Running out of meds and need help

[mellie4]

I'm posting this here thinking this will be the best place to get some help.  I'm not an addict but am on many meds for chronic pain.

The last time I got my oxycodone script filled the pharmacy, Walgreens, didn't have enough to fill the entire script.  Because it was late on a Friday, I told them to just fill what they could and I would get a script for the remainder on Monday.  I sent the pain clinic nurse practitioner an email explaining what happened and then forgot about it.  She called on late Wednesday to find out about a cream she gave me and told me, "I'll mail out a prescription for the balance on your oxycodone."

I assumed I'd get the script in the mail either Thursday or at the latest on Friday.  Well, today's mail came, and no script.  Which means it will probably come on Monday.  Now I'm really worried about going into withdrawals.  It scares me to no end.  In addition, I have four kids that I'm responsible for, and I have no one to help me with anything.

I normally take 45 mg. oxycodone 4 times a day (3 15 mg. pills every four hours.)  I have 9 15 mg. pills left.  How best should I split these up through Monday to avoid going into withdrawals?

I have never run out of pills early and wouldn't have this time if they filled the prescription properly.  I also take 800 mg. ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours, 120 mg. Cymbalta for nerve pain (60 mg. in the a.m. and 60 mg. in the p.m.), 2 mg. Clonidine (1 mg. in the a.m. and 1 mg. in the p.m.), and a compounding cream that's applied 5 times a day.  I won't run out of any of these medications.

Please, please, if there's someone on here who get tell me how to use the last 9 pills I have.  Any tips are appreciated.

[JED1974]

I'm new to this forum but I've been taking about 50 mg of hydrocodone a day. had surgery a year ago and got physically dependent on oxycodone. I quit cold turkey and it was the worst days of my life. Lasted about 5 days. Took last dose on a Sunday and by midday on Thursday started to feel like myself again. As far as the hydro I've been tapering for the last week and have went 36 hours without a pill. Would I be experiencing any withdrawals by no going fron 50 to 10 in less than a week? Any thought or confidence would help. I know how I felt coming off of the oxy and I really think this taper has done wonders for me.

[DaveG77]

Hardly kc. Laws may vary state to state but my local CVS will do this. If they don't have enoughthey will partly fill a script then you need another for the rest. Just take halves for now.

Dave

[kc156]

Hi there.  I thought only us addicts worried about running out of pills. (small lol).   kc

[BaileenJoshuasMama]

i used to fill my pain pills at walgreens and if they didn't have enough they wouldn't even fill it for me.

[avisg]

What we are saying is we don't think its(of course one never knows but if I were you I would find out) legal for the pharmacy to alter the prescription .They have to either be able to fill it as prescribed or not at all. So I would want to talk to someone at Walgreen's.

I would take them as needed for wd .Thats about all you can do .

hot baths ,Imodium if you get diarrhea whatever exercise you can get helps as well.

[vicki595]

Hey~ I agree with Avis,Cathy,and Addict63.  Has the policy changed at Walgreens? I've had this happen to me and later got an e mail saying the remainder of the prescription was ready for pick up.   Maybe they've stopped that practice.
I re- read your post and it seems you agreed to this...

I think Avis gave you some good advice: so many pills...so many days...
Maybe the rx will come tomorrow...
Vicki

[mellie4]

I guess they don't "owe" me the remainder.  The fill what they have and essentially alter the script.  It happens fairly often, as my pain clinic wasn't surprised by it.  She actually crossed out the original number and wrote in what she gave me.  But this will never, ever happen again.  Either I get the whole script or I take it back and go somewhere that can fill it.  My other option was to wait until they could fill the whole script which would have been four to five days.  (It's a small town pharmacy.)  Maybe I should go to a bigger pharmacy.

I don't know whether to take one at my regular time (or a 1/2) or wait until I feel some withdrawals and then take a half or one.  (There is a possibility my script will come in tomorrow's mail, but if it doesn't I don't want to be sick.

I think also, from now on, I won't depend on the US mail.  From now on I'll pick up the prescriptions no matter how inconvenient.  (The pain clinic is about 45 minutes away.)

Also, maybe I should start taking some vitamins from the Thomas recipe, maybe that would help.

I know this isn't the right place to post.  You're all working so hard on getting off things.  This board has been helpful with me for my boyfriend, who's an addict (I think.)

Thank you.

[Addict63]

Why do you need a new written script if Wallgreens OWES you the remainder of the script you have coming?

This reminds me of when my drugstore ran out of vicodin. They didn't fill my script at all until the big vicodin truck arrived 4 days later and dumped a whole new load in the back. I started sweating it out immediately. But I waited until really bad WD stuff would start to happen, then I'd put out fires, spacing out what little I had left until my script was ready to pick up. It was uncomfortable, but nothing like what I went through when I finally decided to free myself and went through CT.
  

[cathy5841]

I was thinking the same as avis. There has to be more to it. My pharmacy has filled half a script n told me to come Tom for the rest. Makes no sense.

[avisg]

Also Walgreen's should not have filled the prescription unless they could give you the remainder .They should have given it back to you .I would not think its even legal for them to make it less then was the doctor said that is changing the script .

[IBKleen]

You said Oxycodone, right? NOT Oxycotin?

Oxycodone does not have a long half-life, if it has one at all. How much you are taking, how long you have been taking them, your age, your weight and your general health are all factors. I can only speak for myself and tell you that I was in withdrawal within hours (4 to 6) of my last dose from Oxycodone.

As it was mentioned, I suppose you could split them and do the best you can until Monday. Again, the ladies in the PM community would probably be more helpful.

[mellie4]

I've just never had anything like this happen.  I guess I thought maybe some would give me some advice.  I did post this also in the pain management section to see if they had any suggestions.

The pharmacy gave me the option of waiting four or five days until they could get them in (and I would have ran out) or to give me what they had and get a new script for the rest.  This pharmacy often doesn't have enough of 15 mg. or they run out completely.

I'm just not sure when withdrawals start.  Can someone tell me how many hours after your last pill it would be likely to feel the start of withdrawals?

I did call the clinic, but unfortunately my nurse practitioner and anesthesiologist are at a conference and won't be back until Monday.  No one else will fill the script (policy.)  It's rare for both of them to be out at the same time.

[avisg]

There are not any doctor here so we cant tall you how to do it but You have so many and so many days so you are going to have to split them up and do your best .I guess I am confused normally the pharmacy get the rest of them  and fills  the rest of the script did you call the pharmacy  and check.I don't know why you would get another prescription I think if anything that could cause problems.

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

We do not provide tapering schedules here as it is a violation of our guidelines.

If you can still call your doctor's office, find out if you can drive there and get the script.

Also, MH has a great Pain Mngt community. You may want to post over there and talk with those folks. They are very helpful. I have provided the link below.  Best of luck.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Pain-Management/show/53