Question about refilling - Pain Management Message Board

Oddyssey · 01-25-2008, 01:51 AM

Ok, maybe "refilling" is not the right word, but I can't think of the right word.

I take Lortab 3x a day for my pain, and my GP is the one who is nice enough to prescribe it since it's hard to find a good PM doc in this area.

The last time I saw my GP was January 4th, and she had wanted to see me back in a month (so like around February 4th), but because of some nasty snow storms and people having to reschedule their appointments, the next earliest appointment available was on March 3rd.

My next Lortab prescription is due on February 17th, but my doctor doesn't have an available appointment until March 3rd.

I called and talked to the appointment lady, and she told me that all I had to do was call and leave a message on the Prescription Refill line explaining the situation and that they would tell my doctor, who would write the prescription and I could pick it up. She told me that it couldn't be called in to the pharm. (which I already knew), but that if I called and left a message describing the situation that everything would be fine and I could pick up the prescription at the front counter like I usually do.

I thought you had to actually see the doctor face-to-face in order to get a prescription for Lortab renewed, but the receptionist told me I could just call and pick the prescription up, just as long as I kept my appointment on March 3rd, which I intend to do.

Has anyone else done anything like this? I just want to make sure I'm not being totally misinformed.

If it's of any help (for those of you who know the laws about these kinds of things) the doctor's office is in Tennessee.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

ms_west · 01-25-2008, 06:13 AM

Yes, it can absolutely be done. My surgeon, when he prescribed, would only prescribe for 2 weeks at a time. I had to call in for a refill then hubby picked it up on the way home from work. He had to go to the doctors office and they went in the back and brought out the script. This was a royal pain.

I highly recommend that you make sure your doctor is not taking off leave around your pickup date and that you do it a couple days in advance. Good luck and I pray that you don't run into any stumbling blocks.

ibake&pray · 01-25-2008, 08:59 AM

I do it also. I see my PM doc one month, then the next month I call in and if I'm not having any issues, they write the same scripts, I pick them up and schedule me for an appt. the next month. If I'm having problems, they will schedule me for an appt. and I'll see the doc for an adjustment to the meds. Otherwise it's status quo. We've been doing this for the past 6 months and it has worked out OK for me.

I do have to go in and sign for the scripts at the front desk though.

feelbad · 01-25-2008, 09:00 AM

just an FYI here but lortab CAN be called intothe pharmacy,its a class III narcotic.only class IIs have to be picked up,legally.but you sound like you may have some sort of a contract or agreement with your doc which states this would not be possible or something?hydro based narcotics are one of the few that can be called in and do not require an actual written Rx every single fill(you CAN get refills on this type of narcotic).but what your doc wants to do is a whole other story.if you were on class IIs it would of course be a whole other ballgame.

this situation just sounds more like what your doc has set up with you as some contracted type of agreement.it just does not HAVE to be done this way,your doc decided this.but it is good to have the closer type of monitoring when it comes down to the possibility of addiction developing.having that closer monitoring and guidance really IS in your best interest here.it helps to keep you on track with your meds.if more docs did this,there would be alot less addiction happening.without guidance and monitoring its just sooo easy to start taking things upon yourself and thats when things happen that you do not want to happen.trust me,been there done that.i really need the close monitoring and direction from my PM and my contract.it does help with full compliance.your doc is really doing YOU a huge favor by keeping this very much under her total control.marcia

Oddyssey · 01-25-2008, 10:03 AM

Awesome! It sounds like everything will be just fine. I called and the receptionist said that the doctor will be there, but her schedule is full. I will call a few days in advance just to be sure. It is a bit of a pain, BUT I'm thankful to be receiving the help, and like Marcia said, even though the med probably could be called in (I've had hydrocodone products called in before in the past when I was post-op, but not by this doctor), the doctor really does have my best interest in mind and it may be some policy that their office has - not to call pain medication in over the phone (in fact, I know it's their policy because it says that on their website - they don't call in pain medication or tranquilizers). I will just have to go in and sign for it at the front counter like usual.

Thank you all so much for the great advice! I don't know what I'd do without you!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Stay warm!