To think the pharmacy are out of order

[Tillow4ever]

I'm on sone pretty strong painkillers for a bad back. I've been weaning down to dose, and so the drs reduced down the quantity of the "as needed" tablets. No problem.

Except I've been massively struggling with more pain than usual lately, so have needed more of my tablets again. My prescription was saying could next be issued on Dec 23rd, so I requested it on the 21st with my non-controlled prescriptions and explained about the pain and not wanting to run out over Christmas when the surgery and pharmacy would be closed quite a bit. Drs agreed and issued the script early.

Husband went to pick it up for me and the pharmacy said they didn't have a script for my controlled meds. So he popped into the surgery to ask and they confirmed it had been issued. The pharmacy gave them said they do have it, but won't release it until Dec 29th as it's not "due" til then.

AIBU to think that's not for them to decide? There could be any number of reasons the script was issued early - what about if I were going away for 2 weeks, and needed them beforehand so I didn't run it? If I hadn't told the drs to reduce the quantity from 168 pills (3 packs) to 112 (2 packs) I wouldn't have needed to request them early. In actual fact, I ran out of the last prescription this morning but fortunately have some in my cupboard from when I was on the higher quantity still. I get the need to be cautious with controlled drugs - but what about if that had been issued as a top up? Would they have stopped that too? Thank God i do still have some of others or I'd be in for a miserable Christmas in agonising pain (pain is at an 8-9 without meds, down to a 2-4 with them - I'm never not in pain).

Thanks for listening my my little rant!

Controlled drugs are legally restricted. They can only issue certain amounts in a certain timeframe.

The pharmacist is doing their job.

Did you not know you'd already got some in the cupboard?

Can your doctor call them? Pharmacists are also highly trained medical professionals who are legally bound to act a certain way, and giving a prescription several days early is usually not allowed unless the doctor has written something like 'Can fill on X date'. It's frustrating but your doctor should know the law and should have spoken with pharmacy or added a note to the prescription authorizing an 'early' refill. Call now and ask them to do it before they close.

@CorrBlimeyGG

The pharmacist is doing their job.

Did you not know you'd already got some in the cupboard?

No - I started looking through after my husband called to tell me to see if I had any hiding at all. It was pure luck that I found some. I thought it was a full box, but it isn't, so I'm desperately hoping it's enough to last.

The doctors secretary can call them to explain. I've had to do this before.

@BitcherOfBlakiven

Controlled drugs are legally restricted. They can only issue certain amounts in a certain timeframe.

Yet if I'd had the previous quantity of heys have issued it. Or if my dr prescribed more in one go, they'd have issued it. But by me trying to be responsible and lowering the amount I get at a time, they won't issue it. Surely that's for the dr to decide how frequently a prescription is issued? Or what about if I'd had a sudden, acute injury that required more painkillers than usual due to being used to such high strength anyway?

I know they can't issue them x number of days after the script was raised, so what about if it was raised due to me going away, and I wouldn't be back to collect it in time. I've never seen or heard of the pharmacist holding it as being issued "too soon" and given I can't get a response from my doctors to discuss it with anyone to see about changing the prescription again, I'm not sure what else I could do.

@RoomOfRequirement

Can your doctor call them? Pharmacists are also highly trained medical professionals who are legally bound to act a certain way, and giving a prescription several days early is usually not allowed unless the doctor has written something like 'Can fill on X date'. It's frustrating but your doctor should know the law and should have spoken with pharmacy or added a note to the prescription authorizing an 'early' refill. Call now and ask them to do it before they close.

The doctors said there was nothing they could do, it's with the pharmacy.

You can't get through to them on the phone, they don't respond to emails, and I was surprised they even replied to my husband in person as they tell you to go home and phone if you just turn up now (they won't even let you into the building). Our local surgery is a joke, I'm disappointed the dr didn't consider that considering I put an extensive note on explaining why I was asking for them slightly early, and given how many days over Xmas they are shut.

It sounds like the doctor put the wrong date on the prescription. I wonder if the system automatically selects the following working day?

@girlmom21

It sounds like the doctor put the wrong date on the prescription. I wonder if the system automatically selects the following working day?

