Norco Shortage In Michigan (Page 11)

painfully annoyed Says:

Thu, October 16, 2014

Is anyone else having problems finding a pharmacy to fill their scripts of Norco? I have been taking them for a few years now for my chronic pain. I always go to the same pharmacy chain, and its always the same doctor who writes my scripts, but since the new law change no one seems to have them in stock. Some pharmacists told me it was a manufacturer back order. We are told not to go without our meds, but yet how is that possible if we can't get them? Anyone knows of a pharmacy that has Norco 10/325 in the metro Detroit area?

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Jerry Says:
Thu, December 11, 2014

Missy, I am in florida also south florida and there is no shortage here - I believe they tell you they don't have any because they don't want to fill it period. The shortage thing is bull - my pharmacist said he has two full bottles of norco on the shelf and isn't aware of any shortage. Whatever you do don't CALL the pharmacies to see if they have it they will NOT tell you over the phone even if they do have it - they are so paranoid about getting robbed they just will lie to you - it is a waste of time and forget the so called family friendly mom and pop places they are even WORSE. They are so afraid of getting robbed they won't tell you anything and one of the pharmacists at the so called "family friendly" place actually hung up on my friend when she asked if they had norco. We are not stupid like they think we are we know they have the drug they just don't want to fill it.

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Beagle Says:
Thu, December 11, 2014

Gail, My doctor works out of St.Marys and he has his office on Farmington Rd. I usually get the yellow from my drug store. They were out and I got them up the street at another drug store chain. They are white and are marked M367. They stop pain just the same but the after effect is a bit rough. They tire me out like it's a sleeping pill or something. I will go to St.Marys because its so close to my house and I'll bet they never run out. Thanks again.

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Gail Says:
Thu, December 11, 2014

Hi Beagle. Yes. I think the white ones are a bit different as well. I prefer the yellow ones too. But heck I was just happy to get my script filled. As for the whole shortage thing. That is a crock. Only the drug stores are having trouble getting them. I don't know if the FDA has put a limit on how much drug stores can get at a time or what. All I know is it's just one more way our constitutional rights are being taken away by the Obama regime. This past week has been so stressful. I can't wait until he is out of office.

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patttycakes Says:
Thu, December 11, 2014

Many news channels have taken up the cause but they run a story and then you will not hear any more for many more months! Relying on the news is apparently not going to take care of our needs! I do not know what the answer is but there are many of us that are barely holding on without anyone fighting for us or with us! I wish I knew what more to do~ We are a group that are going to have to fight and a trip to Washington is the only thing that I can think of that might get anyone s attention!

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Tracy Says:
Thu, December 11, 2014

I FINALLY got my Norco 7.5 prescription filled yesterday at my local CVS store. There must have been a lot of people with the same prescriptions because I've never seen the pharmacy so busy. The pharmacist filled Norco prescriptions all day. I don't know what caused this "shortage" or if it will continue. The pharmacist told me that the DEA and FDA put limitations on the amount of schedule 2 drugs that pharmacies can order each month. We aren't doing ourselves or others any good by remaining silent about this. We should all contact Detroit-area tv stations and newspapers to let them know how much people with legitimate chronic pain are suffering due to this rescheduling. Spokespeople for the DEA said patients would still get their pain meds in a "timely manner." What a joke! I had to wait nearly two months often in agonizing pain before I was able to get a script filled. I wish the people responsible for this rescheduling had to live in such severe pain for two months!

