter.
Hope this helps.
Connect
I just went through several drug Formularies for different insurance plans (I had these downloaded as I researched my insurance options for 2025) - some local, some national plus Medicare. Every single one lists "quantity limit" for all forms of oxycodone and other opioids.
Many here have experienced limits on their medications the past few years, but it is not because of the retailers - it is part of the government/insurance industry plan to reduce opioid overuse. Perhaps the regulators have begun auditing pharmacy records, and they have decided to follow the established guidelines.
Unfortunately, some people in chronic pain get caught in the crossfire. At this juncture, aside from being frustrated by "one size fits all" rules, you will need to work with your pain management doc to either get an exception (I don't know if this is possible) or create a new plan with an alternative med once a day or for breakthrough pain.