Fentanyl Patches And Problems With Insurance And Pharmacies (Page 2)

I have been on fentanyl / Duragesic since 2005 when i was not longer able to take oral opioids as my stomach lining was eroding since then the first couple years while i was continuing care under one pain management office i had little problem filling them other than then not having them in stock and i had to wait one day. Since i move to PA and then back to FL and now again back to PA i have been having non stop issues between the medicare insurance and prior authorizations some periods every month and now my pharmacist tells me that the script was written out to be taken orally .. has anyone else had issues with just about every darn excuse they can give you sometimes having to go through withdrawal for weeks on end? I am just wondering and if so who can you turn to in order to get results i am tired of being prejudiced against filling these scripts out and without them. I am useless literally unable to move out of bed due to such pain i even decreased the amount i am taking because i have to go through withdrawal so often it is insane might as well smoke cannabis at this point it would be easier to get, but that causes me to have seizures so i am sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place so tired of the BS

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hi what canada pharmacy? for fentonyl at 30.00 thanks

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Thank you Fentagurl, I thought your reply was very supportive, sensitive and caring. I whole heartedly agree. It's outrageous to make an individual human being go through this. My pain management office is committed to relieving pain with the least amount of drugs possible. But their mission is to prescribe relief to those who suffer with chronic pain. I'm appauled that this particular clinic/office will not give an appt. for 5 months. Where is the professionalism in this? Where is the concern for their patient and his rights not even mentioning his ongoing pain for which he's been on medication for for many years. Thanks for your generous thoughts to him. I too sincerely hope that he gets the help that he needs. I don't know what I would do if I were suddenly cut off of my pain meds. And, mine are strong though not as strong (yet and I hope never have to be) as this poor gentleman. P.S. The pain clinics/offices take all necessary precautions to protect themselves, they have you practically sign away your life, take your photo, take random UA's.......... and I understand this. I really do and don't mind it at all. But, what about the rights and protection of their patients............for example: signing something that says you will not be cut off abruptly due to any circumstance except maybe illegal activity. But, you will be promised a tapering off process of any narcotic analgesic that has been prescribed from here for a long time. Example: more than 4 weeks.

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Prior authorization varies with the insurance company and the medication. I think it is interesting that my insurance doesn't require yearly pre-authorization for fentanyl but does require it for Provigil, a medication taken for narcolepsy. The insurance companies continue to control the patient's right to medication lawfully prescribed by doctors that are closely monitored by state and federal guidelines. It seems more effort should be put into shutting down illegal drug dealers that sell dangerous drugs for recreational use by many teens that wind up addicted or dead due to overdose.

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thanks Deb, I agree with your reply re: pain management.............I fortunately have great pain management care and when my insurance co. said no after 1yr. of meds. my pain mangement fought and stayed late until they got the desired result...........I too don't know how I would handle suddenly being stopped. it's wrong and disgusting and no human being should be put through this very dangerous withdrawal procedure of cold turkey............weeks of tapering off should be a guarantee in writing especially as you are right, we, the patient have to basically sign our life away to them.

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Mary, I cannot give you any advice just encouragement and positive thoughts as you try to get off the fentanyl. I too found the meds to be a relief for many years. The 72 hours went to 48. I cannot imagine how bad your pain must be if you need to replace patch so often. It is criminal that the insurance and rules that govern pain management doctors have come to this!!! Maybe there is something that can help with the withdrawal process. Best of luck. I will be thinking of you. Let us know how you are progressing. (( hugs))

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The insurance wants you to buy generic, not duragesic which is a name brand.

Sandoz makes a clone of the duragesic patch! It is the original formula and made exctly the same way under license from the duragesic people because they wanted a piece of the generic market.

All the other patches were developed separately from duragesic but passed a very tough evaluation by the FDA. They are all safe to use but some will work better than others for you. Ask your pharmacist to get a specific brand for you after trying a couple of different brands to see what works best.

