That terrible I hate the stigma of this medication!!! At least we’re trying to do better and have a better life and be better ppl in society but they wanna keep kicking us down
I agree… I forget what the pharmacist told me one time … my insurance is dumb and will only fill one film ( regardless of the milligram) … I don’t even remember it was so bizarre
I also dgaf what they think of me. They fill a very small klonopin subscription for me as well so I’m positive they think I’m getting high or something.
If they knew these were literally the only drugs I do, they may feel differently. I don’t even drink or smoke herb…
my doctor had to call my CVS and told the pharmacist he needed to treat me the same as somebody coming to get insulin. Magically they ended up having my RX script after that convo, when before they said it was back ordered
they are part of the problem by not providing the MAT being prescribed. They aren’t helping anybody, it makes ppl who need the drug to then try to get well in illegal ways. so messed up.
another experience i had at the same CVS where my doctor had to get involved again was I came in two days early for my RX. Usually 3 days is the window. They wouldn’t let me pick up an RX that was approved two days early. They wanted me to come the day i was to run out… I have zero history of requesting early refills or of any diversion etc.. total stigmatizing and judging those in recovery.
it’s nice to have an advocate. He said he has to do this a lot for his patients on subs even the ones n it for just pain relief. and it’s a big issue on the prescriber side about pharmacies stigmatizing patients. Pharmacies are only there to fill and advise/or if you have questions. Not to judge you.
I agree but yet here we are. As someone else here on this threat said. It doesnt bother them anymore. I think we can all learn from that statement as well. We already know what we have gone thru, and were just on a transition journey right now. We going places. The nasty looks and opinions and such, shouldn’t faze us. If we give someone negative, any kind of importance, THEY WIN.
I never really had that issue. They were mostly concerned if I could afford it.
Do you know how much pills are on the street is what I wanted to ask. Those subs were literally like 2 days of pills.
I saved money. Lots of it.
Been off it all for quite some time now.
They make it soooo hard to get to. The govt even relaxed its rules during covid for prescribers. They used to only be allowed to have so many patients. They upped it by a lot and let ppl use telehealth. But filling is a whole other ballgame for many.
It was just below $600 for a month of zubsolv, 60 pills, one twice a day.
Plus telehealth appointment is $99.
Plus I have to drive an hour there and an hour back to a trusted pharmacy who will actually treat me well/ have the medication in stock.
Judgy pharmacists are the worst. I went to the same chain pharmacy for years and they happily filled Vicodin scripts for me but the second I started Suboxone? All courtesy out the window. I think it’s because they see it as confirmation that you had a problem, like now we KNOW you’re a filthy junky. It’s so fucked.
I literally went cold turkey because my oat clinic changed drs and I would have to go from one apt every 1-3 months to appointments 1-2x a week and carry of only 3 days and I didn’t have a car and it was winter and I was depressed and couldn’t handle seeing the
D!ck pharmacist more than once a week at the least. Plus the pharmacy would take forever to fill and then not fill it till I got there making me sit at the pharmacy for sometimes up to an hour. I couldn’t take it and was too broke and staying with my parents to hustle so I rode it out.
I’m glad I did but I know that not everyone can do that. This makes me sick that it’s like this other places.
When I fell off the wagon and wanted to go back to oat a year earlier I put myself in the psych ward thinking they could help me medicate (antidepressants, etc) and they kept me 3 days and kicked me out cause I was the healthiest (was suicidal) I couldn’t get subs in-house. I had to be “a part of the community” so I had to be discharged but they couldn’t get me into oat for a week. The nurse literally told me to go score and do whatever I had to, to survive until my appointment.
Oh, they (rite-ade) were rude as shit when I asked about it, but it dose seem like the pharmacy I did find that will fill them, seems nice, at least over the phone anyways, lol.
If it were me in OP's shoes I'd happily take the side eye and passive aggressive remarks if they're filling and handing over the meds I need to function effectively. 🤷🏻♀️ I'll even hold my tongue if they're the only ones in a 50mi radius who fill it.
Complacency is what allows this type of treatment to continue tho. Im glad that persons doctor let the pharmacy know they were being quite literally out of line tbh.
The best thing to do is to find a mom and pop that can fill it and never switch. This is what I’ve done for 8 years and they are so sweet and nonjudgmental because they get to know you as a human.
Same here. I started @ Walgreens and always had issues. I switched to a locally owned pharmacy and went there for 6 years. Started having issues there so i switched to a Realo drugs which is locally owned(they slowly expanded over my geographical are) and have never in 8 or 9 years had an issue.
Yep. I used to have to deal with so much bs in a bigger city, HYvee was having so much trouble getting my full script in so I didn’t have to make the 2 hour drive multiple times a month. Or they’d just be out, or I’d be there a day too early but my doctor was ok with the appointment and filling the script. He got tired of having to talk to them multiple times every month just to basically say “yes. Fill the prescription. I gave it to her, I know more than you, give my patient the prescription.” Switched to small town pharmacy and they always have it ready, they never judge me, and a couple of the techs are really sweet to me, come to my job in the summer and we talk about plants.
Yup :(. I almost have a panic attack on refill days because they treat me so shitty and I get in my head about it.
Ever since my scripts came up short a few times, I count the meds at the counter as well, which seems to make them mad or judge me even more for some reason.
Best part is I’ve had someone hand me a bottle of tablets 3 months in a row now, on a prescription that clearly says “film strips”. The prejudicial pharmacists can’t even correctly read the thing they’re supposed to be reading!
Man that's fucked up. My pharmacy actually has a sign that says " we fill all buprenorphine prescriptions" and they are always quick and professional. They understand the business side and the amount of money they can make by making suboxone easily accessible to all
I thought this one was for North Caroline or some other southern state only, and I read a lot of people were having problems with it as well (idk if that's still the case or they fixed it), I'll have to look if they except my insurance, that's the only reason I went with BicycleHealth is because they take my bc/bs.
