No Duragesic In Los Angeles

My pharmacy and spine doctor are both very reputable. I went in as normal to get my 45 duragesic (fentanyl) patches in 50 mcg strength and was told pharmacy is out of stock and cannot order anymore! Each and every pharmacy says they have it and when I go in to get the prescription filled they say they are out. The range is Walgreens, CVS, hospital pharmacies, you name it and I have spent all day on buses to other locations. I live in SFV and Santa Monica. I called the Attorney General, the Governor, the manufacturer, DEA - no one will talk and most say they are unaware of the problem. All pharmacies tell me they are unable to order them. What is going on? I must be targeted for some reason and have asked. No one is complaining or posting any concerns. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. I AM SENIOR WITH A HEART CONDITION AND WITH SEEMINGLY NO ALTERNATIVE. All state agencies say this problem is between the doctor and pharmacy. No one will help. I am next phoning the police as I wonder if they put something in the system to block my ability to get meds filled. There are harassment issues (they impounded my car inappropriately, etc) and I seek legal advice. Does anyone have this problem with getting highly controlled meds? I have been sterling in my responsibility to take medication prudently. {edited for privacy}

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REPORT

I can't speak for all pain meds but experience has shown that formulations are being changed dramatically. Pain med prescribers, manufacturers, and pharmacies are becoming "lawsuit shy" because of the political climate we find ourselves in. This IS NOT a partisan issue. BOTH parties are responsible here. Many organizations that really have no assets are bringing litigation to intimidate all of the above-named parties. They know they will lose in Court but if they have no assets they will not have to pay the winning parties attorney's fees so they bring all of these frivolous legal cases causing the manufacturers, and the pharmacy's to have to pay out large sums of money to defend these frivolous actions and then the losers will never have to pay out anything. It is a vicious cycle that LEGITIMATE patients of pain meds are caught up in. Many of these manufacturers and pharmacies just will not make or carry any decent pain meds anymore. The ones they do carry have been reformulated and are essentially ineffective and worthless. Over the counter Tylenol or Ibuprofen is as effective. This is what these so-called "opioid Police" want. To hell with people who have been on prescribed pain meds for many years and have a valid reason for their prescription. Everyone is being grouped into the same group with thieves that steal pills and illicit drug users. My heart goes out to anyone that has a legitimate use for their prescriptions because they will become more and more scarce as this political battle is waged. After all, little Mary and Johnny stole their grandparent's pills and used them to their detriment so that means that ALL legitimate patients of pain meds must pay for the illegal actions of others.

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It was just announced that OxyContin is being discontinued so I think all extended release pain meds are going to be taken off the market. Thank you very much addicts! What are people who actually need them supposed to do?

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I think they are just giving everyone a hard time concerning pain medication because of all the deaths associated with the drugs and the legal complications that the Doctors are experiencing. That being said there are real people that cannot function without some sort of pain medication I being 1 of them. I have lupus and spinal issues. I decided to stop taking them ( tired of being looked at like I am a junkie ) I am out of work right now but know that I am going to have to take something if I want to have a half way productive life.I took a drug along time ago that worked ( I am not sure if I can list it here it is FDA approved for another reason ) I do believe Doctors must find something because all the real people that suffer with chronic pain will be out on disability and there are a lot of illnesses that really dibilitate people. So they must open their eyes and do something. The drug that I took they won't do any real studies on it concerning chronic pain, which is a shame because it truly worked for me. Like I finally had a normal life I was able to pick up my grandchild what gets better than that.

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I'm sorry to hear of your problem & know how frustrating it can be to feel targeted. Years ago the fda called my Dr. questioning the amount of opiate medication I was on due to a bad hip replacement. I'm now having problems just getting proper help for my extreme pain and also have a heart condition thanks to it! But I never encountered anything like you are. It doesn't sound like it's within the pharmacy directly. Is there any chance your Dr could be being investigated by the dea or federal gov? I'd definitely suggest telling the Dr's office of the problem as well as finding a lawyer if you feel you're being harassed. Hope you have better luck.

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Maureen in New York city (# 1) --

What is the name of that medicine? I don't think there will be a problem with posting the name on this site.

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Re: w john (# 1)

That medication should not b a problem to fill Just cause it is fentanyl, u have a script and i know it is a patch u wear. Idk what to tell u cept talk to ur doc he may be able to talk to pharmacists of drug store that has it in stock...smh.

