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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 14, 2024 17:39:58 GMT
Update: Got one month of medication. My insurance approved two months but they could only fill one month. She did mention that whatever is causing the shortage of medications seems to be fixing itself out. She seemed to think within a month or so it should improve. So maybe for you all that are like me, your meds might be easier to get soon!
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So I take a medication, that for the first time since I have started taking, it is hard to find. (I heard rumors of it being hard to find but in the last six months I haven't had any problems)
Yes, it is one of the diabetic medications out there. I do take it for my blood sugar. It's a life changing thing for me. Since I have been on it, my blood sugar is cut in half. My eating has been cut in half. It's wonderful.
Friday, I went to pick up new prescription. They don't have it. I went back on Monday, still not in and no ETA. Called today. Nope. I am looking for two different doses. I'll take either.
Emailed my provider telling them what is going on. She emailed me back and basically all I can do is start calling around and finding it. I called four places so far... The 4th one said they had plenty, but I am not going to believe it until I have it in my hot hands.
I hope this isn't something I'm going to have to do each month... it's nutty.
I can't imagine someone that is elderly or anyone that has difficulties getting around having problems like this getting their meds.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 14, 2024 17:48:26 GMT
I have had the exact same issue several times. I’m sorry, I hope the place you called has it in stock! Did you have the prescription sent over so they can pull it sooner than if you were to drop it off?
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 14, 2024 17:51:37 GMT
I have had the exact same issue several times. I’m sorry, I hope the place you called has it in stock! Did you have the prescription sent over so they can pull it sooner than if you were to drop it off? She said they had 74 available... so hoping even if they don't have that much, they will have something. The gal is sending the order over right now. She is really good and always gets back to me pretty quick. We are going to request a three-month supply and if insurance will cover it, at least I won't have to do this again for three months. If they won't cover it, I guess I'll just see what happens. |
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Post by nightnurse on Feb 14, 2024 17:57:31 GMT
I’m sorry, how frustrating.
I have been in healthcare for 30 years and I have never seen the medication shortages I’m seeing now. I’m worried it’s going to get worse. We need to bring manufacturing back to the us.
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Feb 14, 2024 18:08:19 GMT
DD and my sister go thru this a ot with their ADHD meds. The key is to call lots of different pharmacies especially independent ones. DD found one but has to drive 25 minutes to get there.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Feb 14, 2024 18:08:42 GMT
I’m sorry, how frustrating. I have been in healthcare for 30 years and I have never seen the medication shortages I’m seeing now. I’m worried it’s going to get worse. We need to bring manufacturing back to the us. I agree I don’t know why we haven’t started bringing this stuff back to the US. We shouldn’t be reliant on other countries for things like medications. I know on my Kaiser app there is a note about a shortage of several medications on the pharmacy page. I’m sorry you are dealing with this and hope you can get three months worth and don’t have to do this next time. I agree it would be really bad for an elderly person or someone that can’t get to other pharmacies. |
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Post by papersilly on Feb 14, 2024 18:14:54 GMT
this is happening to me right now. my provider has a list of meds that are in shortage but none of them are what i am refilling. i have had my refill cancelled TWICE so far and if they cancel it again, i'm going to have to contact my doctor. i don't particularly like my alternatives. fortunately, i can live without this item for a short time so hopefully third time is the charm.
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breetheflea
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Posts: 5,882
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Post by breetheflea on Feb 14, 2024 18:17:54 GMT
DS ADHD medicine is one of the shortages. I can only order a month's supply at a time now, and DS doesn't usually remember to tell me he's running low until he's at the very end of the bottle... So far, we've always gotten it on time, but it is very annoying.
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Post by ameslou on Feb 14, 2024 18:45:41 GMT
You might look into whether this is a medication you can get via mail order through your prescription drug coverage policy. I have that option (Optum via United Health) - not only does it save me the time of driving to the pharmacy, I also save quite a bit of $$ over a retail pharmacy. I usually see the mail order prescriptions written as a 3 month supply.
