Update on FDA 90 Day Supply Ruling

[ViewsAskew]

Last week I went to get my second 30 day supply from the pharmacy....nope. Wouldn't do it. Said state law superceded Federal.

I waited to go back to my doc until I had two things straightened out: what doctor I would get my next script from and what the pharmacists required/if they would let me have more than 30 days at a time

For now, I'm using my old doc. That's OK. Per the pharmacist, my hubby asked the head pharmacist at the Walgreen's I go to about what had happened to me. She said she didn't know anything had changed and would check into it.

Next day she called me and said she'd contacted the FDA, but couldn't get ahold of the lawyer at the state's regulatory agency that would know the answer, but would call the next day.

She called me the next day as promised and said that she talked to the FDA and two different people regarding the state and that in Illinois we CAN get a 90 day supply. Refills are NOT allowed, but the doc can write the script for a FULL NINETY DAY SUPPLY!!!!

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!

My doctor's mistake was trying to write them as refills. That didn't work. So, now I can let him know that he can write it for the full 90 days instead.

Whew. While I am thrilled to be starting a new relationship with a local doctor and having been able to do this earlier would have made me less likely to need a local doctor, I am so happy to be able to do this.

So, anyone else who's taking a Schedule II drug (not sure if it's all schedule II or just opioids) and is only getting one month at a time, it may pay off to call your pharmacist and have him or her look into it. If they simply say no, ask if they know about the new FDA ruling and to please check into it.

As a side note, I found it somewhat fascinating that no one at my busy Walgreen's pharmacy has obviously asked about this yet. Kristen - my pharmacist - is wonderful with customer service. I know if anyone had asked, she'd already have researched it and know. I can't be the only one who takes a schedule II item covered by this ruling can I???? Or do people just not know so they don't know to ask?

[Neco]

Interesting series of events.

I don't think I'd ever ask for a 90 day supply up front, as that would be very bad for me in the end. But my doctor has given me independant scripts, dated a month apart, when giving out more than a months worth.



Here is an interesting read on Schedule II prescribing practices. Seems to be the general model of most states.

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes/T ... 8-3.18.HTM

[ViewsAskew]

I think the m and n parts of that document are what the new FDA ruling changed. If the state you are in has a more stringent ruling, according to my pharmacist, the pharmacist must go by the state rules. So, in this state (Rhode Island, I think), you couldn't get the script for more than 30 days, even though the FDA now allows it.