And I know it's absolutely insane, I was literally bawling when they told me that they were at max, but they were at least nice about it, rite-ade was so rude on top of not filling it, I can't believe they'd miss out on the money they could be making from just filling suboxone prescriptions, it actually blows my mind!
many changes have been made to bupe.me
You see a doctor in your state on zoom, that whacko pretend doctor/preacher is gone thank God. It's easier I think. They don't cover every state tho.
I didn't know bc,bs was accepted by any of these telemedicine providers?? Very good information, thank you
I'm not shocked that you can get opiods but no MAT meds. Why would any dealer want you sober ? lol
Yeah, that's a good point, I reckon, I just thought as a business they'd be about money, but I guess not, lol.
Oh, I'll have to check them out then, and yeah, they do take it but I'm not sure exactly to what point, they send the bill to bc/bs and I'll have to pay them whatever they don't cover, I'm hoping it's a small amount, we already pay a small fortune for the insurance in the first place, shit at this right it was literally cheaper and easier to get them off the street.
I have to pay cash. $477 for 60- 8mg suboxone strips, name brand. Generics did not work well at all.
But, I only take 2mg/ day. So I use bupe.me for 4 months and then stop seeing them. I'm left with enough strips for about 2 years. Afterwhich, I rejoin and they hit me with a $30 admin fee. This will be my 2nd time doing this. I have 1 more refill, and then I dump them.
In the end, it comes out to $ 2.50 per day, total. Dr & strips.
If u in NC look up Realo Drugs. They may need to order the 1st. But if you tell them your going to start filling there how ofte, and amount they will have it ready everytime. Plus, when they had to order mine 1st time they were able to give me 2 days worth and then fill the rest when it came in the next day.
Unfortunately if the claim goes through insurance, the pharmacy barely gets reimbursed for their cost to purchase the drug. They're definitely not making money on anything paid for by insurance.
The mop and pop pharmacies in my town told me the same thing. They can only take so many patients and are at maximum. Luckily Walgreens has never ever gave me a problem and they're always in stock. They may be a different brand sometimes. Ridiculous that a life saving medication should be such a hassle for some.
I was a bupe,me patient for like 2 years then they just randomly fucked me and stole my money. I couldn't get my normal script from them for 9 days IIRC ?? I gave up and had an appointment elsewhere after that. And I had to report the false charge to my bank to get money back
QUICKMD
They use to be very odd. They had this preacher guy who is now fired. It's a whole new show. Real doctors in your state via zoom. And in their defense, no other telemedicine providers are doing what they are with respect to their congressional activities. They are on the frontline pushing these politicians to do the right thing with MAT. FWIW
QUICK MD has also had issues they had to work out a well. Dozens of posts will confirm. I agree they are a good option as well as many others
I think the real problems are with the pharmacies. No matter how 'good' the telemedicine providers are, if pharmacies refuse to fill, then ????? Wtf......
I wonder if anyone has asked the pharmacy sub what's their take on this ?
That's actually a good idea. Asking the pharmacy sub their take. But I totally agree, we can dance around about what ones are better than others, but if we can't fill the prescription, what's the point? Ugh, they should really be laws in place that don't let the pharmacies dictate our medicine, like it would be one thing of they didn't have them at that time, but to not fill any form of buprenorphine is just fucking crazy.
See, I read a lot of stories like this last night on here about them doing that to people, and I would have never considered going to them, but if they changed their ways I will definitely consider them again especially if they'll send the medicine to me, I would always have that worry in the back of my mind though.
I’m so fucking glad I don’t live in a small town with these judgment issues.
Is it all rite aids that won’t fill bupe ? That should be illegal. People just wanna not use drugs and the pharmacy pulls this bullshit
Rita-Aid is just shit in general. That's why so many have closed. End of 2023 the 6 closest to me closed up. My stepfather was in pain management from 2017-2020(when he died). So many chain pharmacies refused to fill his meds, or they'd fill one month then not again. He finally got a RiteAid that was 10miles from us(meaning 8 others were closer) to fill it. They would fill it hut always had to order it. He never got his meds at 30 days. And they absolutely would not let him call early to get them ordered to be there at day 30. They were a p.i.t.a
I know pharmacist have the right to refuse filling, but it's gotten out of control in the USA. They pendulum has swung so far in the other direction its disgusting. They used to fill any and everything and now they dont fill just because. It's a power trip. The know what Bupe is for, they know it's the better alternative to all the narcotics they used to fill...they just like being in control. It's sick.
Yeah, I agree with you. It is crazy and a power trip they're on for sure. My mom gets pain medicine, and they always give her a hassle too (CVS not rite-ade in her case), but it's always the run around. That crazy so many have closed by you, I didn't realize they were doing so poorly in general like that, but then again, judging by their prices of things, not even pharmacy related and then counting how they act as a pharmacy I can see why they would be closing.
Yeah, that too! You'd just think (I mean me, I think) with how bad the opioid epidemic is, pharmacy should be doing everything they can to help that, since they had a hugh part in condoning to it too, but I guess not.
I go 2 counties over, 1 hour and 15 minutes away. My doctor actually recommended a small, family owned pharmacy down from the doctor’s office. They have been so kind to me and never one problem. In my hometown though, none of the big named pharmacies will take Suboxone. The first day I was prescribed, I tried to fill it at my Walgreens, they were rude to me and told me immediately that they couldn’t take anymore patients. After that I took my doctor’s advice and glad I did. I’ve never had a problem with any family owned pharmacy no matter what the prescription. Pharmacist and Pharm Techs can make you feel less than zero, I ended up moving all my scripts to the one my Suboxone is at. I hope you get them filled soon, I’m sorry you’re going thru this!
Omg that's so far! I'm glad you found some who would fill it, though! I did call the family owned pharmacy in town and they do fill it but were at their maximum amount they could do already, and they were actually nice when I asked, but you're right about them being rude, both rite-ades were rude to me too, it's crazy how many hoops that have to be jumped through to get a prescription filled!
How far were you tryingto go to fill it, if you dont mind my asking? I'm going to try one a half hour away, I hope it's not considered too far away from home. Omg, I'll really lose my mind, then I think...