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Post by Linda on Feb 14, 2024 18:49:28 GMT
You might look into whether this is a medication you can get via mail order through your prescription drug coverage policy. I have that option (Optum via United Health) - not only does it save me the time of driving to the pharmacy, I also save quite a bit of $$ over a retail pharmacy. I usually see the mail order prescriptions written as a 3 month supply. that was going to be my suggestion - all our prescriptions (except one-off ones) go through Caremark as 90 day supplies. I've never had a problem getting anything (and if there are temperature requirements - they've shipped overnight in coolers with ice/cool packs). And it's just ONE co-pay per 90-days rather than for each 30-day which saves money |
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Post by Zee on Feb 14, 2024 18:53:45 GMT
I never could get the Wegovy so I gave up and just get tirzepatide at a compounding pharmacy.
But, my insurance wouldn't cover it anyway so I save money by doing it this way.
I'm not actually diabetic, just "pre-diabetic". My last A1C was finally in the normal range! Still don't have a normal fasting blood sugar though. I think I'm one of those people who never will. It's not awful, but it's always about 120 fasting no matter what.
I am on maintenance dose now and pretty much stopped losing weight, I'm below my goal and love how I feel and how it feels to be free of the hormonal roller coaster. I know it's not marketed for hormonal disturbance but I haven't had any hot flashes since I started taking this. Miracle drug for me. I lost a total of 49 lbs and am at 118 lbs now, varies a little bit throughout the week.
I can eat, I just don't feel the need to overeat.
I will take this forever if I can continue to afford it. I buy 2 vials at a time, they last a month, and the two total $540. I use our HSA card.
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 14, 2024 19:11:48 GMT
My sister just told me she can't always get her antibiotics either. And she needs them with her cancer. She said they are filling 1/2 her order and to come back in a few days. Which for her is hard to do if she is having her bad days.
I would gladly give up my medication so she could get hers. but doesn't work that way and of course not the same meds. But you KWIM...
I didn't realize that this shortage is a lot of medications. I thought it was just this one since it is the popular one at the moment.
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,401
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Post by theshyone on Feb 14, 2024 19:23:46 GMT
Canada and europe has a shortage of a beta blocker Nadalol, that is the #1 prescribed med for long qt syndrome. It like saves lives. It keeps us alive. But it does it in an off label way, and is older than hell, so it’s not always kept in production. It bites.
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Post by Penellopy on Feb 14, 2024 19:48:30 GMT
I have had the same issues getting Mounjuro and Ozempic last year. All the pharmacies were waiting on backorders. Didn't help in that the doctor I was seeing at the time did a 'Weight Loss Clinic' utilizing these drugs. I couldn't find it within a 50 mile radius. I called my Meds by Mail through the VA and they had the Ozempic. And the great thing was it didn't costs me a penny. So in November I asked to be put back on Mounjuro (different doctor). I specifically took her the letter from Meds by Mail the RX had to be coded a certain way meaning for a diabetic or they would not fill it. That worked well, until I needed a refill and they didn't code it at all. So here I sit, without any medication, waiting on the doctor to resend the RX with the correct coding to Meds by Mail. Luckily, if the Meds by Mail is out of one kind, they will let me know which they have available (there are 3 I can switch between if I have to), so my doctor can start her process of getting me the meds. I am about ready to back to some pill that I have to take everyday because of these issues.
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Post by Jamie on Feb 14, 2024 19:56:51 GMT
We go through this every month for one of my husbands meds. Usually end up calling 3-4 places to see if they have it in stock and are told that they cannot guarantee if he doesn't come up then they will have any when he gets there.
