What's up with the pain medication

Posted by koneil @koneil, Mar 8 12:42pm

I'm not sure if any members are experiencing this butI am. I am a chronic pain patient. I'm seen for back pain a long with many other issues.
I get a prescription for morphine , used twice a day for 30 days. That medication has been out of stock for over two months here. I also have had problems with 10/325 hydrocodone. They limit my prescriptions to 120 per month. It's also difficult to get. Is anyone else experiencing these issues? Please advise.

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There's always a problem with pain meds from back orders, out of stock or more realistically, the distributor that your pharmacy uses.
I'm often told it's on back order, only to find out,vit is NOT, but the distributor CVS uses here( NC) never seems to be able to fulfill its orders.
As a nurse/patient..I've done my research, spoken to the manufacturer of different pain meds and found . It's all about the distributor.
Each pharmacy depending on areas you reside, have a distributer( a middle man) who acquires the drugs pharmacy orders, from different manufacturers..the least expensive usually chosen so they change alot.
I found that Walmart pharmacy in my NC area seems to be able to fulfill pain meds better than CVS or Walgreens..Oxycodone with Acetaminophen 10/325 most common, Rhodes but I prefer
Mallinkroft..it's stronger so use less.
Dilaudid has been harder to get, 2mg or4mg..but again it's where you reside, what pharmacy you use and who they use for a Distributor.

REPLY

There's always a problem with pain meds from back orders, out of stock or more realistically, the distributor that your pharmacy uses.
I'm often told it's on back order, only to find out,vit is NOT, but the distributor CVS uses here( NC) never seems to be able to fulfill its orders.
As a nurse/patient..I've done my research, spoken to the manufacturer of different pain meds and found . It's all about the distributor.
Each pharmacy depending on areas you reside, have a distributer( a middle man) who acquires the drugs pharmacy orders, from different manufacturers..the least expensive usually chosen so they change alot.
I found that Walmart pharmacy in my NC area seems to be able to fulfill pain meds better than CVS or Walgreens..Oxycodone with Acetaminophen 10/325 most common, Rhodes but I prefer
Mallinkroft..it's stronger so use less.
Dilaudid has been harder to get, 2mg or4mg..but again it's where you reside, what pharmacy you use and who they use for a Distributor.
Also, you are limited for a certain amount of pills per script..usually pain meds are 1 tab every 4-6 hrs..4 tabs per 24 hrs..so 120 pills per month is the max..these are not negotiable as strictly enforced by federal laws that Drs and pharmacies must abide by

REPLY

Thank you for your post. I'll try Walmart and Sams pharmacy to see if they have it in stock. I'm not sure about Texas state laws about the quantity of medication I can have per month. CVS filled a 150 quantity just last month.
I'm going to my pain management doctor Monday for an injection in my back. I'm going to press them for a pharmacy that's in stock, or try to switch medications. I hope that will work. I went 6 days last month without my medication and it was more than unpleasant. Thank you sicilygurl for your advice.

REPLY
@koneil

Thank you for your post. I'll try Walmart and Sams pharmacy to see if they have it in stock. I'm not sure about Texas state laws about the quantity of medication I can have per month. CVS filled a 150 quantity just last month.
I'm going to my pain management doctor Monday for an injection in my back. I'm going to press them for a pharmacy that's in stock, or try to switch medications. I hope that will work. I went 6 days last month without my medication and it was more than unpleasant. Thank you sicilygurl for your advice.

