2011 30 Mg Oxycodone Shortage (Page 14)

I am a 51 y/o who lives in Florida, suffering from chronic back pain, and have been prescribed to take up to six 30mg oxycodone tablets a day for over two years by my Pain Management doctor. However, when I went to fill my prescription almost 4 weeks ago, my pharmacy told me their distributor had stopped shipping oxycodone to Florida pharmacies. Since then, I have personally visited about 100 pharmacies but have been unable to find them in stock anywhere. As a former paralegal, I attempted to research the situation, but could only confirm that the DEA has yearly quot on all controlled substances (for oxy's is 98 million grams in 2011). From I gather from the Internet, it appears that the ENTIRE state of FLORIDA is not getting any shipments of oxycodone 30 mg. from distributors, but are other states having this problem as well? Also, can anyone confirm whether (and HOW) the DEA is pressuring distributors to avoid Florida?

REPLY

REPORT

GET OPANA 10 MG INSTANT RELEASE,ITS LIKE A 30 MG ROXI BUT 2X'S AS STRONG.. :-) :-) :-) OXY-MORPHINE PILL

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Solace,
I get the same looks and I just turned 50!
Even worse, some pharmacies like Walgreens make up their own rules. My rheumatologist told me today that she heard Soma was getting taken off the market this year. She wrote me a script for 90 days and told me to get a 90 day supply.

Even after speaking to my doctor, Walgreens refused.
The pharmacist said it was a controlled substance and they don't fill 90 day supplies.

A few years ago, it wasn't even a controlled substance.
My doctor said she doesn't know why after 37 years, they ceasing to make it (I read later this year).

First they (the government) messed with my painkillers, now my muscle relaxer. What's next?

I have been writing our congressmen. I am working on a letter for John Stossel. I know it's a long shot, but this is exactly the kind of thing he hates. (Government overreach).

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Checking in from Lakeland, Fl as I am so spun up over my monthly degrading and demoralizing, daunting task of just trying to get a pain med script filled. Our CVS here KNOWs me and I even called ahead to give them a weeks notice that I was due to fill my meds. I STILL had to wait a long while they decided if I fit whatever criteria that they needed to decide to fill it! I am reduced to feeling like a low-life druggy... when all I am trying to do is recover from my injuries and TRY to lead a productive life again!
I watched several clerks scrutinizing and OKing the script..then checking to see what "I" looked like before deciding if I looked like an abuser! Then passing it on to the next clerk for scrutiny! I went over and signed yet another petition and e-mailed all my family and friends to request they read and support the cause too! It doesn't seem like much but it gives me false hope I suppose..

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Healing Angel. If that's the worst of it, consider yourself blessed.

Steps to consider in the future. Do not hand to the clerk but ask for the pharmacist. [also ask for their district managers name and phone number]. When you talk to the pharmacist - be very polite. Remember, they are also being scrutinized. It helps to talk to them. Tell them what's up and what is wrong with you that you require these meds.

It's *NOT* required that you tell them but it humanizes you. Try to not be on the offensive when telling them. Just let them know why. For me it was a car accident 12yrs ago. I've had my pharmacists longer than my doctor! I refuse to go into Walgreens anymore. Not since they started trippin on CPPs.

It's so disrespectful. But it really does make a difference to let the pharmacist/s get to know you. If not for talking to mine and keeping only one long before that was a requirement - who knows where I'd be at. They are always honest.

When one doc went into a diabetic coma and another left pain management because it wasn't worth the risk it was my pharmacist that rec'ed a doctor both times.

With my new doctor [one year in August] they had some questions about him due to things he's done over the years that they questioned. Even though he seems pretty by the book to me they still asked.

And I am glad to be able to have the dialog with them. The good thing is they make sure to care for their regular patients. The bad thing is new patients are being really screwed over trying to find a pharmacy that will treat them with respect. That is why I give the advice of skip the techs and ask for the pharmacist directly. Good luck. Keep on fighting the good fight for fair and proper treatment!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Carl - Florida, Cali, and PA are the top 3 states. Florida and Cali both have very large aging populations and due to the mild weather - more pain patients. But the DEA numbers are off according to a top pain specialist in the state. [it's got something to do with doses vs mg]. Essentially, if the DEAs # about Florida were correct then we consumed 110% of the entire nations yearly quota, an impossibility. They are refusing to update their stats too.

Since there stats are not only off, they are old. Since the crack down on Florida [which was mostly an issue in Broward county due to 2 brothers] 90% of doctors that sold pain meds with in clinic pharmacies have left the state. They are in GA, TN and KY now. Saves them the travel I guess.

