2011 30 Mg Oxycodone Shortage (Page 7)
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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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I was told by my Walgreens that they were no longer going to carry Roxycodone. CVS will not sell it either.

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

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

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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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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!

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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

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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?!?!?!

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Sandy, your blog is on my facebook group. It was really great! Every has read it, enjoyed it, and made comments on it. I just friended you on FB and would love for you join in our advocacy group. I hope to see ya there.
Donna S. Thanks for joining us and helping to grow more members.

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Donna Ratliff - I am the same Sandy that wrote "Welcome to Hell, the Reality of Chronic Pain"
Thanks so much for your great comments on my article!
I am on FB too.
Here is a link to my article, hope it helps.
worldwidehippies.com/2012/01/30/welcome-to-hell-the-reality-of-chronic-pain/
hope it posts LOL

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Donna Ratliff - I am the same Sandy that wrote "Welcome to Hell, the Reality of Chronic Pain"
Thanks so much for your great comments on my article!
I am on FB too.

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@Sandy we did consider the 15mgs and like you mentioned that is a lot of pills hubby's case.. 420!! lol and the Pharmacy said nope! oy! what a mess
If you look at he posts below for DONNA RATLIFF and the name of her Group on Facebook,, they are really doing good work..well trying to.. petitions to the State Govt. Mail order RX's etc..plus you can see the other people posts there also..

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Yes, Donna s. All those years should go to your benefit and the DM will make sure you are treated properly. If not, go above the DM's head. [gots ta do what's ya gots to do! LOL]

I can't get a hold of the 30mgs and my pharmacy has not been able to order them either. "out of stock" when they try. But the 15mgs are available. I find they work great.

Some are concerned with tablet amounts - because to double my 30's script to 15mgs means a LOT of tablets [over the 220 count people mentioned] but that plays no role according to both doc and pharmacy because they are using it in replace of the 30mgs.

Heck, doubt I'll go back to 30's. Manage better with 15s. Since you can't cut those tablets in half - you can mind F*ck yourself by taking one, then the other one later - sometimes I have one extra for days where I'll have a late night!

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@Sandy Thanks for all that info. you are correct they should not treat us like that especially with clean profiles..My goodness the law passed so RX & Dr Offices can check for Dr. Shopping and how many scripts etc. so I would think there would not be a problem but we'll see.

I like the idea of talking with the DM.. Being a many year customer with the same Chain of Drug Store ~Walgreens~ should count for something..lol I don't have insurance so that can't be it.. I have the printed off the Net RX Savings card it save us a bundle...#210 30mg for $135.. pretty good compared to a few months ago of almost $300 for the same amount.. crazy..

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John 183 - that's untrue.

See January news on CVS Sanford Florida raid by DEA. Any doctor can write pain medication of any kind, only Marinol requires a special license - it's synthetic THC for wasting/cancer patients and it sucks.

Anyway, the CVS down there got into trouble, IMHO due to other pharmacies turning people away, they started to fill more than normal. And got in trouble for it.

Plus in Lakeland Fl a wholesale distributor got busted by the DEA for something - kind of unclear on that one. But I know for a fact that the 30mgs are just not available right now to order. Very good pharmacists, very honest with me told me back in Jan they were having lots of trouble. So went onto the 15mgs [which funnily enough, I prefer because I couldnt break a 30 in half very well able to manage heaps better with the 15's LOL]

Now here is what should piss everyone off. The cops in Florida say [info online, google it] they are still seeing high numbers of these drugs on the streets - specifically oxy 30s and 15s. They also said the price hasn't gone up at all. [which it normally would if it was scarce, it's not "on the street"] So I want to know how the hell are these getting onto the streets? Us CPPs have been blamed for years now but clearly "it's not us" diverting them!

Which may be what's happening this year. Stop the flow into CPP hands to find out how they are actually getting to the street - and finally bust them. [oh we can hope]

CVS in Sanford cannot fill any scheduled medications until they have their trial/hearing over the situation. I don't think CVS was in the wrong, like mentioned just think they were filling for more patients. Also 90% of oxycodone sold by doctors in Florida are gone. 90%! Who's selling them in docs offices still? GA, KY and TN. The issue with pill mills was mostly 2 brothers out of Broward county who opened up several offices with in office pharmacies and catered to out of state people. Prescribing max dose for all chronic pain patients. It was a 50 million a year operation.

Also watch out for the group called STOPP they want all oxycodone and chronic pain medications stopped. These folks are as crazy as antiabortionist. They protest in front of doctors offices. Why? Well, their adult son's got addicted and that means....it's everyone else's fault and everyone else should suffer because of it. Well they have us suffering.

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Donna S. It shouldnt be like that but at least someone has taken care of you guys. I was on methadone w/oxycodone mix for chronic pain. It works but had to drop the methadone due to increased anxiety and breathing problems - that I thought was due to my panic/anxiety disorder flaring up. It takes almost 14 days to get methadone out of system [New Doc didnt know that either, until I brought him the info from pharmacy].

Ask current pharmacist to talk to their district manager for you - to ensure you continue to get the same standard of care from all staff there and not just the one pharmacist.

I've had to report a pharmacist that was filling in one day at my local! He refused to fill basically, then sent my doctor a nasty gram about me. What a wreck. He got fired in the end because he violated HIPAA laws PLUS his treatment of me - without even checking my profile 1st! Plus the nasty gram he sent my doctor.

Almost had to go in the next day when one of my fav pharmacists was on duty but the burden shouldn't be on *me* but on them.

Talked to his district manager - after the DM saw my profile and how straight forward it was he was outraged that I was treated so poorly.

Store prides itself on outstanding customer service after all and they did just spend a ton of money to make sure you can technically go into any of their stores and receive the same treatment from any pharmacy. WRONG and I proved it!] That ordeal isn't over. Still have to send paper work on him to Dept of Health Florida. He picked the WRONG CPP to mess with - whoops! Never let them treat you like rubbish or make you feel bad for needing the medication you need. It's not like there isn't thousands of other meds that are addictive [like most antidepressants and stuff like lyrica] the only dif is no street value to those compared to scheduled meds. After 12+ yrs dealing with this mess I've learned to fight for not just my right to fair and proper treatment, but for others too.

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