Jump to this post

Hello to everyone trying their best to manage their pain medications and most importantly, their continuous challenges to acquire them consistently. I’ve been using various forms of OPIOIDS for the past 34 years. Not because I like or dislike them. I use them because they are the most effective option for managing acute and long term chronic pain.
Unfortunately, I’ve been challenged and have experienced continuous difficulties over all of these years trying to get access too and ultimately fill my opioid prescriptions.
To make matters worse, there has been far too much mis information, dis information and uninformed agencies who are in charge of approving and allocating the amounts of yearly opioids available. In addition, too much bad information or lack of access to accurate and factual information that it’s created and still manifests a horrific environment for genuine, authentic patients suffering from long term chronic pain to get reliable access to opioids to manage their pain. Some of the worst and most damaging information is including the statistics for overdose deaths caused by the “Street Users of Poisonous Fentanyl” mixed in with otherwise safe Opioids used and prescribed by authentic and genuine pain management physicians and used by responsible patients in need!
There is more than enough accurate information available for everybody of interest to see and use for their supposedly precise analysis of the obvious problems NOT associated with safely and legally prescribed OPIOIDS for pain management but they fail to document and utilize them accurately and appropriately. The end result continues to cause horrible outcomes for the responsible doctors who prescribe and the patients who need and use them.
It’s like blaming the steering wheel for causing all of the tragic automobile accidents resulting in death!!!!
Not treating or insufficiently treating chronic pain is malpractice. However, physicians are being sued in addition to losing their medical licenses for safely prescribing the appropriate type, amount and strength of opioids to their patients.
Frankly, the governmental agencies, State and Feferal are “SOLELY RESPONSIBLE” for causing patients to severely suffer much much more than they ever need too. They are equally responsible for causing patients to commit suicide because the amount, severity and length of time that patients go being under treated or not being treated at all is far to overwhelming and impossible for any human to endure. It’s like imposing governmentally approved torture on its citizens. In shot, they not only have it all WRONG! They have it “TOTALLY & COMPLETELY WRONG.” Causing people to be nonsensically subjected to inhumane suffering and death!!!
These are simply the facts. They don’t offer any viable reasons for their decisions. They just keep making horribly inappropriate decisions which are not accurately based on facts but of “MORAL JUDGEMENTS” and trying to manage and justify society’s approaches, methods and beliefs to managing long term chronic pain of which they know very little and practically nothing about in their own personal reality.
The proof of this is simplified by the “FACT” that if any of the people in governmental offices and positions were personally effected by the need to manage their own uncontrollable pain with opioids they would be begging to get access to them.
Unfortunately, the only people who truly know and understand the incredible usefulness and value of opioids are the patients who actually need and rely upon them in order to survive!
Like many things in life, one does not truly understand a specific situation fully enough unless they’ve personally experienced it or one of their family members has.
All of a sudden, they have a very sudden change of heart and understanding about the situation and then they want their own parents, children or grandchildren to have access to opioids to treat their various maladies!
If a patent has little to no quality of life and they have to suffer a tortuous daily existence, any argument regarding possible addiction or over use is totally irrelevant!
Especially when the factual statistics and research continually supports the assertion and scientific statements that patients who legitimately and responsibly use opioids for a long period of time do NOT become addicted. YES, they do and can become physically dependent but that’s much much different from developing an addiction.
People who take opioids who really don’t need them or take them longer than they really need too can succumb to an addiction. However, that’s self inflicted and a personal choice. Patients experiencing incredible suffering and tortuous pain from some kind of physical accident, illness, disease or combinations of those challenges don’t purposely choose the conditions they suffer from or might be dying from!
Even worse, when the physicians, medical community or research community can not develop or invent a suitable medication(s) to measurably improve or cure a patients health problems. All that the patting is left with ice option to reduce the amount of pain Anderson while living with the fact that there is no viable treatment or ability to recover and they are going to die sooner rather than later.
Even worse, are the patients who live with “death like symptoms” but are not going to die any time soon. However, they have to endure their tortuous existence for many years with opioids being the only option of providing any kind of measurable relief and a sense of humanity. That they are important enough to society to be treated with real empathy and understanding like any human being deserves.
There’s a very simple reason why OPIOIDS are the most effected treatment for chronic pain. “ITS BECAUSE THEY WIRK EFFECTIVELY IN DOING SO!
I’ve always said, “provide me a medication that works as well and effectively as opioids and I will take them!”
Unfortunately, medical research hadn’t developed another medication as of yet. Until they do or if they ever do. OPIOIDS should never be withheld from the legitimate patients who need and deserve them, PERIOD.

