2011 30 Mg Oxycodone Shortage (Page 12)

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

Does anyone know anything about the current shortage in central Flh? Spent 2 days trying to fill script for 120 30mg roxicodone w no luck. I'm in severe pain- can ANYONE tell me what is going on and when I can get my meds?!?!?!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

30 mg...I have news just for you. I here that dosage is the least available, but I don't live their , so you can hope I'm way out of line :) Good Luck Lauren, honestly, I am surprised of the shortage going into April, maybe someone here can give you some positive information! Carl

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Switch to Dilaudid, (hydromorphone) or Opana (oxymorphone) since these are readily available. You could also try switching to MS Contin or Morphine or Methadone. I've tried em all and they all do the trick when it comes to killing pain/ blocking pain signals. My doctor told me the 'Feds' are cracking down on Oxycodone' and that he will switch me to morphine. However in Hawaii i can still get oxycodone and still am taking it. Or, ask your doctor about opiate rotation therapy (preventing tolerance, and giving you chance to try all thats available ie pain meds. Good Luck!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I agree Hydromorphone (Diluadid) or oxymorphone (Opana). You need at least 4 mg or maybe 8mg if you can of Hydromorphone. Easy to get at pharmacy, well depends. I get #120, and some do not have that many available since one bottle is #100. But if you say you will be getting them every month here they will order more and keep in stock, or you can try another pharmacy. I have always had 1 or a 2nd always have 120 Diluadids. The Opana has just gone generic lately and does cost more. With your dosage you need 8mg Hydromorphone. and #120 at least. I would go with that first, not enough, it would be great if you could get #180 or #240. Sounds a lot to me, since I get #120 and would be better with #180 or #240, but no go for me. After the Diluadid experience is not working for you then I would try the oxymorphone then. Good Luck, Carl

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

50 in Florida here. They are especially picking on our state because more Oxycodone has been prescribed here than any other state - the pill mills.

Read an article in the paper that said even though the pill mills are mostly shut down, they still are busting people on the streets with Oxycodone. I guess they go to another state or something.

In the second part of that article, in a tiny paragraph at the end, they did mention that the chronic pain sufferes are the ones not getting their medication.
My Walgreens and CVS will NOT even carry Oxycodone anymore.

I was fine when my doctor prescribed Opana, but now the FDA has stepped in and screwed that up. It was unavailable last time I tried. They are reformulating the ER tabs so they cannot be abused. I have also read they don't work well either.

I have been prescribed Morphine and I hate it. I don't take it if I can do without. It makes me very edgy, short-tempered and I hate the way it makes me feel. It doesn't work as well on my pain either. That means they will want to raise my dose. I can't take it!
I don't know what to do anymore.

Obama said "maybe you're better off taking the pain pill than having the surgery."
We can't get the pain pill!!! Surgery didn't work for me.
I'm in no hurry to have surgery if they can't help me with the pain afterwards.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Opana ER has not been available for over two months.
They are reformulating it so it cannot be abused.
I have read they don't work well at all.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

BTW.....anyone asks about morphine MS or IR only IM or IV as far as I think. Carl

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

We live in Pinellas County, Florida. My spouse, who is in severe, chronic pain, has been a customer of Walgreens for many years. Everyday this week we have driven from Walgreen's to Walgreen's trying to fill his prescription for Roxicodone 30mg, to no avail. I cannot get any help from his regular pharmacy. I know that it's dangerous for them to tell a total stranger which store has them in stock, but I don't understand since they know him, why they can't call around or give us any assistance. I am at a total loss as to what to do & would appreciate any information that you could provide. It is so hard to see him in so much pain. Thank you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I found a petition to sign - for those of you (like me) who live in Florida and can't get our meds filled.
Maybe it will help.

change.org/petitions/florida-pharmacies-stop-florida-pharmacies-from-denying-pain-patients-vital-medicines

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My Pharmacist called all the local Pharmacies once, but then again they new me well.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I live in Pinellas County. I am having the same problems