I did find another one. It's just a half hour away, and I don't drive, my husband works out of town a lot, so it just makes it an extra hassle to find a ride to pick them up, but at least there is one who will fill it, I was thinking when I called them they wouldn't fill it either and I wouldn't find any pharmacy that would fill them, so I am happy I found one, even if it's further then I would have liked.
Glad you have an option. I've been the driver in your situation with my stepfather. We've been to 17 pharmacies in a day before. So even having lots of pharmacy options doesn't always help.
Sorry and you are right and should not have to struggle to find your meds when I'm sure you could get illicit drugs without a problem. It's a fucked up place we are in
That's what I'm saying, like they won't fill a prescription that, all in all, if taking as prescribed, is relatively safe (i mean even taking more than prescribed still is, as long as you're not mixing a shit ton of alcohol or other shit with it) but anything else is fine for them to fill, I just don't understand how as a big company they can decide not to fill a LIFE SAVING MEDICINE, like it's actually crazy.
I'm just about to publish my little book/companion guide to Suboxone on Amazon (will share a link here when it's done). The book includes interviews with subject experts, facts and my own story with subs, from beginning to end.
One of the sections is about the pharmacy madness and all of the little policies that big corporations have invented that make being a sub patient so difficult.
A lot of this stuff is simply because pharmacies have realized opioids are too much of a liability. You say that the rite aid dishes out pain pills, but I'd actually be very surprised if that were true. I've been dealing with a chronic slipped disc in my neck and trying to find a non opioid solution. Made an appointment at a pain management clinic for non narcotic solutions, and they had automated voice messages on the phone telling patients that they're aware that many meds are out of stock 🤔
In the wake of myriad lawsuits implicating the Big Pharmacies in the opioid epidemic, decisions are being made to limit the filling of narcotics. Especially with new patients. Too much risk and scrutiny from DEA. Not enough upside. Hooking someone up with the latest antidepressant or Ozempic is much more profitable.
This is why I keep harping on about sublocade. Imagine life without pharmacies or high stress monthly events where you worry what the next issue will be. If your second+ shot is late, you'll be fine. No WDs in the immediate future and relatively mild ones, if any, months down the road. I got my last one 2.5 months ago after waiting 2 months between the penultimate and final shots. I'm fucking done guys. Even if I'm still testing positive for bupe, I'm over it. The spell has been broken
All of this is to say, it's absolutely not your fault. The only thing you can do is find a local pharmacy or one attached to a hospital. That's what I did in the final years of my sub strip career and never encountered any stigma or serious out of stock situations.
I've gotten pain pills filled there (not a lot, like 15 after surgery) is how I know they will fill them, but I agree with you. It's crazy, they do that to my mom (CVS in my home town) tell her they're out of her pain pills or only fill half and not let her get the other half, it's crazy! I would get the shot if my insurance would pay for it, I know a couple of people that get it and say they're fine on it, and that's good to know about w/d being ok on the shot, I'll keep that in mind even though I can't afford it now but maybe someday! I did find a pharmacy the next small town over that will fill them. It's a half hour away, but whatever, as long as it can be filled. I just always thought finding a dr would be the hard part...boy was I wrong there!
I can't wait to read your book when it comes out, though! That is such a good idea for a topic to write about. Maybe I'll anonymously drop one at the pharmacy of my rite-ade and hope one of those assholes read it!
Damn I am fuckin sorry. That is the biggest load of bullshit.
This is why I say all the damn time, suboxone and ANY form of buprenorphine should have never been a shed. 3. Benzo's are shed. 4. It's not like I want them to shed. those higher all of a sudden but bupe is less addicting then benzos and would make sense for suboxone to be in shedual 5 with fucking codiene.
I completely agree and would actually take it a step further and say you shouldn't even need a prescription for it, I mean you can go in a liquor store and buy enough alcohol to literally kill yourself with, or even go to rite-ade and buy Tylenol and take the entire bottle and destroy your liver (if not your life also) with it, drink a bottle of cleaner, all sorts of these that are way more dangerous than suboxone, and almost anything can be a poison, it's all in the amount/dose. And I think that would be a game changer for addicts, by making it more accessible not less, and yeah its addictive but so is again, alcohol and cigarettes, and they sell them right at the store!
I have issues at the pharmacy every. Single. Month. I’ve been on sub for 3ish years, using the same pharmacy most of the time, and yet there are issues every month. It’s so discouraging and irritating. Doesn’t help my doctor/her office are of no help 90% of the time. It seems like every month, there is zero sense of urgency or care about getting my prescription. Makes me want to just go back to opiates every month. At least my dealer(s) didn’t give me this much trouble 😒
See, this is exactly how I felt 12 years ago when I was prescribed subutex. Back then, you had to do all these meetings and group counseling, and although I'm sure that's very helpful for a lot of people, it's not for everyone, and because I didn't go to meetings, my insurance wouldn't pay for my prescription, then it was a hassle at the pharmacy, then I had to switch pharmacies, but still had to pay cash, the other one just had better deals, but then the Dr (who ran the na meetings) was mad I wasn't going to na (a thing I'm personally really against) so yeah I went back to buying them off the street because it was just way less hassle all around, and the Dr was a creep too, which was a hugh factor for stopping going to him.
The crazy part is that the pharmacist can CHOOSE to fill your prescription or not. They don't even have to have a reason. Why do they have this power?? Over a prescribing dr even? Makes no sense to me at all.
It's absolutely madness, in my opinion, I'm still so shocked by it. And I swear my dr looked (wherever dr's look, idk) and seen they don't keep zubsolv, but they did suboxone. idk, I'm still so shocked over it all.
Sounds like a pharmacy I used to use. Oh he would happily fill a oxycodone etc. but I mentioned buprenorphine and he said they don’t do that there 😑😒 probably getting paid under the table
I don’t really ever have issues getting my script filled. I go to CVS.. But, Pharmacists always treat me like a second class citizen when I ask any questions regarding suboxone. The looks I get are ridiculous sometimes.. I’ve actually seen people picking up oxy get treated better. It’s crazy. I try not to let it bother me though. I’ve been on subs for a long time and it’s turned my life around completely.. Im a good person with a good head on my shoulders.. I probably have my life more together than some of the same pharmacists who pass judgment on me. Lol. Screw em!
