Please Help!! Norco Refill 2 Times In A Row!! Asking Insurance

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Please help!! I am new to this site, this is my first time posting on anything like this. I will be blunt and right to the point! Every month I get 120 Norcos, I have Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance, I live in Michigan! Can I get two early refills back-to-back if I call my insurance company and explain the situation!? We're going out of the country on the 12th and won't be back in till next month and I will definitely be on my medicine by then! But the only problem is I just got a refill last month on the 27th! And last month I called my insurance and got it filled 12 days early because I left on vacation out of country! So now I'm just wondering if I can do this two times in a row? And just pay out-of-pocket!? Or can I go to another pharmacy and say that I don't have insurance? Please help what should I do!! I don't abuse my meds. I have severe carpal tunnel and herniated discs in my back and not having my meds will totally ruin my vacation and I have been saving for almost a year for this trip!! Please help, thank you! I also have the written hard copy of the prescription with me. I have not turned it over to any pharmacy yet if that helps!! Thanks

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1

Hello everyone! I'm going to try this again! I live in Michigan, I have Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, I get 120 Norco every month, I use Meijer Pharmacy and that is the only pharmacy I have ever used! I have only used one doctor my whole life and he's my family doctor! He is very understanding about pain prescriptions and writes them often! I have been taking the Norco for almost 3 years! Do to herniated discs in back and severe carpal tunnel syndrome! I have never been in trouble with the law or did anything illegal with my prescriptions!!!!! I just really need some help I need a quick anwser please! so my problem is this- last month I called my insurance company and ask them to do an override so I can get an early refill on my Norco because we are leaving the country and they did! And now I have to do it again, we're leaving the country for three weeks for our anniversary! So if I were to call them it would be a back to back early release overrides for vacation can I do that? Can I do it twice in a row? What are my options and what is my best bet!!?? My last refill date was on May 27 and it is now June 7 today and I need to get it refilled by June 13! Last month when I called them they let me refill it 12 days after I got my first script! So can I do this again two times in a row?? Please help thanks!!!! Is there a limit as to how many times a insurance company will alow an early emergency over ride a year? Thanks!!!!!

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2

Is it okay to take my script to another pharmacy and don't use insurance to get a early refill? If so how Would I go about it!? Thanks!!

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3

The pharmacy will look you up in your states Prescription Monitoring Program database and they can see the dates you got previous rxs filled. They also may be able to see that you have insurance. I hope your Dr is aware of you getting them filled early. If he isn't it could cost you your pain meds. It will be up to the pharmacist if they will fill it. I wouldn't lie because they will not it in a few minutes.

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4

Would it just be okay to call my insurance company? The pharmacy said it was okay as long as my insurance let's go through!? But the only problem is can I call my insurance company two times in a row to get early refills For vacation? I'm kind of nervous calling them I don't want to get into trouble or raise any flags!? What do you think I should do? I would like to call them today as soon as possible. Thanks so much!!!!!!

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5

Getting early refills is a red flag to insurance companies. You are the only one that can decide if the risk is worth it.

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6

Very curious , what happens when your red flagged? What does it mean? And can you ever get taken off of it? How do you ever know if you become red flaged? Thanks!!

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7

Well I called my insurance company and my doctor and they both were okay with me getting my early refill. So I went to the pharmacy to explain the situation and give them my prescription. And the pharmacist flipped out and was very unprofessional and rude and they kept saying over and over again how their going to lose their license if they fill the prescription and that the doctor is not the boss, and my insurance company is not the boss, only the pharmacist is the boss!! and they have the final say and they're not going to fill it!? So I was very respectful and I told them I am sorry and I tried to plead my case, that I will be out of the country for at least two weeks with no medication and they told me that's my problem not theirs!? Wtf?? Is that even right to do I mean, I've never been in trouble before ever!! I've never had a problem with refills before, and my doctor and insurance company was perfectly fine with it. My doctor even told me if I had problems To have the pharmacy call him and my insurance company was on standby to override the early release! I had everything all set up! but they refused and said they're not calling anyone!? I just don't understand? every time I go to the pharmacy I get treated great, but this one time was a total nightmare!!! Maybe I got them at a bad day Lol! So I took my prescription to another pharmacy and explained the situation but of course I'm sure it sounded really sketchy to them and they denied me, so I gave up!! I will just have to pick up my prescription when I get back into the country!!