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I am literally writing this message with tears flowing and my heart beating out of my chest. I see myself in so many of these posts. I am currently in pain management after three back surgeries the last one considered failed. I have been on different medications over the years the most recent is Fentanyl 75mcg/hr, Hydrocodon 10mg 2x per day if necessary. I recently asked for something other then Hydrocodon since when I had break through pain it offered very little relief. They also insisted I remain on Cymbalta 60 mg per day even after I informed them that in the past it was ineffective. I could go on and on because no one seems to understand what is happening to me now and I so need to find someone to help me. I survive on Social Security Disability after being a Registered Nurse working in the Emergency Department. Once I became disabled my life was chrushed. I did everything and anything the doctor's asked of me from years of physical therapy, psychotherapy, lot's and lot's of epidurals under fluoroscopy and several hospitalizations. My current pain management doctors have given me incorrect information about side effects of my medications but I am somewhat afraid to confront them since they make me feel so insignificant and worthless. I actually see the physician assistant monthly for my escripts to be sent to the pharmacy. But here is the real problem. I am not a senior yet so I am not eligible for certain benefits. I am in a Medicare managed health plan which is awful. My medications co-pay monthly are over $200 and I owe thousands of dollars for various procedures and tests I have had recently. The stress at this point is so overwhelming that I also have thoughts of not being around. My pain is not under control and I am starting to have difficulty walking. I live alone and I just can't manage anymore. For three weeks my PCP has been trying to get my blood pressure and heart rate under control both of which were never a problem. I arrived at my pain management Doctor last week feeling so sick and I was sent home because they needed some kind of referral from my PCP. They let me come all the way and even after I told them how ill I felt they sent me home. They were generous and ordered enough Fentanyl patches until the referral could be obtained. I needed to discuss my recent high blood pressure and heart rate but no one would offer me anything. They let me leave the office after only speaking to the front desk personnel. I now put all my medical expenses and most living expenses on credit cards which very soon I will not be able to pay. I have tried several times to live off any pain meds but end up in bed with absolutely no quality of live. I used to work from home doing medical billing earning what SSD allowed without penalty. I would work in bed if I was too sick to sit at my computer station. Almost three years ago that company dissolved and I haven't found anything since. Everything is just too hard and spiraling out of control. I need these medications to live...But!!!!

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Re: ladagosta (# 1)

i would suggest going around to the drug stores you would. be willing to use and talk to the pharmicist (maybe even a couple times so you get to talk to more than one) and get a feel for their atitude and willingness to help .... ask them what their opiod policies are and if they carry the brand you use and what kind they have and if willing to special order your preferred brand ........ i finnaly found a good pharmisist i talked to them for 2 months or longer. before switching .... been using them for a year now without an issue ..... DO NOT TRY TO GET THEM EARLY ... and if you can wait an extra day once and awhile do it ... you dont need to take the bull but they deal with crap all the time and dont wanna deal with it ...... dont act desperate even if you are on last day .... keep a record of your meds on a pocket calander to argue your case for you .... documentation is key but dont show it unless you have to .... exspecially when using doctors in 2 states .... stick the extra label in your calander to confirm fill dates ........ hope things improve 4 ya

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I have suffered at the hands of everyoje since doctors all of a sudden starting weaning pain patients because of what addicts are doing with them.

I been refused my medications from pharmacists. I have been in withdrawals for up to a week.
I have went to the ER with my prescription in hand and then turned away there is well.

I am tired but mostly I'm sick! This month when I am finally able to get my medication I will use it for final relief!

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So sorry to hear your story on the fentanyl patches,and it seems like you should be able too to your hospital and get the medical treatment until your patches are available through the normal process ?

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Re: ladagosta (# 3)

Oh my, yes sounds like you are caught between a hard place, if I were you I would go to the ER when you start going through withdraws or pain, they will help you out, even ask for a prescription there. The other thing is change pharmacies if possible, explain to your new pharmacy what is happening and hope you won’t run into the same situation there. People like business. Good luck for now and don’t give up, there’s always a way, something good always comes along,

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Re: Fentagurl (# 7)

Also getting in touch with the insurance company would benefit her greatly. I have yo keep up with all my prior authorizations and inform the doctor when they are due in advance. Which your insurance company can do and they can help her find another pain management dr that is in her network. I’ve been doing this for twenty year and had an ER tell me if I came in again for another fentanyl patch I wasn’t getting it. At the time I was new to having to need patches. Also I found in the beginning before I was finally put on medicare that johnson and johnson had a program for those without insurance that paid for my patches every month I just showed the pharmacy my card with my script. Being I didn’t have $400. A month for them. I see now the genetic patches are now $200. There is one pharmacy who’s patches I refuse to take as they fell off and were not as strong so I told my pharmacy that I refuse to take that brand. They claim there is no difference but there is. I’ve been in them long enough to know and tossed back and forth on them. I was lucky enough to have one of my doctors bring my script to my home as I lived in a small texas town and he lived out by me. Depending on your dr office many time you can sign for them and pick them up there. Five months is way to long and it may because you’ve traveled back and forth as a new patient. I had no issues leaving texas and moving to New Hampshire which is known to be a tough state on opioids I was able to get into a primary dr but had my script filled in texas and a good friend mailed my month to me that helped me yo wait that period of time in between Drs. Then I finally got in and had no issues since and keep up with my insurance on my opioids as they all require a prior authorization.

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