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lesley
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Post by lesley on Feb 14, 2024 20:15:54 GMT
Yeah, it’s pretty not just an American issue at the moment. DS has had issues getting his ADHD meds since last October, and he actually had a period of about 7 weeks with no medication at all. That took a huge toll on his mental health. Despite the manufacturer’s assurances that things would have normalised by the end of the year, I spent much of last week trying to track down a supply. Luckily there were only a couple of days this time when he was unmedicated, but the whole situation is very stressful for both of us. I also know several people who have had trouble getting diabetes meds and beta-blockers.
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 14, 2024 21:55:04 GMT
God I didn't realize it is so many medications. I really feel for all of you. I need mine for my blood sugar, but I feel like some of the other kinds are more important than mine. It's an eye opener...  |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 14, 2024 22:59:29 GMT
DS ADHD medicine is one of the shortages. I can only order a month's supply at a time now, and DS doesn't usually remember to tell me he's running low until he's at the very end of the bottle... So far, we've always gotten it on time, but it is very annoying. Can you do auto refills with this type of medication? DH is the worst for not filling his meds before he runs out. |
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Post by Jen in NCal on Feb 15, 2024 4:22:34 GMT
Following my knee surgery in September there was a shortage of pain killers. My oxycodone was delayed and the lady in front of me at the pharmacy couldn't get Percocet.
I placed a refill request on a couple of normal medications last week and it took almost a week for them to be filled.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Feb 15, 2024 4:50:22 GMT
Wow. I didn’t realize this was such a large problem I thought it was just a couple but from this it affects a lot of drugs it has also been going on for at least six months. This is crazy. It’s horrible that people are suffering because of the shortages. |
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Kerri W
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Post by Kerri W on Feb 15, 2024 9:31:13 GMT
My mom has taken Keppra for seizures for 15+ years. I would say more than 5 times a year, they can’t fill the whole Rx and have to split the refill. It isn’t an optional medication for her. I’m thankful she has family to help her navigate this because she wouldn’t be able to do it on her own. She has the added challenge of her seizures being the result of a TBI from a car accident so her car insurance pays for the medication and most pharmacies will not bill the car insurance.
We’ve always used a small local pharmacy because they’ll bill the car insurance and conversation with them has made it seem they don’t keep a lot of back stock because of the cost (it’s very expensive). I have wondered if cost may be an issue for some of the popular $$$ drugs and small pharmacies keeping them in stock. (Also realizing there have been production and supply chain issues)
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Feb 15, 2024 14:49:05 GMT
DS ADHD medicine is one of the shortages. I can only order a month's supply at a time now, and DS doesn't usually remember to tell me he's running low until he's at the very end of the bottle... So far, we've always gotten it on time, but it is very annoying. Can you do auto refills with this type of medication? DH is the worst for not filling his meds before he runs out. I'm not sure... I know DH gets a prescription mailed automatically. It's complicated because it's a controlled substance, and DS is 14 so I order from my medical online account for him which is different than if he were ordering it himself. I'll look into it... |
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Post by idahomom on Feb 15, 2024 14:50:52 GMT
I take Mounjaro for my A1-C and it has helped a lot. I love it so much more than Metformin which gave me diarrhea. I've had no side effects with Mounjaro - including weight loss! I could stand to lose about 30 more pounds (I've lost 70 on my own). I work out 5 days a week and eat very well and I haven't lost any weight with Mounjaro, which is really strange. I really want that side effect! It is frustrating when it's prescribed for a medical reason and we can't get it because people can also get it just for weight loss. I think I've only gone about a week without it though - it seems to always come in just in the nick of time.
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scrappinmama
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Post by scrappinmama on Feb 15, 2024 14:58:11 GMT
It's not just weight loss drugs. ADHD medication has experienced a shortage as well. And one of my sons uses prescription cream for eczema and it was back ordered for 10 days. It's frustrating for all involved. I feel bad for the pharmacists trying to deal with this.
