Does anyone know if different pharmacies have different policies about how long before your medication runs out that you can have it refilled?

I recently switched pharmacies. At my old pharmacy, they wouldn't refill my Klonopin (a controlled substance) any sooner than 2 days before I would run out. I always took it as directed, so I never took more than 30 pills in 30 days. Now at my new pharmacy, the pharmacist said I could get it filled 6 days before I run out. This would be good, because I will run out of my Klonopin 5 days into my upcoming vacation abroad. That would mean I'd have to go to this new pharmacy the day before we fly out, and on a Sunday.

I'm worried that I'll get to the pharmacy and they'll say "No, it can't be filled until (such and such date into my vacation)." I'll call again and ask the Friday before when it can be filled. If that date changes, I'm going to have to call my psychiatrist and ask him to prescribe an emergency supply. Luckily my psychiatrist is very good at returning calls and calling in meds. He said I could even call his cell phone on Sunday, but I'm worried it will be a scary rat race.

When I saw the pharmacist the last time I asked if I could just take Ativan instead of Klonopin for some days. He said no, that they work differently.

[Shazerac]

Med refills interfering with vacations is so frigging annoying. You are probably going to need to get your doc to call in an emergency supply. Don’t wait til the last minute. You don’t want to be on vacation without the Meds you need.

[SeekerSeeking]

It is the state board of pharmacy and the guidelines of the particular pharmacy along with the discretion of the pharmacist that mandate when RXs can be refilled. To make it more complicated, insurance can have a say at the policy. Did you get the name of the person who said you could refill 6 days before? Maybe go when that person is on deck...

[SparkySmart]

I've wondered about this, too. I've taken Ambien 10 mg for years. This is a Schedule IV drug, which has a low potential for abuse but is "subjected to a limit of a thirty day supply per dispense." Only once did a pharmacy allow me to pick up a refill two days before the stipulated date, and that was because the refill date fell on a Sunday (my pharmacy isn't open on Sundays).

But what really confuses me is this: My PCP (whom I've been seeing for 20 years) told me that he couldn't prescribe more than one 10 mg pill per day...that he was prohibited from doing so by law. But this last Christmas season, I was under a lot of stress and doubled the dose to 20 mg for a total of eight days; therefore, I was short for the month by 8 pills. Whoops. When I saw my PCP in January, I asked him for a prescription for eight 10 mg Ambien tablets, and he called it in without a problem. This 8-pill addition didn't interfere with, or change the date of, my next (or subsequent) refill(s).

Other people on PC have mentioned that they were taking higher doses of Ambien (I think there's a slow-release version or something), but this makes me wonder if my PCP is telling me the truth.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by SeekerSeeking

It is the state board of pharmacy and the guidelines of the particular pharmacy along with the discretion of the pharmacist that mandate when RXs can be refilled. To make it more complicated, insurance can have a say at the policy. Did you get the name of the person who said you could refill 6 days before? Maybe go when that person is on deck...

^^ According to my own experience, this is all very true.

I would tell the pharmacist I am leaving on vacation.
I would inform her/him now and see if s/he can get an override or not.
The sooner you get this sorted out the better.

I usually tell them I am leaving a few days earlier so it's all sorted out earlier.

It's my understanding the pharmacist can ask for an override for an earlier refill if one is going away.
Please check this out with your pharmacy.


WC

Thanks for the tips about this. I didn't take the pharmacist's name, and I'm new enough going there that I don't know them. I've been there 3X and seen 3 different pharmacists.

I will call the pharmacist some days before to double check on this so I have ample time if I need to get my psychiatrist to write some extra script.

[eye2797]

I recently had an issue with picking up. The fill date was one date but I didnt pick it up for 3 more days, the pharmacy said it was time ti fill so I did. When I went to get it the next day they said no I had to wait two more days, as I didnt pick it up right away the last time. shouldnt it be the fill date?

Also while on vacation I needed to refill xanax no biggie go to walgreens and fill it. It had refills on it and took them all. The pharmacist said it was because I was filling it out of state. I dont get it.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by eye2797

I recently had an issue with picking up. The fill date was one date but I didnt pick it up for 3 more days, the pharmacy said it was time ti fill so I did. When I went to get it the next day they said no I had to wait two more days, as I didnt pick it up right away the last time. shouldnt it be the fill date?

Also while on vacation I needed to refill xanax no biggie go to walgreens and fill it. It had refills on it and took them all. The pharmacist said it was because I was filling it out of state. I dont get it.

I would think that might confuse the prescribing doctor who also tracks # of refills?

Wow.


WC

[~Christina]

My medication insurance only allows meds to be filled 3 days early.

Once I was going to be out of town when my meds were due my Pdoc sent a new script to get all my meds early to cover my being out of town ( I was only gone 10 days ) Pdoc could only write the meds for 10 days.... had it been longer my insurance would have been a huge problem.