Also remember that these states do not only have aging populations but a lot of coal miners and steel workers who are broken now. It's easy to point out the addicts - but the stats are that less than 1% of patients become addicts.

So how are folks getting addicted? Addicts buy them off the street. And the police are still seeing them on the street for the same price - that means diversion is happening at an entirely different level. It's not patients.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

You sound like me. I'm a 50 year old retired hairdresser with chronic back pain. I also take 30 mg oxycodone and I've had a difficult time getting it filled especially this last month. I was told by the pharmacist that they will get harder to get.
There is one pharmacy chain called Assured. There's only a few locations in the country but they do deliver everywhere. You might call them or go to their website and see if they can work with you through your doctor so this doesn't keep happening. There's nothing worse than running out of your meds. You can't fill them early so you're already pretty much out by the time you need them refilled and if you feel anything like I feel at that time, driving around town isn't fun and here in CA anyway, they don't tell you over the phone if they're in stock. Good luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I don't know what to do - i am now having to medically withdraw from college over not being able to fill my medication. This is obsurd. Ten years of filling it without a problem now its been 2 weeks since I ran out and have not been able to fill my oxy 15s. The withdrawal is killing me combined with the debilitating pain from JRA. My life has been on hold. My doctor is a 4 hour drive away and I can't even drive to his office to get switched to something fillable. These lockdown procedures by te government could be handled in a much better way. Raid the doctors who are money hungry and writing inappropriate scripts, but don't take the medicine away so that those of us who need it can never find it. Ugh!!
I blame Scott for the trouble in FL. He signed a bunch of oxy laws last year.
God I hate this. I have no idea what to do.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Go to a methadone clinic until you can find another Dr or get to your Dr 4 hrs away.. a link to the American Pain Foundation CLICK of Florida go to Donna Ratliff Facebook page and join the PRIVATE GROUP
painfoundation.org/get-involved/leader-directory/

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Going to Orlando tomorrow. If anyone in central florida has luck finding them an doesnt mind saying, please share. If i find them ill post as well to hopefully help someone out

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Sandy, I believe the stats were for 2010, and 2011 pertaining to law changes. I understand your reasoning and it doesn't really jive. I was just reporting as to what the DEA was putting out to the public, and I, being such a fan of the DEA, are much more willing to follow your thoughts and interpretations of the stat than there numbers they put out. They are just so sure no one is smart enough, or take the time to see they are way off base. Sandy, thanks for setting the record straight, and please don't shoot the messenger :) I was just reporting what they were saying to the public, and we DO need someone to...Question Authority!! :) Carl

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

DEA numbers don't jive.! I'm Saying!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Have any of you tried online refills for your prescription refills or even hospitals? Hospitals have to be in stock of those kind pills, and online pharmacies are shipped from other states. I am also on these medications for real medical problems, its very hard to get a doctor that isn't scared of the DEA and that understands they made those meds for a reason and not look at you like a drug addict. I live in California and other than the pharmacist giving me an attitude and dirty looks once they see what my script is for, and skimming Pills ever so often, the doc's are more of a hassle then the pharmacy.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Mami,
I have tried hospitals (recommended by my usual pharmacist) but when i went I was turned down and told they wont fill oxy from doctors who are outside of the hospital. Just another special exception for oxycodone like usual. I havent tried online but im skeptical about it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Finally filled my script at the first place i went to upon getting into the central florida area. Anyone still looking, i recommend walgreens. The walgreens in altamonte springs (where i just filled mine) always carries actavis, and if you look on the pharmacist drug shortages list, actavis is NOT in shortage. Publix always gives me caraco which is now in shortage and they have been out for weeks. For anyone out there trying to fill, think of anywhere you got actavis or the m brand and always start your search there.
Also a drug addict appearing woman (sores on her face, no teeth, dirty clothes) in line in front of me wastold by the pharmacist "we dont have any oxycodone in the 15 and 30mg strengths" then i went to the counter afterwards and had to wait 10 minutes while they walked away with my ID and script before getting told yes. Im glad i passed their selection process :) make sure no matter how bad you feel you get presentable enough for the pharmacist.

