CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Use this section to discuss your experiences with prescription drugs, iron injections, and other medical interventions that involve the introduction of a drug or medicine into the body. Discuss side effects, successes, failures, published research, information about drug trials, and information about new medications being developed.

Important: Posts and information in this section are based on personal experiences and recommendations; they should not be considered a substitute for the advice of a healthcare provider.
IThinkImInTorture
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:53 pm

CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by IThinkImInTorture »

Here I am isolated at home with my wife and two daughters. My neurologist called in a RX of gabapentin but CVS won’t ship it to my house like other medications because Gabapentin is a controlled substance. I’m 48, obese with high blood pressure; high risk for COVID, yet I can’t get my prescribed medication delivered to my house. I’m tempted to order from a Canadian or Chinese mail order pharmacy. It’s disappointing that my own country withholds a much needed Rx from a mature tax paying adult. Government is part of the problem not the solution.

QyX

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by QyX »

Ye, you are right, that this is completely silly.

Even though Gabapentin has potential for abuse, it is still very limited, those states that have classified Gabapentin as a controlled substance did so under Schedule V, which is weak compared to drugs like opioids (Schedule II) or benzodiazepines (Schedule IV).

I don't know about the laws in each individual states but I suspect this is simply a company policy than a requirement by law. Absolutely bonkers, that you can buy alcohol without any prescriptions in unlimited amounts but a relatively harmless drug with low potential for abuse can't be mailed to a patient even though he has a valid prescription during a time of a global pandemic. It is completely ridiculous.

From Wikipedia:
Surveys suggest that approximately 1.1 percent of the general population and 22 percent of those attending addiction facilities have a history of abuse of gabapentin.

Effective 1 July 2017, Kentucky classified gabapentin as a schedule V controlled substance statewide. Effective 9 January 2019, Michigan also classified gabapentin as a schedule V controlled substance. Gabapentin is scheduled V drug in other states such as West Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama

IThinkImInTorture
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:53 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by IThinkImInTorture »

I’m compromising asking the doctor to resend the RX to a CVS with a drive thru.

I can’t buy an N95 mask as they are reserved for people working in high risk jobs.

In the end the doctors get paid and the person is left to fight for sufficient treatment.

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16570
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by ViewsAskew »

That is terrible.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

Rustsmith
Moderator
Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:31 pm
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by Rustsmith »

Another option is to have your doctor sent the prescription to a mail order pharmacy, such as Express Scripts. Express Scripts sends all sorts of controlled substances to me through the Postal Service or parcel delivery companies like FedEx and UPS. The problem is that it can take about two weeks to get the meds once your doc sends in the prescription.
Steve

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

IThinkImInTorture
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:53 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by IThinkImInTorture »

Rustsmith wrote:Another option is to have your doctor sent the prescription to a mail order pharmacy, such as Express Scripts. Express Scripts sends all sorts of controlled substances to me through the Postal Service or parcel delivery companies like FedEx and UPS. The problem is that it can take about two weeks to get the meds once your doc sends in the prescription.
Thanks for the feedback. It’s odd to me that CVS can’t ship due to Federal laws but an online pharmacy can. Strange.

badnights
Moderator
Posts: 6259
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:20 pm
Location: Northwest Territories, Canada

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by badnights »

It sure seems twisted, doesn't it? Maybe your quickest solution is the one you suggested, to get the doc to re-send to a pharmacy that does drive-thru pickups.
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.

IThinkImInTorture
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:53 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by IThinkImInTorture »

badnights wrote:It sure seems twisted, doesn't it? Maybe your quickest solution is the one you suggested, to get the doc to re-send to a pharmacy that does drive-thru pickups.
I just tried to register with express scripts. It prompts for member I’d or social security number. I used social security number and registration failed asking for a member if instead.

Brynmr
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2018 3:15 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by Brynmr »

IThinkImInTorture wrote:Here I am isolated at home with my wife and two daughters. My neurologist called in a RX of gabapentin but CVS won’t ship it to my house like other medications because Gabapentin is a controlled substance. I’m 48, obese with high blood pressure; high risk for COVID, yet I can’t get my prescribed medication delivered to my house. I’m tempted to order from a Canadian or Chinese mail order pharmacy. It’s disappointing that my own country withholds a much needed Rx from a mature tax paying adult. Government is part of the problem not the solution.

I get my gabapentin from Optum RX no problems. https://www.optumrx.com/public/landing

IThinkImInTorture
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:53 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by IThinkImInTorture »

Brynmr wrote:
IThinkImInTorture wrote:Here I am isolated at home with my wife and two daughters. My neurologist called in a RX of gabapentin but CVS won’t ship it to my house like other medications because Gabapentin is a controlled substance. I’m 48, obese with high blood pressure; high risk for COVID, yet I can’t get my prescribed medication delivered to my house. I’m tempted to order from a Canadian or Chinese mail order pharmacy. It’s disappointing that my own country withholds a much needed Rx from a mature tax paying adult. Government is part of the problem not the solution.

I get my gabapentin from Optum RX no problems. https://www.optumrx.com/public/landing
I just tried to register at Optum RX and I could not. An employer may need to be registered or something.

Brynmr
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2018 3:15 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by Brynmr »

IThinkImInTorture wrote:
Brynmr wrote:
IThinkImInTorture wrote:Here I am isolated at home with my wife and two daughters. My neurologist called in a RX of gabapentin but CVS won’t ship it to my house like other medications because Gabapentin is a controlled substance. I’m 48, obese with high blood pressure; high risk for COVID, yet I can’t get my prescribed medication delivered to my house. I’m tempted to order from a Canadian or Chinese mail order pharmacy. It’s disappointing that my own country withholds a much needed Rx from a mature tax paying adult. Government is part of the problem not the solution.

I get my gabapentin from Optum RX no problems. https://www.optumrx.com/public/landing
I just tried to register at Optum RX and I could not. An employer may need to be registered or something.
Call them up and see what the problem is. You do need your prescriptions sent in from a doctor of course.

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16570
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by ViewsAskew »

Could be that the insurance company needs to have them as an approved provider.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

yawny
Posts: 264
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2015 4:20 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by yawny »

That’s nuts...I literally just received my Gabapentin mailed from my local CVS. Even worse, my anxious cat just got his own Gabapentin prescription. Sorry you’re going through this. Maybe it’s a state law?

If you haven’t already solved this, maybe call up your local pharmacies and see if they’re willing to mail it to you before you move the prescription. A quick way to get a list of your local pharmacies is at GoodRX.com. Just type in the medication name. Also, you’ll notice that there are several categories to choose from (Free Coupons...) and one of them that comes up for me is Mail Order pharmacies. I hope all works out for you.

IThinkImInTorture
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:53 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by IThinkImInTorture »

I got my McLean, VA neurologist to call a RX to a CVS with a drive thru. When I drive up they told me I couldn’t get the RX as another RX exists at the first CVS. I got so pissed off I lost composure yelling thru my scarf. I pulled thru and waited until they called and cancelled the first RX. The whole system is broken and the doctors are unaware of the process to be able to assist patients.

Brynmr
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2018 3:15 pm

Re: CVS Won’t Ship Gabapentin to House

Post by Brynmr »

IThinkImInTorture wrote:I got my McLean, VA neurologist to call a RX to a CVS with a drive thru. When I drive up they told me I couldn’t get the RX as another RX exists at the first CVS. I got so pissed off I lost composure yelling thru my scarf. I pulled thru and waited until they called and cancelled the first RX. The whole system is broken and the doctors are unaware of the process to be able to assist patients.
I would have yelled at them too. Sometimes that's called for and sometimes that helps.

Post Reply