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8

This is a huge problem for me, because through my work I leave the country at least once every month or every two months!! I am in research and development specialist and I am constantly traveling!! My doctor is well aware of it and my insurance company is well aware of it, even a few of the technicians and one of the other pharmacist at the pharmacy are also aware of it, that pharmacist was not there that day and that is usually the pharmacist I deal with! The pharmacist I had trouble with today I've never seen her before!!?? And I have been going to that pharmacy for years. I really don't know what to do at this point because I leave the country so often all the time due to my work but I also need my meds because of the severe pain!!!!! does anyone know a way around this? Is there like some special protocol or what Lol!? I have no clue I am at a dead end!! I feel like the next time I have to go on a business trip which is already scheduled and planned at the end of next month I'm going to face the same problem!!

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9

I really hope I'm not red flag now because of all that drama nonsense!! If so what do I do next? Does that mean I can't get refills or scripts anymore?

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10

I wanted to let everyone know that if you start to hve seziures DO NOT, let a doc treat you with dilatin. I stupidly beleived my family doc knew what he was doing. Now 8yrs later at the age of 58, I have the bones of a 70yr old, I have fractured so many bones, I am now on disability. The doc, nor the pharmacy told me that dilatin was known to give osteoprois. I finally was refered to a neurologist, who was mad at my doc for giving me such an older drug while others were so much safer!!!! Just thought everyone to becareful and with being called an eptilictic get a second opion!!!!!!

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11

If you can work without them, you may not really need them. That is what some of all you have to go through is designed to do.

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12

K, the fda has made a lot of changes, many are with the amount given monthly!! Did you sign a pain agreement, Since the federal govt told doctors who give pain medicine, they are to have the patient sign this. If you go to another pharmacy, and did sign this form, you could lose your doctor, b flagged. I would talk to the doctor and see if he could increase the strenght, so u could cut it in half, thus taking care of the problem.. zI unde
I don'tunderstand why the doc would not have figured this out. Again please let us know if you signed the agreement, if you didn't the doc should allow it to b filled.DO NOT use another pharmacy, your asking 4 a lot of problems, I hope my suggestion of doubling the strength, and cutti g it in half works!!

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13

Thanks for the reply! And no I never singed any agreement!? I just get Cortizone shots every 3 to 6 months, and every month I just call my docs office and ask for my norco refill and in a day or two it's ready for pick up! I haven't talked to him since the incident at the pharmacy the other day, but I did go to my pharmacy this morning to pick up a prescription ( a non narcotic prescription) and they seemed normal like everything was okay!? I also have a prescription of Xanax at the pharmacy and I asked them when I could pick that up and they told me in two days it will be ready!?? So I don't think I got flagged or anything, because wouldn't they deniy me or something like that? But thanks for the advice I'm not going to any other pharmacy again and I'm just going to wait for the correct date to fill my Norco! And I have a doctors appointment next month and I will be sure to talk to him and mention your advice !! Thanks so much!!

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14

There are no laws that state pain patients have to sign pain contracts or take drug panels. The DEA! recommends it, but it is not required to receive pain meds.

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15

Of course I can work without them, but I would not be 100% I don't even think I would be 50% !! The pain is so unbearable it's a nightmare and I would not wish on my worst enemy if I had one! To be honest the strength of Norco that I'm on is just taking a little bit of the edge off! And the Cortizone shots only seem to last about a month and they don't give me that much of a relief anyway! I am a research and development scientist/specialist, for a worldwide research company and I travel all around the world and I am constantly using my hands of coarse, not only to do every day normal activities but also to take notes and use chemistry sets and constantly type on computers and run continuous diagnostics and experiments etc., And every diagnostic I run is so critical to my company, so I have to be extra cautious and careful and it is pretty challenging to do that when you're always in agonizing pain!! I honestly don't know what to do about the pharmacy situation, do to me always leaving the country!? my doctor is very aware of my pain and traveling conditions and so is my insurance company, The only thing that stands in my way is the pharmacy!! I wish I could find a pharmacy that is sympathetic and would understand my position!? I know it is hard to answer a question like that but does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you so much to everyone I really appreciate all the help!!

