Online Pharmacies

[TheDoDahMan]

Has anyone in the US had any luck in having a low-dose methadone prescription filled via an online pharmacy such as OptumRx?

[BAK524]

DoDah which pharmacy do you currently use? I just met with Dr. B and he wants to start me on methadone. One Walgreens near me said they won't fill the prescription without approval from the manager, who was on vacation. Another nearby Walgreens said that they don't usually keep it in stock, but could order it. Am I going to have this problem every month? An online pharmacy -one that can be consistently relied upon- would be great, but I think methadone needs to be picked up in person. Did you ask Dr B what his thoughts are?

[TheDoDahMan in reply to BAK524]

Hi, Fatniss,

As you may have guessed, the reason for my post is that my current pharmacy is giving me problems filling my latest prescription. The issue is that the ICD-10 code doesn't seem to be properly transmitted from Dr. B's office to my Smith's Grocery pharmacy in Nevada. Over the past few days, the issue has been batted back and forth between me, the pharmacy, and Dr. B's office. Now that it's the weekend, I'm having to wait until Monday in order to fight the next round.

Part of the problem may be that, in my case, it's an out-of-state prescription. Do you live in CA?

Three years ago, when I first got the script, I presented it to my local Walmart, and they refused to fill it, no questions asked. Just flat-out refused. But Smith's, after some haggling, and my informing them that it was for RLS, relented, and has been filling it ever since, but with frequent problems regarding the transmittal of the ICD-10 code.

My understanding, and this is just a guess, is that the chain stores rent out their space to individual pharmacies, and thus, the policies regarding opioids may vary from store to store.

To address your question: when I asked the good doctor about this, he said that whenever a pharmacy refused to fill it, just notify his office, and they would send the e-script to whatever pharmacy I wanted them to, next on my "list".

"Am I going to have this problem every month?" Possibly, although I think it depends greatly on whether or not you are out-of-state. And, of course, once you find a pharmacy that says "okay", I think that your chances of being able to continually use them are greatly enhanced.

I personally find it to be pitiful that we are being treated like this, and blame the DEA greatly for the situation. I get knots in my stomach every time my renewal comes around. Other than that, methadone has proved to be the answer to my dreams.

Best of luck, and let us know how you fare.

[BAK524 in reply to TheDoDahMan]

I'm in California. Have you tried to find a local neurologist that will prescribe the methadone for you, or are just staying with Dr. B? I'm wondering - are you able to keep a small supply of pills in reserve before the next re-fill date? Does Dr. B only provide a one month prescription? I assume this medication works well for you. What time do you take it and how has your sleep quality been?

[TheDoDahMan in reply to BAK524]

From the postings that I've read here for the past several years, I'm not very optimistic that a neurologist's knowledge of RLS is yet current enough that (s)he would be willing to prescribe opioids for the condition.

I have sent information packets - a description of my condition, printouts from the RLS Foundation and the Mayo Clinic, etc.) - to 3 different pain clinics in town, but have not been graced with a reply from any of them. I explained to them that I was being treated by Dr. B. and that the methadone had made a miraculous positive change in my life, and that I was only asking for them to locally prescribe the same regime that he did, so that I wouldn't have to make a 10-hour round trip every 6 months to fulfill the governmental requirements for continuing the prescription. Apparently, they weren't interested.

Dr. B. normally prescribes 10 mg per day in a monthly prescription: 60 pills of 5 mg each. If you buy a pill-cutter, you can save a few half-pills during the month to tide you over when you're having problems getting your next prescription filled. These aren't technically "refills", as you're actually only allowed a 30-day supply with no refills, but have to be seen every 6 months to keep the monthly prescriptions coming. You'll have to request from Dr. B's "portal" each month.

My prescription reads "as needed", so I vary according to how my symptoms occur. Usually, I take one pill in the evening, and one just before sleep. I cannot emphasize enough how well this medication works for me.

Have you managed to fill your first prescription yet?

[BAK524 in reply to TheDoDahMan]

The pharmacy told me that it would be delivered to them today. I called. No methadone was delivered. She said that I should call back again tomorrow. I'm thinking of trying a different pharmacy...

[TeddiJ]

I feel you two, BELIEVE me! Omg-the stress of it all. A CVS pharmacy back in the day had no problem filling my methadone. But, just ONE CVS that was even remotely close to me, in this huge city. And it was not even in my zip code-which has many CVS stores.

Recently, I thought Walgreens was also having a problem with my opioid. But, it was an insurance problem and not a pharmacy refusal. (I am still not picking it up/taking it due to my history, however.)

My huge issue (besides getting cut off-that was def a problem!) was the monthly stress of calling the doctor for the prescription! Will-he-or-won't-he refill it or make it some sort of an issue? Which he did, constantly:

He would not return the call, not call it in, or, last second, he would tell me I needed another appt. Even if I had JUST seen him the month before.

My god, the sheer torture that man put me through.

And he is on the approved doctor list on rls.org!

I do think it will all work out just fine for you two. I know the opioid road is not easy in the US, but thank god you at least have Dr. B!

Sorry I actually wasn't of any help DoDah; I just had to show solidarity here.

It does seem like Dr. B would use the online option, if he could?!