Pharmacist Refusing To Fill My Script Of Suboxone. What Do I Do??? (Page 6)

I wet to my doc 7 days early because of running out early. I took my new script to pharmacy and said, this is early so I won't be using insurance. My doc said you can call him if necessary. Well no one wanted to. They filled two per day for three days. On the third day I asked to fill the rest on insurance for the next day. I was one day early. When I called the next morning to have my daily two filled the pharmacy manager said no we won't be filling it for another 5 days. Go to the ER for your withdrawals but don't come here because I won't give it to you. Has this happened to anyone else????

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Thanks for the kick in the butt to stand up for ourselves. The owner of the small town pharmacy I go to is very nice but his workers do look at me like u fkn junkie. I'm going to take your stand & speak up!

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Hi bklnbella, Good for you. Allways be polite but don,t be afraid to speak up if your not being treated right.
As for the young ones working there, just ignore them.
Addiction may hit one of there loved one someday and then they,ll learn.

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I've been on suboxone and pay cash at cvs. I live in Louisiana. I pick up what I can afford to every week. I hav picked up four times this rx and have ten left to fill. Cvs is now telling me they can't fill it bc it's been refilled too many times? Anyone have any suggestions? Also, I was told that people on subs can transfer the rx at any point. So shouldn't I just call another pharmacy and get them to fill last ten on rx?

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Hi. I've seen so much ignorance in this thread that I can't help myself.

First, Suboxone is a mixture of Buorenorphine and Naloxone (8mg/2mg ratio). The Nalexone is a pure Opiate "antagonist". If has saved MANY OD victims, by ripping the H (or whatever) off their opiate receptors, and taking their place. That's great if you're not breathing, but if given to an addict will immediately cause a serious "precipitated withdrawal". But Buprenorphine is a mixed "agonist/antagonist", there are a lot of strong analgesics in this category. Buprenorphine binds VERY strongly to your opiate receptors, and has a MUCH longer half-life than its Nalaxone component, so I've heard that inj. isn't really being thwarted. But that's neither here more there; if you are taking it Sublingually the Nalaxone isn't an issue.

Suboxone, given to someone physically addicted to a full agonist opiate, which is all the a usable ones we all know, will kick all of the agonist off, and replace it with Suboxone. Because Suboxone can't take the place (in your body), of a full agonist, it will can cause a VICIOUS precipitated withdrawal. Especially someone REALLY physically addicted to large daily dosages OD strong narcotics like H, Morphine, Dilaudid, Methadone, Oxycodone, and even Hydrocodone. I put "really" in caps because Suboxone is powerful, very addicting itself, and I see 3-4 Vicodan/day people get out on 16mg/day of Sub. Now the have a REAL monkey on their back, believe me.

I had (get this, it still disgusts me), a 300mg+ (never lower) Oxycodone (Mostly via chewed OxyContin) habit. I spend well over $100,000 on it. In 2000, it could be obtained fairly cheaply from Mexico. Western Union or mail money order, and Fed Ex to your door. Then EVERYONE discovered MY favorite drug, and I just paid what I had to. I actually kicked cold turkey over a king Christmas Vacation (I'm an engineer, and had no job problems, as long as I didn't quit). I didn't know about PAWS, and I'm prone to depression anyway, so I relapsed, but got into a Methadone Clinic almost immediately. It was right near work, 75mg/day for 5 years. LUCKILY for me I had a dirty UA, or I would have been eligible for 30day "take homes", and I'd have been on it for life. So back to daily visits, I said f* this prison I'm in, and talked to the Shrink I was seeing about Sub. He was a Sub. Authorized doctor too. He wanted me to jump immediately, but I'd read a lot of recommendations to taper Methadone down to 30mg/day before you jump. This because 1)Methadone has a VERY long half life --like Sub. -- and you have to be EXTRA sure you are really in moderate+ withdrawal, which might take 5 days, and 2) No amount of Sub. can replace a high Methadone dosage. I jumped over at 39 mg of Meth., and had no problems. EXCEPT, during my really rapid taper, I got to feeling really down, and got back on anti-depressants for the first time in years. My doc said he thought I was underestimating the mental effects of my taper. He was right.