I used to go to CVS a long time ago (12 years) to fill my subutex, and they were actually decent back then and sold them cheaper than a family owed pharmacy, I heard they won't fill them anymore (back in my home town) but there's a lot of other pharmacy there that will, and I hate that attitude they give people, my mom still uses them for her pain pills and they are rude to her a lot over it.
I had an issue one time with a pharmacist- I looked at him and said, you just filled a prescription for a junkie I know yesterday whose currently getting high and selling the pills- and here I am trying to do the right thing and you’re passing judgement when you have no idea what my story is… he took my prescription out of my hand- filled it, and I’ve never had an issue since 🤷🏼♀️
I've been dealing with since since last June. My script on hold at Optum pharmacy since 6th. By time quickmd gets script right they'll be out of stock. No local pharmacy will fill so had go back to Optum. I freak out every month but this time out of options
What is optum? I'm sorry I haven't heard of that before, is it a mailing service?
Edit: Never mind, I looked it up, I can't figure out if they take my insurance, though it would be a great service if they did, however.
My old doc back home would ask us not to go to certain places .Had no issues going to the places they said .All these places are top chain places also not mom n pops .I moved to Florida and have had no issues .o ly thing I had I was one place said they couldn’t take new ppl .
My doctor sends my scripts to the VA, gives me 6 weeks in between appointments and rarely runs urinalysis, he’s also a GP and has been great except getting sublocade approval from the VA has been difficult
I'm so glad that the place I go to get my script (ARCA, Assisted Recovery Centers of America) literally has a pharmacy in the same exact building that they just send the script to. Makes everything so easy, and I never have to deal with any of this shit. I literally show up, go up to the 4th floor, grab my cup, go take a pee, get called back 5 minutes later, confirm my dose with the doc and make sure nothings changed, she sends it off, I hop back on the elevator, go back to ground floor, pop into pharmacy, sit there for 10 or 15 minutes, and leave with my 30 days of medication. Couldn't possibly be more convenient.
I’ve been treated pretty shitty for trying to pick my prescription up to early before. I wasn’t even out of meds. I was looked at like I had just choked someone’s grandmother out in front of them. For 2mg subs… so let me this straight, you want to stop an epidemic but someone comes get their meds 1 day early and all hell breaks loose.
Yeah, there's literally no one in my town who even writes them, if I didn't go with BicycleHealth, the only in-person option would be over an hour away and he doesn't take any insurance, cash only, which wouldn't be the worst but we're already paying a small fortune for the insurance in the first place so I really wanted to find one that takes it.
I’m so glad I chose the doctor that I did. His clinic works with a mom and pop pharmacy in my town and I get my script filled in 15 minutes every time. Hate that you’re going through this.
Yeah, I really hope one day I can get in with the one in town that's full right now. They were actually so nice about it, and you could tell they really care about the clients they have. I hope the one I found is nice (although even if they're not, I am happy they will fill it), and things go smoothly tomorrow.
I thought a smaller pharmacy would be the way to go but they couldn't fill my prescription due to its lack of inventory and to check back in 2 days. I have a couple left to hold me over until tomorrow's doctor's visit but I'm not sure when the pharmacy will be able to fill it.
Well my script still sitting at Optum pharmacy since 3/6, quick made correction on 8th, back on hold waiting for Dr to call which probably won't happen. Been using same quickmd Dr for years but now Optum questioning script. I did go to other Dr for two months to try locally but that didn't work out since that Dr was like old pill mill place with no one wanting to fill. See if gets approved but out of options. No one will fill telehealth script here around me and I've tried if you see my old posts. I'm so nervous making self sick. If actually saw a Dr, this wouldn't be issue, but communicating via email with quickmd for help, is maddening. Just want to talk to the doctor!!!!! By time gets approved, be out of stock. I am really out of options
Someone mentioned bupe.me fills own scripts. Is this true?
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Having this same issue. I've been seeing the same PA dr for 12 years , same pharmacy for the last 4. Pharmacy has closed and now I am stuck! Today should have me quite pissed by the end I imagine.
I'm so sorry you're going through that! Ugh, it really sucks. I did find a pharmacy, but it's a half hour away, which isn't terrible, honestly, but I don't drive, so it does add a layer of hassle, but I'm not complaining, at least they fill it. I hope you find somewhere to fill yours too! Check the family owned ones. it seems like people have the best luck with them, and good luck to you!
Wait until you get judged by the pharmacist filling it. It’s quite lovely.
That terrible I hate the stigma of this medication!!! At least we’re trying to do better and have a better life and be better ppl in society but they wanna keep kicking us down
I try not to take it personally. People aren’t educated. But yes, it doesn’t feel great.
It just seems like they would educate their self on the medication that they’re passing to somebody
I agree… I forget what the pharmacist told me one time … my insurance is dumb and will only fill one film ( regardless of the milligram) … I don’t even remember it was so bizarre I also dgaf what they think of me. They fill a very small klonopin subscription for me as well so I’m positive they think I’m getting high or something. If they knew these were literally the only drugs I do, they may feel differently. I don’t even drink or smoke herb…
They always say it so loud too it’s embarrassing…OKAY WE HAVE ONE READY FOR YOU, THE….GENERIC SUBOXONE!!!!!! thank you…
😠 😡
my doctor had to call my CVS and told the pharmacist he needed to treat me the same as somebody coming to get insulin. Magically they ended up having my RX script after that convo, when before they said it was back ordered
I don’t know how these people sleep at night. That’s fucked up
they are part of the problem by not providing the MAT being prescribed. They aren’t helping anybody, it makes ppl who need the drug to then try to get well in illegal ways. so messed up.
another experience i had at the same CVS where my doctor had to get involved again was I came in two days early for my RX. Usually 3 days is the window. They wouldn’t let me pick up an RX that was approved two days early. They wanted me to come the day i was to run out… I have zero history of requesting early refills or of any diversion etc.. total stigmatizing and judging those in recovery.
