Rant

Rich221976

https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/current-shortages/drug-shortage-detail.aspx?id=1121&loginreturnUrl=SSOCheckOnly

Again, there is a shortage of Morphine 15 MG ER tablets. I had a post over at DSLR about this happening in November. I think it was in one of the WeekEnd Threads.

So I was due for my script on Nov 17. Could not get this filled anywhere. I had to conserved the medication so that I wouldn't run out.

Then we switched for a couple of weeks and then because I had my doctor send the script to the mail order pharmacy, I was finally able to get it delivered to me on Dec 31st. That was a month and a half that I had to wait for the pills.

I had the doctor send it to the mail order pharmacy because I can be placed on a waiting list. The other local pharmacy's require me to call them every day to see if it came in.

The other reason went with the mail order company is because if you don't have either a paper script or have the script sent to the local pharmacies then you can ask if they have it. This part I do understand because they want to prevent a robbery from happening.

What I think is funny is that other dosages are available. The whole point of keeping my dosage low is help prevent addition.

I did find out though that the amount of pills that a manufacture could make was changed from an annual amount to a quarterly amount to help prevent shortages. Then the decision was made to go back to an annual amount.

It's like stop changing the rules. I have to wonder how many other people can't get their medications because of this mess. UGH.

Now I am back to having to be careful of taking the medication and choosing what I can do and not do until I can get my script filled again. I need to get my iPad charged again so that I can stay connected since I am going to be stuck in bed again for a little bit.

I hope that script is filled soon. I have 11 Pills left to hold me over until I can see my pain doc again to get something different.

Somewhat-Reticent

Rich221976 As noted by px_eliezer_, this forum topic offers hope.
(For how much $? How fast?)
The well-entrenched opioid industry may respond to this threat …

Blackbird

Ever since the US Federal government began cracking down hard on all the pharmacies and producers who handle opioid-type products, the entire pain-med ecosystem has become erratic and constricted. Some pharmacies are only storing very limited quantities of such meds, others have elected to not accept such scripts period. After the big fines levied on pharmacies (eg: in West Virginia) and on producers for handling what is deemed "excessive" dispensing of such meds, there continues to be a great withdrawal of providers from the marketplace. Theoretically, this is reducing abuse of opioid-type meds... but in many cases, that is occurring at the direct expense of necessary pain-relief for legitimate patients. In many cases, there simply aren't alternative and effective pain-relief meds.

The irony is that many of these kinds of meds (or worse) are illegally pouring across our southern borders in far more massive amounts and hitting the streets. The better approach would be pain-contracts for legitimate patients with mandatory drug-screens and pill-count monitoring - not trying to constrict the domestic supply for legitimate patients.

Rich221976

I know that for my state they past a law a few years back that made it much stricter for both patients and doctors. I am under a pain management contract. I'm randomly drug tested. I think pill-count is also in my contract. I know it was with my previous pain management doctor. (Doctor retired and a new doctor took over the practice.).

My pain doc only will do electronic scripts now. No longer offers paper scripts. (Paper Scripts are still allowed).

I always felt that was backwards in the past. Since most doctors had electronic scripts but not for any of the major schedule medications. However, that is changing now. If they would have allowed electronic scripts in the past that probably would have prevented the forgeries and changing of scripts that were issued.

Wouldn't have resolved all of the issues, but would have helped. I also have to have my id scanned as well when picking up.

Blackbird

Rich221976 I know that for my state they past a law a few years back that made it much stricter for both patients and doctors. I am under a pain management contract. I'm randomly drug tested. I think pill-count is also in my contract. I know it was with my previous pain management doctor. (Doctor retired and a new doctor took over the practice.).

I think the problem is that the Federal pressure on pharmacies (especially chains) and suppliers continues nationally, regardless of whether the patient is under contract and screened. They all have been legally/financially spooked and are increasingly reluctant to even be involved with pain meds... or else they severely restrict the numbers of pills they will make or issue to avoid even looking like they might be too lax with controls. It's the Law of Unintended Consequences in action...

px_eliezer_

Rich221976

Within the last few weeks, the DOJ has filed big opioid-related lawsuits against both CVS and Walgreens.

These are like a deja-vu of previous charges alleging that the pharmacies ignored red flags etc.

It's very unfortunate that good people, innocent people, end up suffering because of some abusers.

Rich221976

Blackbird

I have to wonder if more of them are getting into trouble again. When I went to get medication today from Walgreens, I was able to see a sign for the employees that the pain meds can be filled on the 28th day. Plus instructions on where to store the scripts.

I have to wonder if they were accidentally filling some people scripts too soon and that's why they got in trouble again. I also know that they have to once a month do a pill count of their pain control scripts for the DEA.

They also seem to have stop filling the scripts as soon as they get them in. They used to fill mine on the day they received it and then set my script to pharmacist reviewing my script. Then on the date that it was due I could either call them or wait for it to be filled and pick up. The bottle would have the date that the pills came in because they are lazy to remove that one.

So they would make sure I could pick them up. They are still out o stock from the mail order, but without the ability to call around to find out if the local stores have it I am just kind-of stuck leaving it there since Walgreens will make me call daily and that's a pain the butt.

Sometimes the mom and pop stores have them, but the trouble is that they want all of your scripts transferred to them and I don't want to do that because it is much cheaper for me to get my regular meds from mail order. I can't even lie and say that's the only script I get since we have that data base here that they can pill and see where your scripts are being filled.

Most of the time now, I don't have to update the doctors on what meds I am taking now, because they download them from the database. I just have to confirm if I am still taking them or not.