My pharmacy it’s self has no way to do anything about fill dates. Insurance is in charge.

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm on this wonderful cycle-fill type program at my pharmacy. They automatically refill my scripts every month, call the doctor if I'm out of refills and get them renewed without my ever having to lift a finger. All I do is pick 'em up and pay. Easy-peasy. I don't know if all pharmacies do this, but I'd think most of the major retail chains do. Ask your pharmacist. I go to Rite Aid.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

I'm on this wonderful cycle-fill type program at my pharmacy. They automatically refill my scripts every month, call the doctor if I'm out of refills and get them renewed without my ever having to lift a finger. All I do is pick 'em up and pay. Easy-peasy. I don't know if all pharmacies do this, but I'd think most of the major retail chains do. Ask your pharmacist. I go to Rite Aid.

Mine is the same

[Deejay14]

For years my proc wrote scripts for Ambien 10 mg, two at night. For a long time we had to get prior approval for that amount,but for the last three years no prior approval necessary. However, I can only pick it up two days before the month is up. That's just the insurance rules.

[Smitkit]

It all depends. Assuming you aren't a substance abuser, your doctor may be willing to write you an emergency rx to have at home in case something like this ever happens.

I get so nervous about the 2 day thing. Pharmacies screw up so often or have some random issue pop up, so I always put my order in early. The thought of going without a benzo if you have constant panic or ptsd, is absolutely terrifying. Being judged by some arrogant pharmacist is the last thing you need in that moment.

I know I shouldn’t do this, but I tell the pdoc I’m taking more of my pills than I actually take just so I can stockpile.

I cannot stand having barely enough pills. I lost half a bottle once (I split my gabapentin between my purse and home cabinet) and my pdoc refused to call in anymore for me. She said I would just have to take less and stretch them out until time for a refill.

That p*ssed me off. So I started telling her I needed more, until she finally increase the prescription.

So I have leeway as to when to call for a refill.

As for klonopin, if you run out, you can have a seizure. At least that’s what the pharmacist told me when my mom ran out. She gave me three pills and told me to come back Monday for the rest after her pdoc could be contacted. She also told me to take her to the emergency room if she ever ran out if it couldn’t be refilled.

So this two - three day situation is really ridiculous. My pharmacy runs out of medications, it is so poorly managed. My area is overrun with new construction and the pharmacy cannot handle it.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by key tones

I know I shouldn’t do this, but I tell the pdoc I’m taking more of my pills than I actually take just so I can stockpile.

I cannot stand having barely enough pills. I lost half a bottle once (I split my gabapentin between my purse and home cabinet) and my pdoc refused to call in anymore for me. She said I would just have to take less and stretch them out until time for a refill.

That p*ssed me off. So I started telling her I needed more, until she finally increase the prescription.

So I have leeway as to when to call for a refill.

As for klonopin, if you run out, you can have a seizure. At least that’s what the pharmacist told me when my mom ran out. She gave me three pills and told me to come back Monday for the rest after her pdoc could be contacted. She also told me to take her to the emergency room if she ever ran out if it couldn’t be refilled.

So this two - three day situation is really ridiculous. My pharmacy runs out of medications, it is so poorly managed. My area is overrun with new construction and the pharmacy cannot handle it.

I think having more than you need in order to have some time for refills is wise. I try to do the same, along with keeping the refills on time. There are so many rules governing this and that by the state, the medical practice, the insurer and the pharmacy chain itself. It's impossible to keep it all straight on multiple meds.


WC

[Asteya]

I’m native, I’ve had my meds approved through the Rez for the next 6 years, so I never get questioned for them. I do hear lots of stories from other people on the same stuff having I be a hassle... so I’m not surprised.

[Guiness187055]

Originally Posted by key tones

I know I shouldn’t do this, but I tell the pdoc I’m taking more of my pills than I actually take just so I can stockpile.

I cannot stand having barely enough pills. I lost half a bottle once (I split my gabapentin between my purse and home cabinet) and my pdoc refused to call in anymore for me. She said I would just have to take less and stretch them out until time for a refill.

That p*ssed me off. So I started telling her I needed more, until she finally increase the prescription.

So I have leeway as to when to call for a refill.

As for klonopin, if you run out, you can have a seizure. At least that’s what the pharmacist told me when my mom ran out. She gave me three pills and told me to come back Monday for the rest after her pdoc could be contacted. She also told me to take her to the emergency room if she ever ran out if it couldn’t be refilled.

So this two - three day situation is really ridiculous. My pharmacy runs out of medications, it is so poorly managed. My area is overrun with new construction and the pharmacy cannot handle it.

I do the same thing I have 6 bottles of xanax on hand