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Yes please let the police know. They should never started that medicine unless you are not going to make it long sorry to put it blunt like that but that’s seriously dangerous medicine... I was on 200 mcg every other day and oxcotion 80 mg 2x a day. I am clean now 12 years I have been in remission from opioids it was hell getting off them. I thought I was going to die. But I’m not going to let anyone tell me what to take again.. everything that makes you feel good as far as medicine is not good down the road...... choices for you you have to do it for you. No one else other wise it’s not going to work!!;). Hopefully you can get someone to help you best of luck

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Re: Claude (# 2)

I couldn't agree more! Thanks to those who either weren't properly educated or weren't responsible in taking their meds. Now those who need them are being punished. I've been feeling the extremely debilitating pain from a botched bilateral hip replacement for years now. Sadly due to this epidemic going on, I can't find a Dr to address my pain needs properly (and it doesn't help that we can't find a surgeon to fix my hips) so I've formed a heart condition due to dealing with this pain for over 3 yrs now. My heart Dr keeps telling me he hadn't seen the system fail for anyone as badly as me in all his 35yrs as a heart surgeon! Sad, he keeps telling me to go to a psychiatrist to get meds like valium to help my pain in a roundabout way. I even sent emails to all my local news stations thanks to a suggestion from a husky case nurse who was also appalled at my treatment as well as other patients she has to remind people that there are still many people out there that need these meds & shouldn't be punished for others misuse. Short of standing around with a sign I don't know what else to do!

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It really does seem that those of us who truly do need prescription medications, are on our own, and i'm surprised you even got a response from any of those pharmacies over the phone. My experience has been no info on that or those type of meds via the phone, and then you've might even have experienced one rite aid doesn't carry the same meds as another... wtf there huh. Anyways, good luck, but by all means please don't ever call the police. Cops=criminals on public salary.

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Re: Deborah (# 5)

Low dose Naltrexon ( LDN) between 1.5 and 4 mgs. In much higher doses it is used to stay of opioids, that medication has a slow released added to it. Start researching it there is also away to get clean slowly by using an ultra low dose ( ULDN ) but that I am not sure, you need to do research. I wish you health and a pain free life. And hope the Doctors get serious about treating pain for all of us that are suffering.

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Hi, I understand. I live in PA and all hell has broken loose. I am in an addiction program because my PM doctor basically threw me away. He lied to me and more. It's a long story, but they are doing what the CDC tells them to do. I have already read about people who have killed themselves because they could no longer get their meds. INSANE! Also, a professional named Red Lawren is doing all he can to help us.

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This is out of control! Go to the news then check into the hospital saying you are about to go through a serious withdrawal because of this dilemma! Have a reporter follow you. Someone will take the timely, serious story!

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Re: Maya69 (# 12)

Sadly i doubt it! I've contacted the news stations about forming a heart condition&literally being on the verge of having a heart attack due to this kind of thing(I'm going through kinda the same problem on the Other side of the country) and I haven't heard anything back. Thru only care about the people that OD, not those suffering because of it! But give it a shot!

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Re: w john (# 1)

I've contacted the news stations about forming a heart condition & literally being on the verge of having a heart attack due to this kind of thing. I have bad prosthetic hips, bedridden most of the time & developed a heart condition that I have to be medicated for after dealing with this horrid pain for a few years. Even worse where I can't even find a surgeon to fix my hips (it has to be a surgeon licensed in this special ops I need)! I haven't heard anything back from the news stations yet. It seems nothing can be done! But so help me if I have a heart attack due to lack of pain control (which my heart Dr is certain I'm on the verge of), someone's going down! Period! Plus, I never signed a hippa waver to allow the gov to see my medical records but they still see mine as well as everyone else's. I did put in a call to the cdc to see if any laws about giving opiates are going into effect soon & the guy I spoke with was crying after I told him my story but there's no new laws stating that Dr's are controlled and cannot give out opiates at their discretion. It's that "litigation harassment" that's causing them to do this & it needs to stop already. I don't wanna have a heart attack at 40 just because I'm in extreme pain from something i have no control over... It's ridiculous!

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Re: Silverlining (# 13)

Maya is right. If you can't get the script filled, you should go to the hospital as you will go through withdrawls..and with your heart condition, you need to be monitored.