Rich221976

px_eliezer_

I seen that as well. I think I am going to start emailing these companies and see what type of a response I can get about how long the backorder and processing is going to take. Since they are messing with people lives. Probably need to also write the government as well.

px_eliezer_

Rich221976
I think I am going to start emailing these companies and see what type of a response I can get about how long the backorder and processing is going to take. Since they are messing with people lives. Probably need to also write the government as well.

Would probably start with your two US Senators (one of whom just changed) and also your Congressman/Congresswoman.

(At the FDA itself, things will be in flux right now).

Rich221976

True and so would be the DEA as well.

Rich221976

Just got my first response so far. Gotta love no information but its a start.

px_eliezer_

Maybe some good news.

FDA approves first new type of pain medication in 25 years
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/30/health/fda-approves-painkiller-suzetrigine-journavx/index.html

FDA approves Vertex’s non-opioid painkiller, first new kind of pain medicine in decades
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/30/fda-approves-vertex-non-opioid-painkiller-drug.html

Vertex Announces FDA Approval of JOURNAVX™ (suzetrigine), a First-in-Class Treatment for Adults With Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain
https://news.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vertex-announces-fda-approval-journavxtm-suzetrigine-first-class

FDA Approves Novel Non-Opioid Treatment for Moderate to Severe Acute Pain
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-novel-non-opioid-treatment-moderate-severe-acute-pain
(Federal website)

px_eliezer_

Somewhat-Reticent

The man nominated (and expected) to lead the FDA, Marty Makary MD, a Johns Hopkins surgical oncologist. is not a fan at all of opioids.

So hopefully this new medication will get a fair shake.

Getting approval from insurance companies can be as much of a hurdle as the FDA approval.
https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/pain-drug-vertex-opioid-price-insurance-journavx/738856/

Rich221976

px_eliezer_

Yeah, it seems to take a few years before the insurance will cover new meds. Tomorrow morning I see my Pain management doc and will get a different script to hold me over this month. Sucks because I really don't like switching between two different medications.

minni

I long ago vented on a pain venue with my amateur graphics, such as the below, among others (such as EPA ignoring electroxins. Also eye-issues, stem-cells, vax-issues & more. What most intrigues me is Med Beds, though i assume if they existed in benevolent form, they were co-opted by nefarious interests by now. As always happens on planet earth.)
I guess you can call these "amateur medical memes"

And, BTW, there had existed a TEDx talk by an attorney who explained that it's only due to opioids that she was able to continue as a lawyer despite her acute back pain. Thing is, I can't find that talk anymore, and can't remember her name either. I guess she's been overshadowed by all the anti-opioid lawyers, displayed on search engines.

Rich221976

minni

Back during the last shortage, the one local news did stories about people not being able to get their pain medications. However, once people were able to get them again. They stopped showing them and went back to the narrative that pain meds are bad.

I haven't emailed/mailed to the local news stations yet. However, that is something I am thinking about.

minni

Rich221976 I wish i could remember the name of that lawyer who gave that pro-opioid TEDx talk. Have you ever read about her? I vaguely recall her saying she had to fly to Colorado to obtain meds. In today's climate, its very difficult to change the Overton window, once a critical mass of people have become propagandized. Yuri Bezmenov and others like him warned of such shenanigans. I have summarized articles from him, political ponerology, and others which i can paste if you're interested, though it may not quite fit within textbox restrictions.

Rich221976

I don't remember a lawyer but I do remember when people went across state lines to get their meds. My issue is a manufacture one. The companies that makes the meds are back ordered I did read something about changes being made that went from an annual count to a quarterly count, and that they switched back to an annual count since the plan didn't work.

This shortage started in November. I had a thread about it on DSLR under the weekday thread.

None of the local pharmacy's had it and I switched it to mail order. I was suppose to get it on November 17, 2024, but got it on Dec 31st, 2024 though mail order.

However, I wasn't able to get the January script yet. It's on back order again. The short list for Morphine got updated on January 16 with it still being on back order. Only this time, no dates have been provided on when it will be available.

Since this is a nationwide shortage, I wouldn't be able to get it from another state as well. I'm probably going to still get the morphine but it will be immediate release. Then hope the pharmacy has that in stock.

minni

Rich221976 Guess what - I finally found it! Her name is/was? Kate Nicholson and here is her TEDx talk (from long ago):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4vHSLeTe-s

It's hard to find so many things people need because alot of it is suppressed or relegated to bottom of barrel. So people just give up.

Y'know chronic-pain people ought to drum up a class-action with a lawyer such as Kate Nicholson, against the same drugstores (i.e. CVS etc.) or the DOJ, on grounds of pain, suffering, incessant suicidal thoughts, the works.
...likewise, patients of nursing homes who forbid taking patients outdoors to a fenced in garden, for fear of getting sued, should drum up the same type of lawsuit against whoever the culprits are that caused that state of affairs to begin with. Because you better believe, there's abuse happening in nursing homes that's way worse than the "chance" a patient would fall out of a wheelchair within their fenced-in grounds.

Shadow01

Rich221976 could you get your doctor to give you a short term script for 30mg with the intent to cut the pills in half as an emergency stash?

Somewhat-Reticent

Locally medicos dismissed protestations of pain with "Oh, it's all in your mind" for decades.
Until the legislature passed a "Death With Dignity" law permitting medically-assisted suicide,
( psychiatric review - by more medicos - required) to be implemented within 6 months.
Within 3 months, "candy-stripers" became drug pushers: "Are You In Pain?". A scary time.
Concerns of addiction liability came much, much later - in$urance actuarie$ need time.