I started on 24mg, but 16mg would have been fine. Withdrawal went magically away before 16mg, but I didn't feel RIGHT, so I took it to 24mg. I still didn't feel completely as "my normal on Methadone", and my doc said it was because of The "ceeling effect" of the Sub., it could never equal 75mg of Meth., which my body had been accustomed to. Time was all that would help. The ceiling effect is REAL AND DRAMATIC. I literally forgot I had taken my once/day morning dose, and took it AGAIN! 48mg of Sub.! And I didn't even notice. I counted the next day and figured it out. BEWARE: The "LESS IS MORE", stuff you hear is true. The normal dose internationally where Buprinorphine is prescribed as "Temgesic" for pain is 0.3mg!! It is VERY powerful in opiate naive (i.e. no tolerance). Remember that!!! It will kill someone! I'll never EVER forgive myself, but I gave 1/2 of an 8mg tablet to a friend (an luckily he broke it in half, so 2mg) who wanted to feel high. He got cold sweats, threw up, and dry heaved all night. 2mg, and I was taking 24mg, and had taken 48mg with no noticeable effect. Medicine chest raiders, would fall in droves, but they probably just swallow it, if their ignorant, where your digestive tract will destroy most of it.

Suboxone has a very powerful "blocking" effect to normal opiates like Oxycodone or H. If you are on Suboxone, and you take Oxycodone, you WON'T go into precipitated withdrawal. Even in fairly large doses the other opiate won't have hardly any affect. It's only the other way around, regular opiate, take Suboxone, where precipitated withdrawal is a problem.

Here is stuff I didn't see mentioned here but is huge. If on a narcotic for a long time, and tapering, (even temporarily because you ran out), you can cut your dosage in half, without major trouble. You won't feel great, but it's very tolerable. So take half doses to stretch things if you see you are going to run out early. I've been on Suboxone for over 5 years now. After a couple years, I started tapering and got to 1mg EASY! A16mg to 12mg cut will be NOTHING. But I stopped and have been sitting at 1mg for 2+ years. Why? Because I'm honest with myself. I love opiates! I'll relapse for sure. But even at 1mg/day Sub. has a
Owner full blocking effect. I cheated for a recent HS reunion, and took 4 30mg "Roxys", and felt "in a better mood". LOL. That was it. I had been seeing him for so long, I wasn't sick enough for my first induction (which I vigorously pointed out), so I did it 24 hours later, on a Sat., at home. I also got to skip the "group therapy" sessions, and got multiple months at a time. He knows me like a book.

Where I was headed is that if you are tapering 1mg to 0mg is the TOUGH part. Same with Methadone, same with tranquilizers. It's when you get to such low doses a normal person might not feel them, does it get tough. Sub., is VERY physically addictive and the withdrawal is prolonged. 0.25mg is too high to drop from comfortably. Start to skip days, then go to 0.125mg 7 days per week, start skipping days and jump from there. I've heard that works.

Sub changed my life though. I longer obsess over taking Oxycodone., or drool when I see someone has some. But I STILL am not "right", Iseem to have a lingering low grade depression, due to damage to my endorphins receptors, that I've read can be permanent, and that my 5 years at that Methdone Clinic, where I thought there was no hurry, might have helped cause this. Oh well, it's not that bad. Good luck everyone. For those on high doses of Sub., keep in mind that a lot less than you'd think, will probably work just as well, and be cheaper. And maybe (I'm not sure), easier to taper from.

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Oh my god, I SO agree with you, would you believe I started using Suboxone because when I shot it up, it felt like a coke rush??? I kid you not. Loved it, got addicted (had NO idea of the addictive qualities), now here I am 7 years later, sitting on 10mg a day. I pick up monthly supply from a chemist (I live in Australia) and it cost me $20 per month for that supply. I guess that's part of the reason I'm still on it, but it changed my life too, I don't even want to smoke pot anymore these days, don't drink, don't do anything, except put those little orange strips under my tongue each day before I head out the door. Have tried to detox many times, waited until 4 days and was pretty yuck... can't do it hey. The depression gets me, as does the insomnia and RLS. Would rather be dead than detox off that stuff!! I work too and have two small kids so if I ever do decide to come off for good, will have to be when my kids are more self-reliant. My doctor is putting me under no pressure to come down anyway, he's seen me at my very worst and now he sees me working, socialising, getting on with my family and its all down to Suboxone. Just wanted to share that with you, I always like to hear of other people's experiences as it seems so different in USA, sounds like we have it really good her in Australia, although some of the losers that hang around the clinic waiting to get their dose every day, whingeing because it's not open yet....they have no idea how good we have it here. Ungrateful scum most of them, still living and acting like drug addicts, throw tantrums when things won't go their way, yet can't understand that if they just provide 3 clean urines in a row, will get monthly takeaway's like me. Anyway,,,that's another story! Best of luck to you all.

