Buprenorphine Availability In Florida

I've been prescribed buprenorphine for long acting pain management as well as Medication Assisted Treatment for 3 years in Palm Beach county Florida. I've always filled my prescriptions at Publix Pharmacy. I have 1 and 1/2 weeks left before I can refill. But Publix, all of them are saying their distributors are all out of stock. I've asked my pharmacist if this is normal, I was told no. I asked if he could find out quickly if this was permanent and he said he'd call both distributors to find out. Now, a week later, he's being evasive and says he hasn't gotten an answer. If I run out I could relapse, and I've been clean and sober for more than 8 years. I'm scared to death. Does anyone have any answers?

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REPORT

Unfortunately, each month, every pharmacy is given a certain allotment by the DEA they can order and keep in stock. It is based on their customer base, and the size of their pharmacy. Once they run out, they are out for the month, until it is time to restock their supply. Have you tried any other pharmacies?

The FDA warns that this medication carries the risk of being habit forming, and may cause side effects, such as dizziness, constipation, headache, and dry mouth.

Have you been able to get it filled, yet?

Additionally, each manufacturer is also given a yearly limit, once they hit that limit, they cannot manufacture more, until they receive their new allotment allowance, which may not be until a few months into each new year, according to FDA, and DEA regulations.

Thus, in these types of situations, it is kind of hard to say what might be at play, this information only refers to controlled substances, to add more specificity.

As to your pharmacist being evasive, it could be that they are just afraid of angry customers. It's very hard to deal with someone complaining, when you have no control over the matter.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

The Publix Pharmacists have always been kind and nonjudgmental. I have never expressed any kind of anger towards them at all. Just confusion recently. My Doctor, who is the only one I've had for 3 years, is also confused. Publix has changed the generic brand they were using. It was Mylan that manufactured their generic Subutex, now it's Sun Pharmaceuticals. The Sun wears off quickly and after about 6 hours, I feel like I'm starting withdrawal symptoms.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I ran into a similar issue filling Ritalin (more'n my jobsworth to spell out - oh frack it, methylphenidate,) and to compound (no pharma pun intended) the problem, it was on the same sheet as a number of my other essential meds, so I had to find a pharmacy that could fill *all* of them.

Basically mostt of them were out of Ritalin, as I went through the phone book calling pharmacies until I found one that had each medication in stock. After my 7th try, I got lucky.

The lesson here is to schedule your refill for the end of the month and pick it up on the first - and call to make sure they fill it. My doctor and pharmacist and their staff know and trust me, so they have no issue with strategic refills.

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I just went to go fill a buprenorphine prescription at Publix and they told me they won't fill it unless it's mixed with Naltrexone

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My regular pharmacy can’t get any Buprenorphine, Subutex or Zubsolv. I’ve called more pharmacies than I can count & they aren’t able to get any either. Some have a little, but since I do telehealth with my Dr who I would see monthly when I lived in that state I’m being told that no pharmacies will fill them even if they do have any. I’ve been splitting my dose in half because I have no other options. I live in Florida. Does anyone know of a licensed pharmacy that would fill an out of state prescription that is 100% legitimate? I appreciate any help that I could get.

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Re: Cat70 (# 5)

Unreal... I literally just went thru the same crap. My doc wrote me subutex because suboxone films price was raised to more than 200$! Subutex is listed in good rx as 69.99 at publix. Of course when I go to the pharmacy to pick it up, the complete shill of a Pharmacist just took it upon himself to fill a subscription that wasn't prescribed. Says this bs that we don't have those. I said we'll, I can't afford those so I'll take the sublingual tablets that are 83$. He then has the audacity to say, "You have to have a new script written by your doc then." I nearly exploded, HE filled the wrong prescription, and when I told him to do the generic tablets he acts like he isn't in the wrong whatsoever. He read the script in front of me, studied it, inputted info in the computer, and asked and wrote down my phone #. When I asked quite obviously why he didn't feel he needed to call me to inform me of any of this, let alone right there when he read and submitted the damn thing, he claims he called me and my phone was disconnected. Asked him to recite the number and he wouldn't. These pharma manufacturers are limiting life saving meds that save millions from being destitute, homeless, hopelessly addicted, or just outright dying. They have no issues filling more xanax than any country in the world combined basically, but a medication that allows you to become and maintain a stable and productive life? Nahh screw that, we need to limit the amount we make, and only offer the most prohibitively costly meds if any. This effing country and health care system is nothing more than a drug trafficking ring that refuses to sell you thc or psilocybin and forces you to take fentanyl and xanax.

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