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Things need to change Says:
Fri, December 12, 2014

I have been taking Norcos for about give years now along with Traction, Physical Therapy, and inj's. I lost my insurance about a year ago and have been taking give a day ever since to survive. We moved to Metro Detroit a year ago and have had problems getting my script filled ever since. When we lived in Grand Rapids prior, I never had any problems. The best has been the past two months and have been finding them in Livonia at Rite Aid or Walgreens. Well here we are again. My husband and I drove around for six hours today looking for a prescription of 60 10/325. Nobody could fill it. I finally had reached my breaking point and cried for about an hour, as my loyal and kind husband slept for only one hour and then had to get up and go to work (bless his heart). I am in so much pain it's unbearable, and not only that, I have depression so it's hit me hard. I mean how can they do this to punish those who abuse the system, yet in return punish those who struggle every day in massive amounts of legit pain? Sadly the pills are all I have until I can get some insurance again. I have followed the rules, and done everything required of me to subdue the pain. Along with the disabling pain, many that have been prescribed hydrocodone for a long period of time are NOT addicts, yet the way I have been treated by many pharmacists on my many 5 hour hunts is absolutely degrading. It IS a disability, and not our fault. Although we are not addicts, we are unfortunately dependents. It is painful to go through withdrawals from five years of taking hydrocodone, so not looking for attention by any means, it is painstaking! My pain increases, causing hypertension and swollen ankles, and my depression becomes intolerable. I even thought about how much better the world,and I would be, if I just took myself out of this world two days ago. I am feeling better today, yet I am so fearful that we won't be able to find any over the next couple days. I had to get some from my friend, just to survive until we can find somewhere to fill it. I feel that I may not be the only one going through this hard of a time, and possibly there might be others feeling even worse. I want to so something about this, and if someone could tell me how to make my voice heard, i would be oh so grateful. Sorry about the depressing tone of my comment, but I'm at my wits end with all of it, and I can't see how any of this, no matter the real underlying issue truly is, could be legal. Americans have the right to be treated for pain.

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Gail Says:
Fri, December 12, 2014

Hey Patty. Have you tried the hospital outpatient pharmacy solution? Hospitals do not have the same regulations as retail so they don't seem to have problems. When I went to St Mary's in Livonia I expected the same response and same attitude I'd recieved at CVS and Riteaid. But they just checked that my Dr was affiliated, she was, and the pharmacist said it'll be about 20 minutes. No hassle no excuses no nothing. They just did their job. It was such a huge relief. Check with your doctor about what health system they are with and then a hospital in that system. Good luck. If anyone has any ideas or wants to organize something keep us all in the loop here. I would definitely be there or help. I just am not sure where to begin other than writing letters. Congress, FDA heck even the retail chains. If they start losing business especially pharmacy business they may take action. The pharmacy is really where they make their money.

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Missy Says:
Fri, December 12, 2014

Thank you, Jerry, for the information. I live in the Central Fla. area (Volusia County), between Orlando and Daytona Beach. One pharmacist told me that it would be useless for me to drive to Orlando, stating that, because I live in a different county (and the prescription was written in Volusia County), no pharmacy in Orlando would fill it. I have a legal, legitimate prescription dated 12/31/2014, and I worry myself sick(er), wondering where/how I am going to get it filled (last day of the month, last day of the year). There must be something that can be done.

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rocky Says:
Fri, December 12, 2014

Thank you Gail, if I have a problem at Walgreen's again, although they've been decent, I will try the hospital pharmacy my Dr. Is affiliated with. Good idea!

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Things need to change Says:
Fri, December 12, 2014

Sorry! I didn't even notice that when I typed "Five" a day, my phone corrected it as "Give"! Jeesh. I guess I was more tired than I initially thought!

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Things need to change Says:
Fri, December 12, 2014

That is sooo not true! You can get your prescription filled in any county or any state. I was actually right at the corner of Michigan/Ohio/Indiana border last month for my husband's work, and decided we would drive 15 mins to a grocery store pharmacy in Ohio.(we are from Metro Detroit, Michigan) while waiting for my script, the pharmacist told us that they usually never have any issues with Norco shortages. I've also been told plenty of times when going on vacation that if my script is due during, the doc just writes it for the correct date, and I can get it filled wherever we are vacationing. One time was actually visiting my father-in-law in Florida!

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Suzi Says:
Fri, December 12, 2014

Same thing here in the suburbs of Dallas, TX. CVS told me there was a problem with the manufacture. I was able to go to a Kroger and they had them.

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