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was told by my Walgreens that they were no longer going to carry Roxycodone. CVS will not sell it either.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

...and I live in Pinellas County.
No Roxycodone at Walgreens. That is what I was told.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I went back to my pain mgt doc (in Orlando) and they switched my script out for the opana ers. I don't understand why my doc didn't warn me ab the shortage, since this has obviously been going on for awhile. Does anyone know who we should contact, state govt wise to ask questions about this shortage??? I don't understand how they can just eliminate thousands of peoples scripts when they're suffering!!! Someone told me that its only the generic oxy that is not being produced and that its the pharmacutical manufacturers discretion...is this true? I'm looking for more info if anyone knows anything. I live in Tallahassee, and so far have also been unable to fill the opana er prescription as well. This is truly terrible. I guess its preferable for actual patients to suffer than to allow a few junkies to get high!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I haven't been on here in awhile but after seeing all the email responses I was curious so thought I would pop in and see. Well I have finally received a response from the office of Rick Scott here in Florida. In fact his office directed my email over to the dept of health. The executive director there Joy Tottle wrote back to me saying, that she's sorry legitimate patients are unable to get their medications filled and that these pharmacies don't have any allotments, or regulations to not fill these rx's. She basically said we shouldn't be having any issues.?! Well I told her that this is a crisis and horrible tragedy to these patients and if that was her only answer, is that what she wanted me to tell all of the 630 petition signers? I also stated that many elderly didn't have any computers so they couldn't sign but that they would hand write on a paper petition. I reminded her tht re-election was coming up and that it would be to their advantage to have our governor fix this problem for legitimate patients. I told her people with cancer and other heinous diseases were suffering terribly. So I did send a rebuttal. I encourage everyone to email her at the FL DOH and explain how they are causing needless suffering here. I asked her to tell the governor to get the law and dea off pharmacies backs! I guess I will see what kind of response she gives me next. I told her that was not a good excuse to have me give the public in pain. I honestly feel that if they ignore us, then we will just vanish. Yea maybe from death. I told her that many suicides are starting to happen now. Folks, don't just let them have there way. Stand up for your rights to pain care! Yes, its your right to have pain medicine for legal pain! Btw, I saw that someone said any doctors can prescribe these meds on am earlier post. Sorry here in FL only a certified pain management doc can Rx these meds as of Jan 2012. You can read this on the HB7095 bill that passed. You will see that these shortages are false also! The manufacturers are making plenty but pharmacies are just not ordering many. Cardinal being shut down because they delivered too many oxy 30's to 3 FL pharmacies. Big deal! So that has slowed the supply down even more, along with limited ordering of drug stores. All this is why there is problems. On that bill I suggested states their are no legal allotments of oxy by the state. This is pharmacies making their own rules and this why our monitoring system isn't working and why we are going through hell down here! Sorry for long post but I wanted to inform you on why and what we can do. Call, write, or go see your local state rep. They are in every district. The drive is short. Good luck all and I hope to see ya on my group.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Go to rays pharmacy on fletcher ave.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

THATS KAYS, I'M SORRY

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Donna Ratliff,
Thank you for all of the work that you are doing on our behalf. How can we support the Petition or get information if we are not on Facebook, Twitter, etc.? If you could please let us know, we would really appreciate it. Once again, thanks!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have exhaustively attempted to e-mail the Florida Department of Health,but cannot locate an e-mail address.Thanks for your efforts,but if you could post the e-mail,or person to be contacted,it would be extremely helpful.I have pancreatic Cancer,perhaps the most painful condition you can have,and CANNOT,get my roxicodone prescription filled,other than to use express scripts,which most people do not have the alternative to do.Before I took these miracle pills,I was hospitalized,through the E.R. 39 times in a 2 year period,at a cost to the tax payer of 900,000 dollars,because someones junky kid abused our medicine,we must pay.
\

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

doh.state.fl.us

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