REPLY
@philipsnowdon

Hello to everyone trying their best to manage their pain medications and most importantly, their continuous challenges to acquire them consistently. I’ve been using various forms of OPIOIDS for the past 34 years. Not because I like or dislike them. I use them because they are the most effective option for managing acute and long term chronic pain.
Unfortunately, I’ve been challenged and have experienced continuous difficulties over all of these years trying to get access too and ultimately fill my opioid prescriptions.
To make matters worse, there has been far too much mis information, dis information and uninformed agencies who are in charge of approving and allocating the amounts of yearly opioids available. In addition, too much bad information or lack of access to accurate and factual information that it’s created and still manifests a horrific environment for genuine, authentic patients suffering from long term chronic pain to get reliable access to opioids to manage their pain. Some of the worst and most damaging information is including the statistics for overdose deaths caused by the “Street Users of Poisonous Fentanyl” mixed in with otherwise safe Opioids used and prescribed by authentic and genuine pain management physicians and used by responsible patients in need!
There is more than enough accurate information available for everybody of interest to see and use for their supposedly precise analysis of the obvious problems NOT associated with safely and legally prescribed OPIOIDS for pain management but they fail to document and utilize them accurately and appropriately. The end result continues to cause horrible outcomes for the responsible doctors who prescribe and the patients who need and use them.
It’s like blaming the steering wheel for causing all of the tragic automobile accidents resulting in death!!!!
Not treating or insufficiently treating chronic pain is malpractice. However, physicians are being sued in addition to losing their medical licenses for safely prescribing the appropriate type, amount and strength of opioids to their patients.
Frankly, the governmental agencies, State and Feferal are “SOLELY RESPONSIBLE” for causing patients to severely suffer much much more than they ever need too. They are equally responsible for causing patients to commit suicide because the amount, severity and length of time that patients go being under treated or not being treated at all is far to overwhelming and impossible for any human to endure. It’s like imposing governmentally approved torture on its citizens. In shot, they not only have it all WRONG! They have it “TOTALLY & COMPLETELY WRONG.” Causing people to be nonsensically subjected to inhumane suffering and death!!!
These are simply the facts. They don’t offer any viable reasons for their decisions. They just keep making horribly inappropriate decisions which are not accurately based on facts but of “MORAL JUDGEMENTS” and trying to manage and justify society’s approaches, methods and beliefs to managing long term chronic pain of which they know very little and practically nothing about in their own personal reality.
The proof of this is simplified by the “FACT” that if any of the people in governmental offices and positions were personally effected by the need to manage their own uncontrollable pain with opioids they would be begging to get access to them.
Unfortunately, the only people who truly know and understand the incredible usefulness and value of opioids are the patients who actually need and rely upon them in order to survive!
Like many things in life, one does not truly understand a specific situation fully enough unless they’ve personally experienced it or one of their family members has.
All of a sudden, they have a very sudden change of heart and understanding about the situation and then they want their own parents, children or grandchildren to have access to opioids to treat their various maladies!
If a patent has little to no quality of life and they have to suffer a tortuous daily existence, any argument regarding possible addiction or over use is totally irrelevant!
Especially when the factual statistics and research continually supports the assertion and scientific statements that patients who legitimately and responsibly use opioids for a long period of time do NOT become addicted. YES, they do and can become physically dependent but that’s much much different from developing an addiction.
People who take opioids who really don’t need them or take them longer than they really need too can succumb to an addiction. However, that’s self inflicted and a personal choice. Patients experiencing incredible suffering and tortuous pain from some kind of physical accident, illness, disease or combinations of those challenges don’t purposely choose the conditions they suffer from or might be dying from!
Even worse, when the physicians, medical community or research community can not develop or invent a suitable medication(s) to measurably improve or cure a patients health problems. All that the patting is left with ice option to reduce the amount of pain Anderson while living with the fact that there is no viable treatment or ability to recover and they are going to die sooner rather than later.
Even worse, are the patients who live with “death like symptoms” but are not going to die any time soon. However, they have to endure their tortuous existence for many years with opioids being the only option of providing any kind of measurable relief and a sense of humanity. That they are important enough to society to be treated with real empathy and understanding like any human being deserves.
There’s a very simple reason why OPIOIDS are the most effected treatment for chronic pain. “ITS BECAUSE THEY WIRK EFFECTIVELY IN DOING SO!
I’ve always said, “provide me a medication that works as well and effectively as opioids and I will take them!”
Unfortunately, medical research hadn’t developed another medication as of yet. Until they do or if they ever do. OPIOIDS should never be withheld from the legitimate patients who need and deserve them, PERIOD.

Jump to this post

Hello, @philipsnowdon ~
That was a lot to chew on, but in the end, the compassionate truth hinges on your last sentence, and with that I couldn't agree more. God bless you.
Barb

REPLY

Try a small independent pharmacy. Walgreens stopped selling prescribed opioids in their pharmacy. When my husband, who suffers from failed back surgery went to several CVS’s to ask if they could fill his monthly prescription, they said they had a limit of customers who they can fill opioid prescriptions for and that limit had been met. My husband’s doctor called a friend who owns his own small pharmacy. The pharmacist said “Yes,” he could fill my husband’s monthly prescriptions.

REPLY
@koneil

Thank you for your post. I'll try Walmart and Sams pharmacy to see if they have it in stock. I'm not sure about Texas state laws about the quantity of medication I can have per month. CVS filled a 150 quantity just last month.
I'm going to my pain management doctor Monday for an injection in my back. I'm going to press them for a pharmacy that's in stock, or try to switch medications. I hope that will work. I went 6 days last month without my medication and it was more than unpleasant. Thank you sicilygurl for your advice.

Jump to this post

I am going for my next injection and ask about the new pain med, I tried all but only have a drawer full.' 4 pain managements too. ,

tired of it all and just stay home--no social life

REPLY

I can not believe my email. I have my script for morphine available .
Hopefully, this event will not repeat itself.
This is why we go to a pain specialist. We all comply with our doctors orders, and should not be looked at as addicts. I do not want to take pain medication. It keeps me somewhat active and, I am able to take care of myself.
Thank's to all that commented on my issue. I'm a little concerned we will visit this subject again.