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Re: Zappamania (# 15)

Oh i plan on it. Everyone talks about the overdose "victims", but I don't hear anything about those like me on the news or in the paper. Sadly, I kept reading in the reviews for this pain Dr that he would find all kinds of drugs in other people's urine that they didn't or couldn't take due to medical conditions. So I decided to do a little experiment, I used my mother in law's urine (she's blood drawn on a weekly basis due to a medical condition & is actually allergic to codeine & morphine derivatives. So i know she's totally clean) but surprise, surprise they found coke, heroin & oxycodone in the urine. This Dr's screwing with patients well being & their lives in general and doesn't care! Mine is exhibit A! I told my fiance if i don't survive the heart attack make sure this skumbag loses his licence! If i do survive I'm taking everything i can from him! But after I told them what the heart Dr said about chances of me having a heart attack they say "well I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt & give you meds but we're dropping you from 30mg oxycodone to 20mg 4 times a day. Then next week 15mg & the week after that down to 5mg, then off all pain meds". That's not normal practice, i shoulda been discharged!

Now this is a pain management Dr and being aware that my pain is so extreme it's caused a heart condition, as well as my heart Dr confident that i WILL have a heart attack if you lower or take me off the pain meds, especially adding detox to the mix you're still gonna do this? WTF? I'm so scared right now it's not even funny! My heart Dr wants me to take my bp & bpm several times a day & report back to him, plus if it gets really bad head to the hospital so it's also reported of what happens when this Dr takes me off for good. I don't know what else i can do to prevent this from happening! But being bedridden, not able to walk a lot of the time, the pain & now my heart, sometimes I wonder if I'd be better off dead! Don't get me wrong, I'm not suicidal, just sick of being alive but not able to actually live thanks to this opiate epidemic going on. Plenty have died from overdose but even more will die from suicide cuz they can't live with their pain & heart attacks from the stress of the pain on the heart. What's the gov & Dr's gonna do then? Anyone have any advice, please share cuz i don't wanna have a heart attack!

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Re: Maya69 (# 12)

From my experience, it is almost laughable to believe that ANY reporter would ever care enough to investigate and write a piece on this subject. I have written to every Congressman that represents me. One of the Congressmen even emailed all of the Constituents on his email list to ask them their thoughts on the so-called "opioid epidemic". I responded and said that they are throwing out the baby with the bath water. While you are attacking the "opioid epidemic" you are also affecting serious pain med patients who get a LEGAL prescription and use their pain meds as prescribed. You roll theives of meds, street addicts and legitimate pain med patients all into the same category and that is wrong. I asked one Congressman if he would consider it right to roll all auto drivers into one group with convicted DUI drivers. I NEVER got so much as a RESPONSE from anyone of either party. If you are looking to play the blame game and want to blame it on one party or another then you are just in denial and partisan. This whole "opioid epidemic" started under Obama and continues with President Trump. The administration has changed but the problem remains the same.

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Re: w john (# 17)

Agree with that! I just really don't wanna die because others screwed up! I did talk to a lawyer seeing as though physical harm has already been caused to me & possible death is definitely next. She said I can't really do anything until I have a heart attack. My heart Dr is furious that this is being done to me and even tried contacting my other Dr with no response. Plus everyone blames the dea, "the dea is watching us" but that's actually not true for my state at least. I actually spoke to someone in the national pharmaceutical dept & they said not 1 Dr that has a valid licence is actually being stopped from giving out any meds, they are more afraid one of their patients is gonna od so they're cutting everyone down. Your right about it being Obama, cuz he's the one who declared a medical epidemic starting all this. They say only cancer patients can be medicated. Well why do they get pain meds? To keep it from stressing the heart too much.... same reason I need it & many others as well! So a cancer patient who has no guarantee of survival is worth it but I'm not? I told my family if I don't make it through my impending heart attack I want them to go full force at the Dr's involved as well as the gov itself. Maybe having someone die due to not having proper pain management will wake sometime up and help put an end to this before too many others die from the same whether by their own hand or like me. If I do survive, I'm going full force myself!

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The scary part of this is even if i go to the hospital, they can't keep me there forever. They'll have to send me home at some point. So what happens later that day or in a few days when i have another heart attack due to the pain? That's the scary part!

