2011 30 Mg Oxycodone Shortage (Page 5)
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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?

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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.

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

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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

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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

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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/

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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..

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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).

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

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I agree...orlando is frustrating!
Cant fill my oxys there and a couple walgreens/cvs onea have asked me "is this script from a pain clinic? We dont fill pain clinic prescriptions with excessive quantities of oxycodone" Luckily my doctor isnt from a pain clinic but I have problems anyway

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AMERICAN PAIN FOUNDATION Click on your State.. Florida Advocate Leader is Donna Ratliff.. there are many good things happening with Petitions, Letter Writing, Possible Protests..and Documents for Help on the Private Group on FaceBook.. message Donna Ratliff
painfoundation.org/get-involved/leader-directory

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Well should you need to fill a prescription in the Orlando - Avalon Park area don't hold your breath. I have been taking Loratabs and Morphine for the past 4 years; after my left knee was crushed in a motorcycle accident. I have never had any problems in the four years I have been taking these medications till this week. If the pain and being stuck in bed isn't bad enough adding the sting of pharmacists getting nasty to it makes it that much worse. I am only 37 and have had a pain management doctor now for almost 2 years so there is no question of actual need of the medications but when the people in the pharmacies get condescending and look at you like you just asked for crack.... It doesn't make things any easier.

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SUSAN the last name is RATLIFF not rat ..C..liff ..lol

she is near the top in a tan cowboy hat and blonde hair.. you can locate her on the post I just did thru American Pain Foundation and click on Florida

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Donna Ratliff has written Gov Scott and has received back a reply plus there are many documents and petitions change.org this one below is for Florida..
change.org/petitions/florida-pharmacies-stop-florida-pharmacies-from-denying-pain-patients-vital-medicines

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Donna -

How do I join your FB group?
I want to get involved and do all I can.
There are a lot of Donna Ratcliffs.

Thanks.

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This is so terrible. You would think the government would AT LEAST take care of our vets. I know they don't anyway. It's a disgrace.

Please folks....there is a petition you can sign. I can't post the link here because the system thinks it's spam.
Google the words "Health Petition florida Pharmacies" and sign the petition.
I have been writing newspapers every time they print a story about this drug crackdown.

We need to stick together.
There is safety and power in numbers.
We're all legitimate, chronic pain patients and this government intervention has been handles all wrong.

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well If I were you I would drive back to the County your Dr is in and get them filled there.. Is there a Methadone Clinic near? That will help you "maintain" from getting drug sick.. I don't know how much they charge but it isn't much.. I would go back to that County IF it were me.. Good Luck!!!

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