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16

You probably won't post this but here goes its people like you that makes its hard for a person like me that are really hurting so please stop thank you

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17

BL, Do not come to Oregon, WA STATE, CA!! You are not even close to being right. You must have a drug panel if it is going to be on a regular basis, and the pharmacy HAS to report it to a state registry, to make sure a doc is not giving out too much. Secondly to make sure the patient is not getting several prescriptions. In Oregon, the hospitals check the registry even if your getting just 1 shot for pain that is making your blood pressure too high. BL please be careful in giving a blanket statement without knowing 4 sure. If you think I am wrong checkout Oregon!!

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18

First of all you don't know me so don't ever talk about me like that please, I have never judged anyone and I never will!! I am not a bad person and I'm not doing anything illegal, and I'm not trying to be a hassle to anyone! I know people have drug problems but I am not abusing them!! everyone has their own problems but that's just the way of life!! I honestly have severe pain, this is the first year I didn't sign up for a men's basketball league that I have been playing on for the past six years! I volunteered to coach my son's youth football Team last year and that was a nightmare due to the pain!! and this year I'm still going to try to coach his 7th grade team. i've never been in any trouble in my whole life!!! Ever!! and the only time I've ever tried to get early refills is to leave the country!! And when I leave the country I am gone for over a month usually, that's at minimum!, For work!! I have never Dr. shopped a day in my life, I've only had one doctor my whole life!! And one pharmacy my whole life!! It's not like I do this every single month!! And the only reason I posted to the site is because I'm just interested on how this works and I'm tired of getting the run around!! I'm not going to go on disability and I can hardly function without my medicine it would just be very uncomfortable!! I wake up every single night in agonizing pain and it feels like my wrists and my forearms are on fire and somebody is twisting them as hard as they can and just mangling them to no end!! And up intill four months ago was the only time I've ever tried to get early refills!! Because the pain is getting much worse!! Trust me I don't spend $1000 for two Cortizone shots every couple months just to remain on my Norco 500s!! It's not people like me that make it hard to get early refills, I'm sorry that I have a job That allows me to tour the world!! I am just in a really weird situation and this carpal tunnel could not have come at a worse time!!! To be honest I can't stand the system and I'm honestly thinking about just backing out of it completely!! It's not worth the hassle or the stress at all, and pain or no pain I'm really getting tired of a medicine controlling my life!! Even though it doesn't even help Hardly at all!! I am scheduled for surgery on both wrists towards the end of this year and The plan is to be 75% 100% cured hopefully!! And then I won't even need the meds!! I'm sorry we had to meet each other on this site and waste each others time!! And it could also be people like you that are quick to judge and just label a book by its cover, and not take the time to be sympathetic or actually look at the facts and details about another humans life!! I'm not trying to offend you or upset you in anyway! I don't even know why I felt to plead my case to you!? I just felt like venting I guess!? I'm sorry and have a good day, danna!!

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19

If you're going to respond back with a nasty reply I am not going to entertain you with another post, and don't you worry because starting tomorrow when I wake up I will change my lifestyle so you can get your prescriptions easier lol, because I'm sure all the trouble you're having is because of me!!? Don't you worry things are going to start happening for you!!! :) and just for the record people that are not abusing their prescriptions don't have a problem getting them, my doctor is well aware of my condition and my insurance company is well aware of my condition. And today I picked up my medicine because I called the pharmacy and spoke with a different pharmacist and they apologized and told me they were sorry for any inconvenience and that will never happen again!! Like I said before thank you and have a good day Dana!!

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20

Maybe 4 years ago you could get refills refilled like that. Truly the pharmacists are catching hell...im a chronic pain patient too. My advice would be to get a stronger med and split it..this of coarse if your Dr knows you travel a lot. I know I have received one..one early fill and the Dr. Did ok it. .this was 2013 and in Colorado..but Norco doesn't come in doses to be cut. I have had better pain control with me Extended Release med. Also @ being red flagged any pharmacist can do it. The Walgreens down here in fl has a filling policy and if u r turned away from one then your name is in that data base, well because Walgreens got their butts sued. They had employees who were in on a drug ring here in Fl. Anyways my thoughts are not very focused. I would have a true friend or good family pick up the prescription and overnight it to you. Personally id use fed ex and signature required

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36

This is what I learned from my pharmacist. When you bring in a new prescription for narcotics analgesics the pharmacy must check two different data bases to comply with the new federal laws. The first one they check is the pharmacy data base to insure that you are not getting multiple RXs filled at different pharmacies. The other data base is to see if you are due for a refill. They are no longer allowed to fill the narcotic early, nor even 1 day early or they are out of compliance and could be fined or shut down. So, for example, if your Rx was filled on June 27 then you cannot get it filled again until July 27. You have been extremely fortunate that they have even given you an early refill in the past.