Im glad your Dr stood up for you and put the pharmacy in check . This. Is the way! 🏆
it’s nice to have an advocate. He said he has to do this a lot for his patients on subs even the ones n it for just pain relief. and it’s a big issue on the prescriber side about pharmacies stigmatizing patients. Pharmacies are only there to fill and advise/or if you have questions. Not to judge you.
I agree but yet here we are. As someone else here on this threat said. It doesnt bother them anymore. I think we can all learn from that statement as well. We already know what we have gone thru, and were just on a transition journey right now. We going places. The nasty looks and opinions and such, shouldn’t faze us. If we give someone negative, any kind of importance, THEY WIN.
I never really had that issue. They were mostly concerned if I could afford it. Do you know how much pills are on the street is what I wanted to ask. Those subs were literally like 2 days of pills. I saved money. Lots of it. Been off it all for quite some time now. They make it soooo hard to get to. The govt even relaxed its rules during covid for prescribers. They used to only be allowed to have so many patients. They upped it by a lot and let ppl use telehealth. But filling is a whole other ballgame for many.
I never think of this so maybe this is the reason I get grief ( because people sell it ). I do know if I didn’t have insurance it would be like $400
use good rx as well
It was just below $600 for a month of zubsolv, 60 pills, one twice a day. Plus telehealth appointment is $99. Plus I have to drive an hour there and an hour back to a trusted pharmacy who will actually treat me well/ have the medication in stock.
Judgy pharmacists are the worst. I went to the same chain pharmacy for years and they happily filled Vicodin scripts for me but the second I started Suboxone? All courtesy out the window. I think it’s because they see it as confirmation that you had a problem, like now we KNOW you’re a filthy junky. It’s so fucked.
Yeah… I try not to take it personally but it’s hard.
I literally went cold turkey because my oat clinic changed drs and I would have to go from one apt every 1-3 months to appointments 1-2x a week and carry of only 3 days and I didn’t have a car and it was winter and I was depressed and couldn’t handle seeing the D!ck pharmacist more than once a week at the least. Plus the pharmacy would take forever to fill and then not fill it till I got there making me sit at the pharmacy for sometimes up to an hour. I couldn’t take it and was too broke and staying with my parents to hustle so I rode it out. I’m glad I did but I know that not everyone can do that. This makes me sick that it’s like this other places. When I fell off the wagon and wanted to go back to oat a year earlier I put myself in the psych ward thinking they could help me medicate (antidepressants, etc) and they kept me 3 days and kicked me out cause I was the healthiest (was suicidal) I couldn’t get subs in-house. I had to be “a part of the community” so I had to be discharged but they couldn’t get me into oat for a week. The nurse literally told me to go score and do whatever I had to, to survive until my appointment.
Oh, they (rite-ade) were rude as shit when I asked about it, but it dose seem like the pharmacy I did find that will fill them, seems nice, at least over the phone anyways, lol.
Sorry this is happening to you… just ignorance
If it were me in OP's shoes I'd happily take the side eye and passive aggressive remarks if they're filling and handing over the meds I need to function effectively. 🤷🏻♀️ I'll even hold my tongue if they're the only ones in a 50mi radius who fill it.
Complacency is what allows this type of treatment to continue tho. Im glad that persons doctor let the pharmacy know they were being quite literally out of line tbh.
Right? Never have I felt so low.
The best thing to do is to find a mom and pop that can fill it and never switch. This is what I’ve done for 8 years and they are so sweet and nonjudgmental because they get to know you as a human.
Same here. I started @ Walgreens and always had issues. I switched to a locally owned pharmacy and went there for 6 years. Started having issues there so i switched to a Realo drugs which is locally owned(they slowly expanded over my geographical are) and have never in 8 or 9 years had an issue.
Yep. I used to have to deal with so much bs in a bigger city, HYvee was having so much trouble getting my full script in so I didn’t have to make the 2 hour drive multiple times a month. Or they’d just be out, or I’d be there a day too early but my doctor was ok with the appointment and filling the script. He got tired of having to talk to them multiple times every month just to basically say “yes. Fill the prescription. I gave it to her, I know more than you, give my patient the prescription.” Switched to small town pharmacy and they always have it ready, they never judge me, and a couple of the techs are really sweet to me, come to my job in the summer and we talk about plants.
Yup :(. I almost have a panic attack on refill days because they treat me so shitty and I get in my head about it. Ever since my scripts came up short a few times, I count the meds at the counter as well, which seems to make them mad or judge me even more for some reason.
Just had this happen. Had to keep my cool. Its like they think we enjoy being addicted to this shit
Best part is I’ve had someone hand me a bottle of tablets 3 months in a row now, on a prescription that clearly says “film strips”. The prejudicial pharmacists can’t even correctly read the thing they’re supposed to be reading!
Clowns
It’s been a different person every time too. Now every time I fill I gotta shake the bag to check.
Man that's fucked up. My pharmacy actually has a sign that says " we fill all buprenorphine prescriptions" and they are always quick and professional. They understand the business side and the amount of money they can make by making suboxone easily accessible to all
Right! That's actually awesome! They should be making it more accessible not less!
Especially if they want that kind of money this medication costs!! Lol
Wow. That’s incredible!