REPLY
@philipsnowdon

Hello to everyone trying their best to manage their pain medications and most importantly, their continuous challenges to acquire them consistently. I’ve been using various forms of OPIOIDS for the past 34 years. Not because I like or dislike them. I use them because they are the most effective option for managing acute and long term chronic pain.
Unfortunately, I’ve been challenged and have experienced continuous difficulties over all of these years trying to get access too and ultimately fill my opioid prescriptions.
To make matters worse, there has been far too much mis information, dis information and uninformed agencies who are in charge of approving and allocating the amounts of yearly opioids available. In addition, too much bad information or lack of access to accurate and factual information that it’s created and still manifests a horrific environment for genuine, authentic patients suffering from long term chronic pain to get reliable access to opioids to manage their pain. Some of the worst and most damaging information is including the statistics for overdose deaths caused by the “Street Users of Poisonous Fentanyl” mixed in with otherwise safe Opioids used and prescribed by authentic and genuine pain management physicians and used by responsible patients in need!
There is more than enough accurate information available for everybody of interest to see and use for their supposedly precise analysis of the obvious problems NOT associated with safely and legally prescribed OPIOIDS for pain management but they fail to document and utilize them accurately and appropriately. The end result continues to cause horrible outcomes for the responsible doctors who prescribe and the patients who need and use them.
It’s like blaming the steering wheel for causing all of the tragic automobile accidents resulting in death!!!!
Not treating or insufficiently treating chronic pain is malpractice. However, physicians are being sued in addition to losing their medical licenses for safely prescribing the appropriate type, amount and strength of opioids to their patients.
Frankly, the governmental agencies, State and Feferal are “SOLELY RESPONSIBLE” for causing patients to severely suffer much much more than they ever need too. They are equally responsible for causing patients to commit suicide because the amount, severity and length of time that patients go being under treated or not being treated at all is far to overwhelming and impossible for any human to endure. It’s like imposing governmentally approved torture on its citizens. In shot, they not only have it all WRONG! They have it “TOTALLY & COMPLETELY WRONG.” Causing people to be nonsensically subjected to inhumane suffering and death!!!
These are simply the facts. They don’t offer any viable reasons for their decisions. They just keep making horribly inappropriate decisions which are not accurately based on facts but of “MORAL JUDGEMENTS” and trying to manage and justify society’s approaches, methods and beliefs to managing long term chronic pain of which they know very little and practically nothing about in their own personal reality.
The proof of this is simplified by the “FACT” that if any of the people in governmental offices and positions were personally effected by the need to manage their own uncontrollable pain with opioids they would be begging to get access to them.
Unfortunately, the only people who truly know and understand the incredible usefulness and value of opioids are the patients who actually need and rely upon them in order to survive!
Like many things in life, one does not truly understand a specific situation fully enough unless they’ve personally experienced it or one of their family members has.
All of a sudden, they have a very sudden change of heart and understanding about the situation and then they want their own parents, children or grandchildren to have access to opioids to treat their various maladies!
If a patent has little to no quality of life and they have to suffer a tortuous daily existence, any argument regarding possible addiction or over use is totally irrelevant!
Especially when the factual statistics and research continually supports the assertion and scientific statements that patients who legitimately and responsibly use opioids for a long period of time do NOT become addicted. YES, they do and can become physically dependent but that’s much much different from developing an addiction.
People who take opioids who really don’t need them or take them longer than they really need too can succumb to an addiction. However, that’s self inflicted and a personal choice. Patients experiencing incredible suffering and tortuous pain from some kind of physical accident, illness, disease or combinations of those challenges don’t purposely choose the conditions they suffer from or might be dying from!
Even worse, when the physicians, medical community or research community can not develop or invent a suitable medication(s) to measurably improve or cure a patients health problems. All that the patting is left with ice option to reduce the amount of pain Anderson while living with the fact that there is no viable treatment or ability to recover and they are going to die sooner rather than later.
Even worse, are the patients who live with “death like symptoms” but are not going to die any time soon. However, they have to endure their tortuous existence for many years with opioids being the only option of providing any kind of measurable relief and a sense of humanity. That they are important enough to society to be treated with real empathy and understanding like any human being deserves.
There’s a very simple reason why OPIOIDS are the most effected treatment for chronic pain. “ITS BECAUSE THEY WIRK EFFECTIVELY IN DOING SO!
I’ve always said, “provide me a medication that works as well and effectively as opioids and I will take them!”
Unfortunately, medical research hadn’t developed another medication as of yet. Until they do or if they ever do. OPIOIDS should never be withheld from the legitimate patients who need and deserve them, PERIOD.

Jump to this post

Amen

REPLY

Being treated like a criminal is the reason I stopped going to pain mgt. I now am a medical marijuana patient.
Best change I have ever made.

REPLY
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