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Sadly ALL legitimate pain patients are in or about to be in your spot. I have multiple sclerosis, failed double spine surgery syndrome, obstructive lung disease, neuropathy, and a host of other conditions all causing up to severe pain and I too have been pulled off all my pain medication. And in June 2017 suffered a massive heart attack mainly due to the stress of being in severe pain and trying to COPE without my opioid pain meds I used to get and was on for 15 years. Even me with all my illness and disease am no longer getting my pain meds and my quality of life has dropped down to practically no quality at all. And for Gods sake I don’t use illicit drugs, don’t drink, and don’t even use marijuana. I stayed 100% compliant all those years on my pain contract and it made NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER. I still was dropped from my pain meds and told I would just have to “tough it out” from then on unless I was going to die within six months. And then only hospice could help me. The OPIOID EPIDEMIC has ruined my life!!! All I can do now is suffer and pray I don’t have ANOTHER heart attack and die. So damn ANGRY. So damn FURIOUS. So damn HOPELESS. Karri in oregon

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Re: Maureen in New York city (# 3)

You are absolutely right. In NY the war on drugs is being fought by keeping prescription medication from legitimate pain management doctors from getting to patients that depend on the medicine to have any quality of life. The “street” dealers
continue to make money off those that OD on meds often used in combinations that are lethal. The wrong people are being targeted.

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Re: Silverlining (# 34)

Keep fighting. You are correct. Those that get prescriptions for fentanyl should not suffer or have a heart attack because others abuse the drug and OD. There has to be exceptions made for patients that legitimately need fentanyl and use according to doctor’s instructions. Best of luck.

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Re: ChahtaKatos (# 38)
and others.
There is no problem with a shortage of fentanyl patches. The government has decided to put us at the front line on “the war on drugs& opiod epidemic in the US”. Instead of targeting the street abusers; they have turned on those that have prescriptions from pain management specialists. I was told that my insurance company would no longer cover the amount of patches I have been using for the last 10 years to control my chronic pain. So I am cycling in and out of the beginning stages of withdrawal. Attempts made by my pain management doctor to appeal the decision failed. I am now trying to file an external appeal with the state. I needed to get an advocate to help me with the paperwork. This is my last chance to overturn my insurance company’s decision. There is no shortage. The medication is being withheld from those that have become dependent on it to get out of bed in the morning. I am not feeling optimistic about the outcome right now. I wish you all the best.

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Re: Silverlining (# 37)

Glad to hear about the GP investigating this business with the PMP. Good luck to all of you in this difficult time. I am hanging in there but my troubles are not as serious as you and some others. I just wanted to clear the air about the Duragesic shortages. I really hope it is soon settled. ??

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Re: ChahtaKatos (# 36)

That's ok that it was long? I didn't think it was you in particular. I had the same problem with duragesic when i was on it years ago. The plain sticker did not work well for me at all. I'm glad that it was all figured out on your end, hopefully you won't have anymore troubles. Luckily all my kids have fur or I'd be in big trouble! I actually made an appointment with my gp a couple hours after my last p.m. visit & she did a U/A & bloodwork per my request as I told her about "my" results (which were spot on in her evaluation). plus I showed her the many reviews online about this Dr. She's actually planning on contacting him to try finding out more on why he's doing this to me and then filling a complaint about his care. Now she has me continuing the log since my bp & bpm are very high or just all over the place. My bloodwork showed that my heart is under a great deal of stress, so... these Dr's & politicians are playing with our lives and it's not right. Yet odds are they or someone they love will have something happen where they'll need to be on pain meds to function, so what are they gonna do then?

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Re: Silverlining (# 16)

I am unaware of what the posts say beyond this 2nd post of yours, but I'm hopefully ABLE TO HELP everyone with the ACTUAL SCOOP OF WHERE ALL THE FENTANYL HAS GONE!