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Try this, I got into a car accident so bad that i needed back surgery, i refused beings i was only 22 and pregnant. I was on L 10s and was like tired of taking more and more to subdue pain, So i started looking into natural therapy at home ( what did my greatgrandma use? since there was no drug use like now back then, the docs switched me to suboxone, later i find out thats for ppl who IV whatever they IV, why am i even on this i have no idea but recently walgreens is always out , i cant get it filled and it seems after being on this for 5 years that its 100% harder to get off this than the pain pills. i mean jesus christ i feel like imma die . walgreens changed and now if u not due for ur script based on the amount u purchased u cant fill it till 12:01 midnight , now im having a very hard time finiding it at all im so ready to go on subutex i hear its alot better and it seems since i never did any other dryg but Loratab 10's in my life i shouldnt even be on this. any suggestions on weaning off and pharmacy w subutex

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Subs depend on the pharmacy & the mood of pharmacist. Ive gotten my subs filled & paid for by my insurance company at the small pharmacy @ my, Dr's office in the state of MA. CVS...I've gotten them to fill it 5 days early but @ CVS it really does depend on the location & mood of pharmpharmacist!!!

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I had an ambien script filled with a xanax script at a Duane Reade through insurance. Two days later got automated call to pick up my ambien script. I called them and was told to come and get it. When I got there it was not ready, but they quickly got it together and it went through my insurance. How could this happen and will they notice?

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This is absolutely false. Most phamacists have the descretion to allow refills on Schedule III and below drugs up to 8 days early (barring there is a more strict restriction in your state). If it is too early to bill insurance (most require it to be filled no more than three days early), the pharmacist has the descretion to give you a full refill on your medication and bill your insurance for it later or to dispense just enough to get you through to the time it is supposed to be filled. All the above is moot in your case because you had a newly written script to get your 'refill.' It would not matter if you got your script filled and then were given another 5 days later by the same doctor. It's a new script with new instructions. The reason you want to visit a locally owned pharmacy is because they don't have these extra corporate policies that place even more restrictions on what pharmacists are allowed do.

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Why would u be 5 days early (according to the pharmacy) U SAID U WERE A DAY EARLY? Doesn't make sense ? They wouldn't make u wait 5 days AFTER it was cleared by insurance? Something is being left out? Yer dr could have easily over ridden the issue IF EVERYTHING was legit? There was no sneaky tactics or moral issues!!

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I have been on suboxena for 7 years my doc retired I have no back up I take 12 msg I cannot get off of it I've tried I have hep. And just finished the new Harvoni treatments didn't know if they worked yet But I cannot release I will die I sarting to search for one any help

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I don't understand why just because your doctor retired you can't get another doctor to prescribe Suboxone for you?? Unless your previous doctor shouldnt have been prescribing it for some reason???? Are you in US or Australia by the way?

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This is such an informative and great post - thanks for sharing your story. I've read plenty in the 7 years I've been on Suboxone and rarely has anyone explained it so well. I too feel as though my addiction is under control but I don't feel as though I'll ever be okay with no Suboxone or something similar.

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I agree, my doc has me on 12mg but usually I just take the 8mg strip. It's more than enough. This stuff saved my life, I stopped smoking recently, that was my very last vice and I finally kicked it. Don't drink ever, don't even think about using anything and wouldn't even know where to find it anymore, and I don't have the motivation to go looking either. We have it so good in Australia, I pick up 28 x 8mg strips and 48 x 2mg strips each month for just $25 bucks. The pharmacist treats me like an old friend, asks about my kids, my work etc. I find that if you don't act like a junkie, i.e chuck tantrums if you have run out (which shouldn't happen unless you are diverting or taking more than you should be!!) then they will treat you accordingly.