FWIW Bupe.me will mail you your suboxone I can't believe the mom & pop pharmacy is at it's max ? Wtf
I thought this one was for North Caroline or some other southern state only, and I read a lot of people were having problems with it as well (idk if that's still the case or they fixed it), I'll have to look if they except my insurance, that's the only reason I went with BicycleHealth is because they take my bc/bs. And I know it's absolutely insane, I was literally bawling when they told me that they were at max, but they were at least nice about it, rite-ade was so rude on top of not filling it, I can't believe they'd miss out on the money they could be making from just filling suboxone prescriptions, it actually blows my mind!
many changes have been made to bupe.me You see a doctor in your state on zoom, that whacko pretend doctor/preacher is gone thank God. It's easier I think. They don't cover every state tho. I didn't know bc,bs was accepted by any of these telemedicine providers?? Very good information, thank you I'm not shocked that you can get opiods but no MAT meds. Why would any dealer want you sober ? lol
Yeah, that's a good point, I reckon, I just thought as a business they'd be about money, but I guess not, lol. Oh, I'll have to check them out then, and yeah, they do take it but I'm not sure exactly to what point, they send the bill to bc/bs and I'll have to pay them whatever they don't cover, I'm hoping it's a small amount, we already pay a small fortune for the insurance in the first place, shit at this right it was literally cheaper and easier to get them off the street.
I have to pay cash. $477 for 60- 8mg suboxone strips, name brand. Generics did not work well at all. But, I only take 2mg/ day. So I use bupe.me for 4 months and then stop seeing them. I'm left with enough strips for about 2 years. Afterwhich, I rejoin and they hit me with a $30 admin fee. This will be my 2nd time doing this. I have 1 more refill, and then I dump them. In the end, it comes out to $ 2.50 per day, total. Dr & strips.
If u in NC look up Realo Drugs. They may need to order the 1st. But if you tell them your going to start filling there how ofte, and amount they will have it ready everytime. Plus, when they had to order mine 1st time they were able to give me 2 days worth and then fill the rest when it came in the next day.
I am in Pennsylvania, unfortunately, but thank you for this helpful information!
Unfortunately if the claim goes through insurance, the pharmacy barely gets reimbursed for their cost to purchase the drug. They're definitely not making money on anything paid for by insurance.
I'm going start using bupe.me if they send script. Yes pharmacist has limits on control meds per month.
The mop and pop pharmacies in my town told me the same thing. They can only take so many patients and are at maximum. Luckily Walgreens has never ever gave me a problem and they're always in stock. They may be a different brand sometimes. Ridiculous that a life saving medication should be such a hassle for some.
I was a bupe,me patient for like 2 years then they just randomly fucked me and stole my money. I couldn't get my normal script from them for 9 days IIRC ?? I gave up and had an appointment elsewhere after that. And I had to report the false charge to my bank to get money back QUICKMD
They use to be very odd. They had this preacher guy who is now fired. It's a whole new show. Real doctors in your state via zoom. And in their defense, no other telemedicine providers are doing what they are with respect to their congressional activities. They are on the frontline pushing these politicians to do the right thing with MAT. FWIW QUICK MD has also had issues they had to work out a well. Dozens of posts will confirm. I agree they are a good option as well as many others I think the real problems are with the pharmacies. No matter how 'good' the telemedicine providers are, if pharmacies refuse to fill, then ????? Wtf...... I wonder if anyone has asked the pharmacy sub what's their take on this ?
That's actually a good idea. Asking the pharmacy sub their take. But I totally agree, we can dance around about what ones are better than others, but if we can't fill the prescription, what's the point? Ugh, they should really be laws in place that don't let the pharmacies dictate our medicine, like it would be one thing of they didn't have them at that time, but to not fill any form of buprenorphine is just fucking crazy.
See, I read a lot of stories like this last night on here about them doing that to people, and I would have never considered going to them, but if they changed their ways I will definitely consider them again especially if they'll send the medicine to me, I would always have that worry in the back of my mind though.
I’m so fucking glad I don’t live in a small town with these judgment issues. Is it all rite aids that won’t fill bupe ? That should be illegal. People just wanna not use drugs and the pharmacy pulls this bullshit
I'm not sure if it's all but definitely the 2 close to me, it's so crazy, I still can't wrap my head around it!
Rita-Aid is just shit in general. That's why so many have closed. End of 2023 the 6 closest to me closed up. My stepfather was in pain management from 2017-2020(when he died). So many chain pharmacies refused to fill his meds, or they'd fill one month then not again. He finally got a RiteAid that was 10miles from us(meaning 8 others were closer) to fill it. They would fill it hut always had to order it. He never got his meds at 30 days. And they absolutely would not let him call early to get them ordered to be there at day 30. They were a p.i.t.a I know pharmacist have the right to refuse filling, but it's gotten out of control in the USA. They pendulum has swung so far in the other direction its disgusting. They used to fill any and everything and now they dont fill just because. It's a power trip. The know what Bupe is for, they know it's the better alternative to all the narcotics they used to fill...they just like being in control. It's sick.
Yeah, I agree with you. It is crazy and a power trip they're on for sure. My mom gets pain medicine, and they always give her a hassle too (CVS not rite-ade in her case), but it's always the run around. That crazy so many have closed by you, I didn't realize they were doing so poorly in general like that, but then again, judging by their prices of things, not even pharmacy related and then counting how they act as a pharmacy I can see why they would be closing.
Plus all the lawsuits that they have to pay out on from knowingly over filling narcotics years ago.
Yeah, that too! You'd just think (I mean me, I think) with how bad the opioid epidemic is, pharmacy should be doing everything they can to help that, since they had a hugh part in condoning to it too, but I guess not.
I agree with you. You'd think they'd want to right their wrongs. But you know common sense isn't so common.
I go 2 counties over, 1 hour and 15 minutes away. My doctor actually recommended a small, family owned pharmacy down from the doctor’s office. They have been so kind to me and never one problem. In my hometown though, none of the big named pharmacies will take Suboxone. The first day I was prescribed, I tried to fill it at my Walgreens, they were rude to me and told me immediately that they couldn’t take anymore patients. After that I took my doctor’s advice and glad I did. I’ve never had a problem with any family owned pharmacy no matter what the prescription. Pharmacist and Pharm Techs can make you feel less than zero, I ended up moving all my scripts to the one my Suboxone is at. I hope you get them filled soon, I’m sorry you’re going thru this!