That's a good point - I didn't even consider that was something that could happen. It's odd though that the system said I could order it on the 23rd (so ordering 2 days early I thought would be fine as that gave it chance to be prepared and ready for the 24th rather than them rushing on the 24th) but they're saying it's not due til the 29th! I don't understand the different dates at all because if it had said I couldn't order til then, I'd have tried to get an appointment for a one off prescription.

Frustrating - I've dropped down from 100mg per day of slow release Oxycodone and 168x5mg fast release ones to 40mg per day of the slow release and 112 of the fast ones. But because if dropping the slow release so much I've tried too quickly to drop down.

Yet if I'd had the previous quantity of heys have issued it. Or if my dr prescribed more in one go, they'd have issued it. But by me trying to be responsible and lowering the amount I get at a time, they won't issue it. Surely that's for the dr to decide how frequently a prescription is issued? Or what about if I'd had a sudden, acute injury that required more painkillers than usual due to being used to such high strength anyway?

No it’s the pharmacist. They hold ultimate responsibility for the prescription, they do check them, and can refuse to issue if they think the dr has made a mistake. They can’t go against what is written.

Doesn’t matter what you’ve had previously, or what the dr might have prescribed, it’s what’s on the prescription in front of them.

If you’d had a sudden, acute injury you’d need to see a dr and get appropriate pain relief prescribed. You can’t just request a different prescription.

You need to ask the dr to get it changed. The pharmacist can’t, and you can’t.

@Nomoreusernames1244

Yet if I'd had the previous quantity of heys have issued it. Or if my dr prescribed more in one go, they'd have issued it. But by me trying to be responsible and lowering the amount I get at a time, they won't issue it. Surely that's for the dr to decide how frequently a prescription is issued? Or what about if I'd had a sudden, acute injury that required more painkillers than usual due to being used to such high strength anyway?

No it’s the pharmacist. They hold ultimate responsibility for the prescription, they do check them, and can refuse to issue if they think the dr has made a mistake. They can’t go against what is written.

Doesn’t matter what you’ve had previously, or what the dr might have prescribed, it’s what’s on the prescription in front of them.

If you’d had a sudden, acute injury you’d need to see a dr and get appropriate pain relief prescribed. You can’t just request a different prescription.

You need to ask the dr to get it changed. The pharmacist can’t, and you can’t.

I haven't asked for a different one, I was just saying if my dr had prescribed the same meds for an acute injury would I have encountered this issue? How do they know it's not for that - or for any other reason.

Maybe I am being unreasonable about being annoyed at the pharmacy for it - but I'm in severe pain and facing almost a week of pain at a level where I cannot do anything at all because of how bad it is. All as a result of a surgery they convinced me to have.

pharmacist and doctors receptionists seem to make the decisions. I'd complain they shouldn't be interfering in your medical treatment

Highly unlikely a GP would be issuing longtec and shortec for a sudden, acute injury!

Have you had any support from a substance misuse charity? They're open to those with prescription drug dependency, and will know the best way to help you taper.

pharmacist and doctors receptionists seem to make the decisions. I'd complain they shouldn't be interfering in your medical treatment

Have you any idea what pharmacists do? They absolutely have the right to “interfere” in treatment

In this case anyway they aren’t interfering, that would be changing the script from the dr’s instructions. So do you think the o/p should complain because they didn’t interfere?

Pharmacists have a duty of care over any medication. They can absolutely refuse to dispense, and question dr’s orders.

@milly74

pharmacist and doctors receptionists seem to make the decisions. I'd complain they shouldn't be interfering in your medical treatment

Thanks for implying I'm abusing the medication. I have no reason to believe I am - I use it as prescribed and I'm the one who asked to reduce down the dose. I use it only for the pain relief because otherwise I would be unable to do my job - and I need to be able to do my job or I'll be signed off on sone sort of disability thing as I'm in so much pain I can barely stand/walk do anything for anything more than 10 minutes. It just seems that i tried to drop down too much too fast spurred on by the initial success (my previous dr had prescribed me Tramadol as well and told me to always take both together - my new doctor after the old one left said that could actually be causing me more pain because the 2 of them were basically competing for the same pain receptors or something. Anyway, stopped the Tramadol and immediately found I could reduce the Oxycodone too which was amazing as I hate taking them).