If you do get red-flagged you will have a very difficult time getting any narcotic prescriptions filled. Also your physician risks being investigated.

Don't be mad at the pharmacy, they are only following the new federal regulations. Unfortunately those new regulations are very strict. If you want to blame someone, blame the DEA, FDA, Congress and the POTUS as they are the ones who enacted these new laws that are seriously affecting many chronic pain patients.

While you are concerned about getting early refills there are many of us that are dealing with having to wait for days or even a week or more to have our scripts filled because the pharmacy is out of stock due to the new limitations on the amount of stock they can order at one time. Last month I wait 2 weeks past the due date to get my RX filled. This month I had to wait 8 days. I don't have the option of going to another pharmacy because none of them are taking new patients with narcotic RXs.

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35

I'm sorry someone treated you like that!!! No one should have any right to judge, you asked an honest question, some ppl just like to think that they are better then others. Being in constant pain is no joke, now to add going out of the country without your pain meds??? Awful!!! If it were me id be asking the same questions!!! You even stated that your doctor knows your situation!!! Hope you got something figured out, no one should have to suffer!!! You have my prayers!!!

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34

If it's that why haven't you seen a orthopedic surgeon for carpel tunnel surgery. Im a surgical assistant with ortho team at hospital. The surgery is no big deal an takes like 20 min. You would be pain free an not need the Norco's anymore. The way it's going by what your writing K, you sound dependent on them an probably would have some serious withdrawals if you were to even cut back. Your hurting your liver an your Dr should be checking it an other bloodwork done. If not doing that already. Its not good to take pain pills that long. I know. I was or am a Tramadol dependent. Got off them a yr ago in a detox facility. Very hard. Mentally an physically. I don't know why your Dr hasn't referred you to get surgery if its this bad that you need all that pain med. Just sayin. You might look into tapering off for your own good. Goodluck.

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33

It does depend on the pharmacist. They looked you up in their database and/or the state Prescription Monitoring Program database. If you have or had insurance the info is there. It isn't a good idea to lie

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32

I tried because I'm going on vacation and told them I didn't have ins and some how they looked it up and,said sorry too early you have ins somewhere.

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31

It is not unusual for someone else to have to pick up and sign for pain meds.

Federal law states your Dr can write 3-30 day rxs at one visit for a Schedule II Med. I'm surprised your Dr doesn't already do this due to your work. It is up to each Dr how they want to handle each patient.

The federal law rescheduling hydrocodone combination meds last year also stated if a patient has a rx with refills and it was filled prior to Oct 6 2015 that they could get the refills until April 2015. But it didn't force pharmacists to refill these rxs, it was left up to each pharmacy and store.

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30

You are very lucky to get any refills on Hydrocodone products. The week before DEA re-scheduled Hydro to Schedule II, my mother's pharmacist called and advised her "all refills cancelled due to new Federal law." All her nor I has to be by written RX and no refills are allowed.

I think I need to check the date on your post--did I dig up a 2014 post?

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29

In Wa and Ca they have special things in place for Norco, other than the new rules last year? I get Norco if I have a dental procedure or fracture something, does that go in some special Norco file? I wish I could get it for back pain, but am afraid to ask now. Like I said, those who abused it, really hurt those who really need it.

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28

I ended up getting my prescription a few days ago. And thanks to all for the help I really appreciate it!! And I have to leave the country again next month, hopefully I won't have to go thru this again! And I had no idea you could have a narcotic sent to another state!? Or even have someone else pick it up for you, even if it's not the same last name?!

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27

BL, you seem to know everything, why should I do anything. Do you live in WA state? Do you hve chronic pain? Do you take pain meds every day?

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