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pantsonfire
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Post by pantsonfire on Feb 15, 2024 15:45:15 GMT
workingclassdog not sure if this would work for your sister but... If she is near a hospital and one that accepts her care teams, see if her prescribing doctor can switch her rx to them. We had to do that with a few of Ds medications because CVS was always not able to secure the meds, and for pulmonary hypertension you can not skip a dose. Nice thing was that the hospital's pharmacy was 24 hours so if I wasn't able to get out before 5 or 6pm to pick up a med, I didn't have to worry as I or dh could go at 8 or 9pm to grab it. Hospitals get first priority over medications and are a compound pharmacy which can be hard to find. Ds pulmonary hypertension med was a compound med. And when on medi-cal waiver they allowed his coverage there so we had no copay. She needs to speak to her social worker and team and let them know what is going on so they can figure out the best place and means of getting her meds.
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peppermintpatty
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Post by peppermintpatty on Feb 15, 2024 15:49:17 GMT
I had this issue with my Adderall. The thing to remember is that the insurance companies have the ability to reach out to all these pharmacies on your behalf to see if they have it. I have had Cigna and Aetna do it for me so I didn't have to. I haven't been having this issue lately but back in October it took forever for me to find some meds. I got Ritalin as a stop gap but it didn't really work but it was better than nothing.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Feb 15, 2024 15:49:36 GMT
Can you do auto refills with this type of medication? Not with a controlled substance Rx, which many ADHD meds are. They must be filled monthly, making it extremely difficult to stockpile any extra unless you are skipping doses. ADHD meds being in short supply is not a new thing as DD has been dealing with it for a few years. She has had to switch meds a few times. Lately it's been trial and error for her to find one that actually works for her and is readily available. I was on Ozempic for 10 months before I had my first encounter with shortages. My dosage is 2 mg. and in December I couldn't get it. The GP sent in a new Rx that is for 1 mg w/2 injections weekly. When I tried to refill that in January there was a shortage of 1 mg doses, so I had to switch back to the 2 mg Rx. So happy to have both options available to me. If anyone else is having trouble getting a specific dosage, talk with your doctor and see if this is an option for you. |
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peppermintpatty
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Post by peppermintpatty on Feb 15, 2024 15:50:22 GMT
DS ADHD medicine is one of the shortages. I can only order a month's supply at a time now, and DS doesn't usually remember to tell me he's running low until he's at the very end of the bottle... So far, we've always gotten it on time, but it is very annoying. Can you do auto refills with this type of medication? DH is the worst for not filling his meds before he runs out. Not for ADD meds. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 15, 2024 16:34:52 GMT
workingclassdog not sure if this would work for your sister but... If she is near a hospital and one that accepts her care teams, see if her prescribing doctor can switch her rx to them. We had to do that with a few of Ds medications because CVS was always not able to secure the meds, and for pulmonary hypertension you can not skip a dose. Nice thing was that the hospital's pharmacy was 24 hours so if I wasn't able to get out before 5 or 6pm to pick up a med, I didn't have to worry as I or dh could go at 8 or 9pm to grab it. Hospitals get first priority over medications and are a compound pharmacy which can be hard to find. Ds pulmonary hypertension med was a compound med. And when on medi-cal waiver they allowed his coverage there so we had no copay. She needs to speak to her social worker and team and let them know what is going on so they can figure out the best place and means of getting her meds. I will pass that information to her!! Thanks. |
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Post by sabrinae on Feb 15, 2024 18:17:30 GMT
I’ve had major issues getting what is likely the same drug. I am diabetic and it dropped my A1C in half. But more concerning to me is I’ve had consistent issues getting my daughters medications filled for her POTS and the manufacturer of her preventative asthma inhaler just quit manufacturing - they did authorize a generic and contracted out the ability to produce it - but it’s not on the formulary for pretty much any insurance company and so no one is covering it. I’ve also had issues getting her prescriptions filled for a variety of her other meds that she takes for pain management and migraine management. Some of which you can’t just stop taking bc of the side effects. It’s an industry wide problem. At least part of the problem is manufacturers just stopping production of the profit margin isn’t big enough even if the drugs have a niche market that otherwise isn’t served.
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