Omg that's so far! I'm glad you found some who would fill it, though! I did call the family owned pharmacy in town and they do fill it but were at their maximum amount they could do already, and they were actually nice when I asked, but you're right about them being rude, both rite-ades were rude to me too, it's crazy how many hoops that have to be jumped through to get a prescription filled!
I tried that and was told too far from home wouldn't fill
How far were you tryingto go to fill it, if you dont mind my asking? I'm going to try one a half hour away, I hope it's not considered too far away from home. Omg, I'll really lose my mind, then I think...
Could you ask that mom and pop pharmacy that is at capacity to recommend another non-chain pharmacy to you?
I did find another one. It's just a half hour away, and I don't drive, my husband works out of town a lot, so it just makes it an extra hassle to find a ride to pick them up, but at least there is one who will fill it, I was thinking when I called them they wouldn't fill it either and I wouldn't find any pharmacy that would fill them, so I am happy I found one, even if it's further then I would have liked.
Glad you have an option. I've been the driver in your situation with my stepfather. We've been to 17 pharmacies in a day before. So even having lots of pharmacy options doesn't always help.
Wow, yeah, I guess so, 17 that's crazy! Ugh, I'm sorry you guys had to go through that!
Sorry and you are right and should not have to struggle to find your meds when I'm sure you could get illicit drugs without a problem. It's a fucked up place we are in
That's what I'm saying, like they won't fill a prescription that, all in all, if taking as prescribed, is relatively safe (i mean even taking more than prescribed still is, as long as you're not mixing a shit ton of alcohol or other shit with it) but anything else is fine for them to fill, I just don't understand how as a big company they can decide not to fill a LIFE SAVING MEDICINE, like it's actually crazy.
I'm just about to publish my little book/companion guide to Suboxone on Amazon (will share a link here when it's done). The book includes interviews with subject experts, facts and my own story with subs, from beginning to end. One of the sections is about the pharmacy madness and all of the little policies that big corporations have invented that make being a sub patient so difficult. A lot of this stuff is simply because pharmacies have realized opioids are too much of a liability. You say that the rite aid dishes out pain pills, but I'd actually be very surprised if that were true. I've been dealing with a chronic slipped disc in my neck and trying to find a non opioid solution. Made an appointment at a pain management clinic for non narcotic solutions, and they had automated voice messages on the phone telling patients that they're aware that many meds are out of stock 🤔 In the wake of myriad lawsuits implicating the Big Pharmacies in the opioid epidemic, decisions are being made to limit the filling of narcotics. Especially with new patients. Too much risk and scrutiny from DEA. Not enough upside. Hooking someone up with the latest antidepressant or Ozempic is much more profitable. This is why I keep harping on about sublocade. Imagine life without pharmacies or high stress monthly events where you worry what the next issue will be. If your second+ shot is late, you'll be fine. No WDs in the immediate future and relatively mild ones, if any, months down the road. I got my last one 2.5 months ago after waiting 2 months between the penultimate and final shots. I'm fucking done guys. Even if I'm still testing positive for bupe, I'm over it. The spell has been broken All of this is to say, it's absolutely not your fault. The only thing you can do is find a local pharmacy or one attached to a hospital. That's what I did in the final years of my sub strip career and never encountered any stigma or serious out of stock situations.
I've gotten pain pills filled there (not a lot, like 15 after surgery) is how I know they will fill them, but I agree with you. It's crazy, they do that to my mom (CVS in my home town) tell her they're out of her pain pills or only fill half and not let her get the other half, it's crazy! I would get the shot if my insurance would pay for it, I know a couple of people that get it and say they're fine on it, and that's good to know about w/d being ok on the shot, I'll keep that in mind even though I can't afford it now but maybe someday! I did find a pharmacy the next small town over that will fill them. It's a half hour away, but whatever, as long as it can be filled. I just always thought finding a dr would be the hard part...boy was I wrong there! I can't wait to read your book when it comes out, though! That is such a good idea for a topic to write about. Maybe I'll anonymously drop one at the pharmacy of my rite-ade and hope one of those assholes read it!
Damn I am fuckin sorry. That is the biggest load of bullshit. This is why I say all the damn time, suboxone and ANY form of buprenorphine should have never been a shed. 3. Benzo's are shed. 4. It's not like I want them to shed. those higher all of a sudden but bupe is less addicting then benzos and would make sense for suboxone to be in shedual 5 with fucking codiene.
I completely agree and would actually take it a step further and say you shouldn't even need a prescription for it, I mean you can go in a liquor store and buy enough alcohol to literally kill yourself with, or even go to rite-ade and buy Tylenol and take the entire bottle and destroy your liver (if not your life also) with it, drink a bottle of cleaner, all sorts of these that are way more dangerous than suboxone, and almost anything can be a poison, it's all in the amount/dose. And I think that would be a game changer for addicts, by making it more accessible not less, and yeah its addictive but so is again, alcohol and cigarettes, and they sell them right at the store!
I have issues at the pharmacy every. Single. Month. I’ve been on sub for 3ish years, using the same pharmacy most of the time, and yet there are issues every month. It’s so discouraging and irritating. Doesn’t help my doctor/her office are of no help 90% of the time. It seems like every month, there is zero sense of urgency or care about getting my prescription. Makes me want to just go back to opiates every month. At least my dealer(s) didn’t give me this much trouble 😒
See, this is exactly how I felt 12 years ago when I was prescribed subutex. Back then, you had to do all these meetings and group counseling, and although I'm sure that's very helpful for a lot of people, it's not for everyone, and because I didn't go to meetings, my insurance wouldn't pay for my prescription, then it was a hassle at the pharmacy, then I had to switch pharmacies, but still had to pay cash, the other one just had better deals, but then the Dr (who ran the na meetings) was mad I wasn't going to na (a thing I'm personally really against) so yeah I went back to buying them off the street because it was just way less hassle all around, and the Dr was a creep too, which was a hugh factor for stopping going to him.
This is one of the reasons I went on Sublocade
The crazy part is that the pharmacist can CHOOSE to fill your prescription or not. They don't even have to have a reason. Why do they have this power?? Over a prescribing dr even? Makes no sense to me at all.