Ok first of all, I live in a different state than you but my pharmacy strait up CALLED ME and said that I DID NOTHING WRONG.....BUUUUUT, they had a nation-wide or perhaps larger pharmacy level (NOT consumer level) recall for one of the largest brands of Fentanyl on the market. This recall involves ALL dosages of patches from Actavis and a few other of Duragesic brands. These are the ones that have the clear silicone gel delivery system in them. These are the ones I take exclusively. They then said they could give me the sticker type but those don't work well for me. They give too much and then not enough other times. So my pharmacist said it would ONLY be until they recoup their lost batches in order to have enough to ship out all over the US. Apparently, there was a fold in one corner and it could cause leakage. Hence the recall. I am actually here today as it is almost time for my next fill and was hoping for good news. So it isn't any of you or the government THIS time. But as they only had 1/5th the numbers to ship nationwide of ALL other brands it was likely your pharmacy DID have some but they were claimed before you got there with your scripts. I am so sorry this is happening to us all but I can say that is why no one knew what was going on (except the pharmaceutical company themselves) and it should be fixed soon. Also, how does your Dr not evaluate urine and still has a license?

You need to do your experiment with the urine and go to a lab first to have it analyzed saying it's your kids, moms whatever and then video u in the bathroom at dr office using the same urine or request that your urine ONLY goes to a lab of your choosing. You are paying for a UA! Weather thru insurance or pocket! To hell with that crap! My Dr gives me a UA EVERY 28 DAYS and I have always had my med levels on point for 10+years! He knew when I took excedrine migraine once and that I stopped taking my full dose of Lyrica for a few days due to a bad cold making me tired enough. He even KNEW I HAD a cold before I told him from the allergy medicine I took to replace the Lyrica during that time for crying out loud! Lol BUST-ED! I am in Oklahoma where the pain docs were all quitting for a while because of the hassle. I have the fingerprint safe and everything! Even though I have only been made to do it once in almost 12yrs, I could also have to do a pill count any time at random. That isn't fun, but I must endure. Like you I don't worry because I play by the rules and am responsible with my meds! I told my doc that I understand that due to circumstances beyond my control I will never be "pain free" again, but as long as he can give me my quality of life that's ok.

I think any responsible adult knows that after what each of us have been through.....if you have NO pain?!? Call 911 because you are probably dying. It just isn't in the cards to not hurt even a little anymore. I have 2 teen girls that I homeschool and one will Graduate in 2019 so they need me and oh BABY do I NEED them! Good luck all of you and feel better soon Silverlining!

Sorry this was long but I felt the need to explain. (my whole life apparently) lol.

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Robin~were you EVER able to get your Duragesic Rx filled?? Also, how close are you to W. Covina, CA? {Home of the great PM Dr. Forest Tennant.} I'd bet pharmacy's around there could help you OR call their office & explain your situation. They are VERY aware of this FAKE "opioid crisis" As are MANY of us CP patients/advocates!! They could possibly point you in the right direction. Good Luck!

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Re: Hop63 (# 32)

That's o.k. wait till I have the heart attack or stroke that my heart Dr is certain is coming thanks to my Dr taking me off my meds & leaving me to nugget deal with the debilitating pain that caused the heart problems I have in the 1st place. Because either way, whether alive or dead both the Dr's and the gov are gonna know my name! I'm gonna take all they have so i can get outta bed everyday & have somewhat of a life again! And if I don't survive, my family's going to take everything they have to try to change the way pain patients are treated. There's gonna be a lot more deaths due to suicides, heart attacks, strokes etc. from NOT having meds than people having o.d.'d due to pain meds!

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Re: Hop63 (# 32)

I only know the facts as you have related them but this sounds exactly par for the course. THIS is exactly what I am posting about when I say these Doctors are getting "lawsuit" shy. The political climate today is making people enriched at a Doctor's expense and the Court rulings on behalf of the Plaintiffs are outrageously wrong. It always has to be somebody else's fault when THEY do something. Consequently, the Doctor's are getting screwed and then they take it out on those who do not deserve it. We are in a difficult period for honest, legal pain med patients. While there are attorneys that purport to represent those that claim to be caught up in the so-called "opioid crisis" there is no one out there that is representing those honest pain med patients. It is a one way street.

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Re: w john (# 28)

Yes, when law firms specialize in “fighting the war against drugs” you know it’s a big money maker. Saw on news that a father is suing pain doctor for prescribing Percocet to his daughter for back pain. She went to the doctor, filled the prescription but they blame the doctor for making her an addict. She’s alive and well and could have a nice big financial settlement soon. That will surely cure her back pain while the rest of us are denied our meds that keep us functioning. I don’t want to turn back into an amoeba.

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