QUESTION for anyone who can answer: i just went 2 weeks without taking oxy. Aside from my pain i was going through bad withdrawal. I took a pill two hours ago, but still feel mild withdrawal. Is it going to take a day or two for the withdrawal to cease completely? I thought id feel better immediately but i still am cold sweating, anxious, having diarrhea and im nauseous. Wondering if im sick in general or still withdrawaling
Thanks in advance for your response

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

The first of the year I had to have my scripts at Wal Mart or Walgreen to have $0 co payment on all my meds because of the Drug Plan Part D I chose to have with Medicare @ $24.70 a month. I have gone to Walgreens the last 3 months, even though all my scripts were transferred to Wal Mart (except of course the Schedule II's). I have 2 Schedule II meds. Walmart always had the one of the schedule II's, but never enough to fill my other, Diluadid. I asked Wal Mart Manager Pharmacist if he could keep more on stock. No problem he said, and sure enough all 11 meds were all filled this week with the Diluadid and 3 others today and the other schedule II yesterday and the others 5 that I could fill last Monday. When I was in a pinch the first 3 months. Walgreens pharmacist went and pulled 2 bottles out and came back and said they had enough. Now that I made a short story long, the jest of it, is even in the first of the year when things were tight, Walgreens came through on Jan,Feb and March. Although I personally don't need to prepare myself to pick up script, Flsux91 @ 274 made a very good suggestion about present ability when picking up Schedule II meds. @Flsux91, I take benzo's and the few times in my life when I had to go 4-5 days without. One would never work, I was still climbing the walls. I can not say if that's the same with your oxycodone, as I never had that problem with them. Glad you got your script filled, and good advise to people on being representable @ the Pharmacy. Carl

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

heroin you r east coast get china white pretty much same thing just not in pill form u dont have to shoot it up either smoke a little andsnort a little same effects used to abuse oxy for long time h faster eaiser china white is pretty clean

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

China White hit the East coast? Been along time sense I have heard of that floating around. Long time of tar. OT. Maybe seeing the future of the lack of oxycodone being around????

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

No worries Carl! Def wasn't shooting the messenger just wanted to set record straight. We are getting our bums handed to us here in Florida right now. Diversion still happening. Reports of patients being profiled, threatened with violence just all sorts of nuttiness going on.
As for how one looks when going to the pharmacy, I always rec on takes it as serious as a job interview. How would one present themselves for a job? Though it's not nec fair to think that just because a patient looks a certain way that they're a junkie. Under treated pain and illness can result in a persons appearance declining. Plus there is something about FL that I noticed. Probably lack of good insurance that means so many are lacking teeth. Well, that and the water and the sweet tea!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I cannot believe you folks do not know what it happening. I heard this from ALL pharmacists that I know. The DEA has gone to all the pharmacies in the Miami area and threatened them that they must cut by 50% their oxy supply. If they do not they will close them. How are they able to do this? Correct?? Who knows, but they have and they are, until this hits the newspapers and our congress representatives nothing will change. Nothing. Do your research and you will find that there is no shortage except that the DEA has closed or attempted to close the distributors and these companies do not make enough money on these items to make it worthwhile to fight with the government. It is easier for them to start manufacturing a different product like blood pressure medication. Check it out you will see. Oh and by the way, it is not just the immediate release it is all forms of oxycodone, i am serious this is straight from the goverment

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Unfortunatly,this all started because of the newspapers,who created a problem,where none existed,accept for out of town junkies,who are now outlawed.The funny thing is alchohol,kills more people in 1 week,than pain killers do all year,and alchohol has no redemptive value.This has also spiked the prices.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

back in the 80's Scotty's ,hardware store hicked up prices for ply wood and state of Fl,step in closed them down...

4 REPLIES

Can't find a pharmacy to fill my script for 175 oxycodone 30's. Anyone have any suggestions where to try? ## hav...

21 REPLIES

This is a nightmare!! I suffer from multiple auto-immune diseases such as Connective Tissue Disease, R.A, Livedo, Raynau...

47 REPLIES

My spouse, who is in severe, chronic pain, has been a customer of Walgreens for many years. We live in Pinellas County, ...

1050 REPLIES

Have any of you tried to order from mail order pharmacies. I have Aetna insurance, and they have an rx by mail program. ...

15 REPLIES

Is anyone in Florida having any issues getting their oxycodone 30mg filled at any pharmacy's? Especially at a Publix...

3 REPLIES

I received a call that my oxycodone was ready for pick up at Rite Aid and once I got there the pharm tech had told me th...

2 REPLIES

This is freaking ridiculous!!! Last month it took 3 weeks to fill the RX and this month, it's going on another 3 wee...

94 REPLIES

Can a pharmacist just be quite and fill the script the doctor ordered for his patient.They lie to us and then fill freds...

64 REPLIES

I was told by a pharmacist that the manufacture's are trying to alter the drug. The goal by the DEA or the manufactu...

28 REPLIES