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Its because buprenorphine has a half life of 37 hours at minimum so there's still meds in ur system at 4 days later.
Especially at a dose of 24mg.

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i have a 30day script of suboxone but could only afford half the day of and still need to pick up outher dose which im 5 days

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I do the same thing, I am supposed to be taking 12mg a day but I just don't need it, I find myself needing an afternoon nap about 2pm so I just take 8mg. I don't tell my doctor either, occasionally I am required to give U/A's which they test to check that I am a) not taking any other drugs and b) to check my buprenorphine levels). Couple of days prior to my appt, I just take the 12 mg so my levels are right and all is well.

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I live in Australia and I recently was forced to find a new pharmacy as my old one wanted to raise my monthly suboxone price from $25 to $70. So...I contacted my clinic, they suggested a pharmacy a bit closer to home. I rang them, the head pharmacist called me back about 20 mins later. He was really nice, asked me to come in for a quick visit and now it's three months later, and I have been picking up from them, for $25 for a monthly script, no dramas at all. He always asks about my kids, my job and my life in general, treats me like a human because I ACT like one. If you turn up to a pharmacy, chucking tantrums and carrying on because they won't fill your script early (which they aren't allowed to do of course) then they will treat you like a junkie. I agree though, unfortunately there ARE pharmacists and pharmacy staff in general who don't even bother to get to know you, as soon as you utter the words "suboxone" you can almost feel the chill in the air. But you know what? That's their stupidity and ignorance, I find the best way around that is to just keep being nice, be normal and maybe they will realise that you are just a normal person trying to live their life. Give them a reason to think badly of you, and they will. I have said it before and I will say it again, it sounds like we have it SO good here in Australia, I had to pick up daily at a clinic for about three months, providing weekly urines all that time. After that three months of clean urines, they then gave me weekly supply, then fortnightly, then finally monthly supply which I pick up from the pharmacy. My life is back, I pity the poor suckers who have to trek to a clinic EVERY DAY. How are you meant to hold down a job (if you are lucky enough to have one, and I am). I know of many people who managed it for a while, but then their bosses got sick of them being late, or having to leave to go to the clinic. Good luck everyone from Down Under.

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This is what they do most pharmacists are so miserable in their own lives they abuse the tiny little speck of power they have over people in hopes to make them miserable too. It's sad really. Kind of disgusting. This happened to me a couple times when I first got on sub. So now I make sure I never run out. And all of my stuff is in perfect order. You have to stay on top of the laws and insurance changes because if there is anything they can do to screw you they will. I think it's insane that we live in a society where alcohol is legal (prob the most dangerous drug on the planet) yet people trying to be clean off opiates and live a normal life are treated like criminals. It's really sad. And if there is a god out there all these people will be judged. All you can do is smile and look in the mirror and be glad your not that miserable pharmacist :)

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I SO agree with you about the alcohol bit, keep in mind most of the pharmacists who lord it over people like us probably go home at night and drink to try and forget their miserable existence!! I have been on Suboxone for about three years now, luckily I get on well with my pharmacist now, he's a great guy, never have any problems. But I'm sure that as soon as I tried to pull a swifty, try to pick up early or something his attitude would probably change. I find that if you don't act like a junkie, you won't get treated like one, but I know it's not always the case. There is a woman who works at the pharmacy where I pick up my (monthly) dose and as soon as I say the word "suboxone", you can almost feel the chill in the air. Her whole persona changes and all of a sudden I feel like a piece of dog poo she has trodden in. Stuff her though, that's her ignorance and I only have to deal with her once a month. It will never change though, finding people who will treat you as a regular human being, just trying to get on with their life, post-addiction, is hard. They are out there, just few and far between. I'm curious, if anyone can reply would be great, what does it cost in US for say a monthly dose of suboxone??? I live in Australia, and I pay $25 for a full 28 day script of 12mg per day. I have heard it's MUCH higher in US, is that correct? Hope everyone who reads this has a great day, any day without addiction and drugs is a great day in my book!!

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