I haven't asked for a different one, I was just saying if my dr had prescribed the same meds for an acute injury would I have encountered this issue? How do they know it's not for that - or for any other reason

Yes you would. You would need another prescription, or a new prescription, to cover your existing script and any additional meds for the acute injury.

Key thing is you don’t have a script for the meds you want over the time period you want. Doesn’t matter if they can be prescribed, or it’s fine for you to have them, you need a prescription. Doesn’t matter what it’s for, the pharmacist can only dispense what is on the script they have.

So you need to get the prescription changed, which only your dr can do.

I had this issue years ago with my surgery, had to jump through hoops to get them to issue a month's worth at a time instead of 10 days worth after my dosage went up and it was a nightmare with the pharmacy waiting period, I was having to order the next prescription the same day I collected the last one and the pharmacy had to call the doctor every time, doctors agreed it was ridiculous and since then I just order whatever I want, whenever I want, also changed pharmacy, don't have to get it approved anymore, definitely gone from too controlled to completely uncontrolled but luckily I'm not abusing them so it's not really a problem.

That’s so frustrating. I find pharmacies such hard work. If all I need is one box of pills that I can actually see while queuing and I’m not on any other medications so there can’t be anything complicated to think about, why do I need to wait for 30 minutes while the pharmacist dithers over it? What are they actually doing? So annoying.

Not the same exactly but I had similar recently after a spine operation. I was given a certain amount of morphine which would only last me 2 days by the hospital. The 3rd day I would need to get more from my GP... the 3rd day was a Saturday. I couldn't get an appt until the following Tuesday and it was awful! The system doesn't work for pain. The hospital couldn't do anything and 111 could only refer me back to my GP. People just assume with these drugs that you are taking them due to addiction which is horrendous. I take them because I cant move without them so they improve my quality of life.

By the time I got to speak to my GP I was broken. I can see why people end up in A&E with back pain as there is no where else to turn. Of course A&E can't do anything for it so you're stuck. If you ran out of heart medication or insulin they'd give an emergency supply but pain relief you're on your own. Sorry but if you've not been in such bad pain you can't move then you're lucky and wouldn't understand it.

You're not abusing the medication, but you are dependent on it. You need professional support to come off it.

I’m guessing that the prescription has been post dated and therefore it is illegal for a pharmacist to hand the prescription out. The only way around it would be for your GP to amend the date on the prescription.

Hi Tillow4ever,
Post op pain is bad and fair play for cutting down on your pain relief.
Surgical nurse here, I know your on the 40mg slow release. Are you taking it at once or 20mg in the morning and at night while topping up with the 5mg oxynorms when needed. Split if you can to 2 doses if you aren't already. It works better.
I know this might seem stupid but take paracetamol as well. Might seem weird as it's a lesser pain relief however oxy and paracetamol taking together can increase the efficacy of the oxy.
Your pharmacist has understandable concerns as oxy is know as hillbilly heroin. Very addictive and can cause issues with your bowels.
Please get back onto your GP and try get a pain management consult.
Take care.
Taz.

@Sorka

That’s so frustrating. I find pharmacies such hard work. If all I need is one box of pills that I can actually see while queuing and I’m not on any other medications so there can’t be anything complicated to think about, why do I need to wait for 30 minutes while the pharmacist dithers over it? What are they actually doing? So annoying.

Crazy isn't it! And you being the only, most important person in the world. They must just have their feet up, or be holding it back to annoy you.

OR... They have 3 waiters ahead of you, 10 people calling back, the surgery repeats scripts that have just arrived are needing to be reviewed, the delivery driver has turned up with medicines for people who weren't in, the stock order needs sent in the next half hour, 15 dosette boxes need to be checked, a 14 year old is requesting the morning-after pill, Mrs Johnson is on the phone cos her pills have run out... and a partridge in a pear tree.

It's sounding like Dr didn't change the date, legally any prescription can't be dispensed before the prescription date. (If it was just that it was early then pharmacist would've phoned the Dr)

@Bavarois how rude. Yes it is frustrating having to wait for bloody ages to collect a prescription. I am aware that there are other people, and I’m aware that it takes forever to collect something which, from my perspective, is very simple. Have a merry Christmas up there on your high horse.