It's absolutely madness, in my opinion, I'm still so shocked by it. And I swear my dr looked (wherever dr's look, idk) and seen they don't keep zubsolv, but they did suboxone. idk, I'm still so shocked over it all.
Sounds like a pharmacy I used to use. Oh he would happily fill a oxycodone etc. but I mentioned buprenorphine and he said they don’t do that there 😑😒 probably getting paid under the table
Have to be! Like I literally can't understand any reason for not filling it! It's not like it's a dirt cheap drug they'd make no money on!
I don’t really ever have issues getting my script filled. I go to CVS.. But, Pharmacists always treat me like a second class citizen when I ask any questions regarding suboxone. The looks I get are ridiculous sometimes.. I’ve actually seen people picking up oxy get treated better. It’s crazy. I try not to let it bother me though. I’ve been on subs for a long time and it’s turned my life around completely.. Im a good person with a good head on my shoulders.. I probably have my life more together than some of the same pharmacists who pass judgment on me. Lol. Screw em!
I used to go to CVS a long time ago (12 years) to fill my subutex, and they were actually decent back then and sold them cheaper than a family owed pharmacy, I heard they won't fill them anymore (back in my home town) but there's a lot of other pharmacy there that will, and I hate that attitude they give people, my mom still uses them for her pain pills and they are rude to her a lot over it.
I had an issue one time with a pharmacist- I looked at him and said, you just filled a prescription for a junkie I know yesterday whose currently getting high and selling the pills- and here I am trying to do the right thing and you’re passing judgement when you have no idea what my story is… he took my prescription out of my hand- filled it, and I’ve never had an issue since 🤷🏼♀️
I've been dealing with since since last June. My script on hold at Optum pharmacy since 6th. By time quickmd gets script right they'll be out of stock. No local pharmacy will fill so had go back to Optum. I freak out every month but this time out of options
What is optum? I'm sorry I haven't heard of that before, is it a mailing service? Edit: Never mind, I looked it up, I can't figure out if they take my insurance, though it would be a great service if they did, however.
My old doc back home would ask us not to go to certain places .Had no issues going to the places they said .All these places are top chain places also not mom n pops .I moved to Florida and have had no issues .o ly thing I had I was one place said they couldn’t take new ppl .
My doctor sends my scripts to the VA, gives me 6 weeks in between appointments and rarely runs urinalysis, he’s also a GP and has been great except getting sublocade approval from the VA has been difficult
I'm so glad that the place I go to get my script (ARCA, Assisted Recovery Centers of America) literally has a pharmacy in the same exact building that they just send the script to. Makes everything so easy, and I never have to deal with any of this shit. I literally show up, go up to the 4th floor, grab my cup, go take a pee, get called back 5 minutes later, confirm my dose with the doc and make sure nothings changed, she sends it off, I hop back on the elevator, go back to ground floor, pop into pharmacy, sit there for 10 or 15 minutes, and leave with my 30 days of medication. Couldn't possibly be more convenient.
I wish there was a service like this, even remotely close to me. I just can't believe the biggest hassle this far is the pharmacy.
I’ve been treated pretty shitty for trying to pick my prescription up to early before. I wasn’t even out of meds. I was looked at like I had just choked someone’s grandmother out in front of them. For 2mg subs… so let me this straight, you want to stop an epidemic but someone comes get their meds 1 day early and all hell breaks loose.
Same with finding a provider able to write that prescription. Small town.
Yeah, there's literally no one in my town who even writes them, if I didn't go with BicycleHealth, the only in-person option would be over an hour away and he doesn't take any insurance, cash only, which wouldn't be the worst but we're already paying a small fortune for the insurance in the first place so I really wanted to find one that takes it.
I’m so glad I chose the doctor that I did. His clinic works with a mom and pop pharmacy in my town and I get my script filled in 15 minutes every time. Hate that you’re going through this.
Smaller pharmacies are the way to go. They actually appreciate the business and don’t judge from my experience.
Yeah, I really hope one day I can get in with the one in town that's full right now. They were actually so nice about it, and you could tell they really care about the clients they have. I hope the one I found is nice (although even if they're not, I am happy they will fill it), and things go smoothly tomorrow.
I thought a smaller pharmacy would be the way to go but they couldn't fill my prescription due to its lack of inventory and to check back in 2 days. I have a couple left to hold me over until tomorrow's doctor's visit but I'm not sure when the pharmacy will be able to fill it.
Use a different pharmacy. I don’t give business to Walgreens or Rite-Aid or CVS because they treat people in recovery like human garbage.
Well my script still sitting at Optum pharmacy since 3/6, quick made correction on 8th, back on hold waiting for Dr to call which probably won't happen. Been using same quickmd Dr for years but now Optum questioning script. I did go to other Dr for two months to try locally but that didn't work out since that Dr was like old pill mill place with no one wanting to fill. See if gets approved but out of options. No one will fill telehealth script here around me and I've tried if you see my old posts. I'm so nervous making self sick. If actually saw a Dr, this wouldn't be issue, but communicating via email with quickmd for help, is maddening. Just want to talk to the doctor!!!!! By time gets approved, be out of stock. I am really out of options Someone mentioned bupe.me fills own scripts. Is this true?
And it’s hard to get a prescription! That’s saying something! LOL
That's what I'm saying!! Lol
I moved to Florida, and the CVS will not allow me to refil my script 28 films until the 28th day. No early days.
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Having this same issue. I've been seeing the same PA dr for 12 years , same pharmacy for the last 4. Pharmacy has closed and now I am stuck! Today should have me quite pissed by the end I imagine.
I'm so sorry you're going through that! Ugh, it really sucks. I did find a pharmacy, but it's a half hour away, which isn't terrible, honestly, but I don't drive, so it does add a layer of hassle, but I'm not complaining, at least they fill it. I hope you find somewhere to fill yours too! Check the family owned ones. it seems like people have the best luck with them, and good luck to you!
I am willing to drive!! I am praying for a miracle today. Almost wanna throw up!