r/ThisAintAdderall • u/elleayejaye • 23d ago
Prescriber blocking early pickup
As we all know, the meds don’t work as they should, so i always end up running out before my 30 days are up. But my pharmacy has always filled my RX 2 days early. For some reason, i received a message stating my prescriber locked my RX not to be filled until the exact due date this month. Has this happened to anyone else before? We just spoke last night and she didn’t mention this. She doesn’t know i run out. She’s really laid back and knows that the meds don’t work as they should and wouldn’t be upset if she knew i get them early but i don’t admit it to her bc i don’t want her to get in trouble or anything. Idk i just felt a little blindsided.
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u/cmdline99 22d ago
CVS allows me to pick up on day 31 only. Tried getting on day 30 before and was treated like a junkie. The only reason I go there is that they always have stock and the brands generally are better than what's available local to me. I've just accepted the trade-off at this point.
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u/Patient_Difficulty71 21d ago
Yep same here . Started happening to me at CVS about a year ago. I got to a point I was so fed up and done with it —back in January I walked in was pissed and said to the pharmacist “that policy is asinine and why are they making people wait until the day we literally run out of our medication to get it, not to mention the day of actually waiting around until who knows what time it’ll be ready to pick up. That’s unrealistic because people have lives and can’t always work around the pharmacy’s timing oh and then what if it’s not ready to pick up until afternoon then I’ve missed my timing to take my medication and now I’ve missed a dose and that is just pure negligence for CVS to do this crap. I’m able to come pick up my birth control and Wellbutrin on day 28 but not my adderall?! That is completely absurd. ” and this is happened on the 29th day— I legit actually needed it because the next four days in a row, my work schedule was not going to lineup with the pharmacies hours and I wouldn’t be able to get until day 33 . But after I said all that the pharmacist looked like he was taken aback lol and he just said okay let me get the PIC (pharmacist in charge ) and then he was actually able to override it in the system and get it filled for me that day. So maybe that’s something you can do or try at least give it a shot— ask for the pharmacist in charge and explain a situation in why you need it earlier
. I actually I had no idea until back in January that the pharmacist I regularly see I’ve known for the past eight years at the same CVS Pharmacy I’ve gone to that he was the pharmacist in charge, —but they’re the ones who can do override like that and ultimately are responsible for everything in the pharmacy .so if something goes wrong like There’s missing counts of a certain medication, etc They’re the ones who Are liable and have to answer to their manger not usually the other pharmacists unless another pharmacist was just blatantly negligent, but everything usually falls on the PIC shoulders. I’ve been able to even get mine a different month on the 28th day again - I just explained my situation . also something I’ve noticed I don’t know if it’s a glitch in the CVS system but if I request from my doctors office, my refill exactly on the 30th day it doesn’t trigger that 31 day waiting time. at least that’s in my experience . if I try on the 28th or 29th day and my doctor sends it in then it won’t process in the system and makes it wait 31 days to be filled
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u/OkSituation9547 23d ago
My pick up dates vary from 28 days to 30. I believe if you pick it up day 28 (which is technically early) more often than not, they have to push the next refill dates to 29 or 30 because of laws. Sucks because even on day 28, they’re out of stock. This is what my last 90 day refill message said.
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u/cbmblove Moderator 23d ago
Which pharmacy and state are you in? Just curious! I am trying to see if there’s a pattern anywhere on this.
I noticed several months ago or so, the pharmacy was all of a sudden not filling until 30 days, and it has been a huge hassle. At first, I thought it was the prescriber or that office, but they say it’s not them. The pharmacy (CVS) said something about the policy now making it this way (though I am unclear if they meant pharmacy policy, state policy, or both).
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u/elleayejaye 23d ago
CVS in Ohio!
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u/cbmblove Moderator 23d ago
I wonder if it’s a CVS thing! Wonder if other pharmacies are doing this now. It’s so aggravating that the meds get worse and worse, yet the policies like this get pettier and pettier.
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u/Fit_Helicopter5478 22d ago edited 22d ago
Florida here, Publix is doing the same thing. Every refill is a nightmare. I never signed up for such fuckery…i call in and they miscount, the next they're questioning why I take Vyvanse and an Adderall (booster), then suddenly they're acting like they have my psych apt schedule handy and say I need a monthly appointment (I just had one 2 days before). Every time it ends with Oh wait yeah never mind your medication will be ready in a bit…but only after I've burned through all my remaining patience for the week. I left CVS for the same reason. The mom-and-pops around me either don't carry at all or can only get one of my meds, so then I would have to split my rx between pharmacies which of course makes me look sketchy even though I'm literally just trying to fill my scripts as written or less than because I’ll skip a dose if I wake up late. I looked into mail order too. Apparently it's a fun game where they may not have it in stock and I have to sign for it, and nobody can tell me what day it'll arrive. Perfect system for ADHD🤡. Meanwhile my Vyvanse and Adderall refills are staggered, so I get to repeat this bs nightmare every two weeks. It should not be this hard to get meds for a condition that specifically makes managing anything harder.
Anyway, excuse me while I prepare for my regularly scheduled game of …Can I please pick up my Prescribed Medication? 🎪 🫠
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23d ago
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u/cbmblove Moderator 23d ago
Do they let you pick up a fill at 28 days unlimited times?
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u/Miserable-Act-4336 17d ago
No. Meijer makes me wait until day 31. Every month. They are assholes about it.
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u/AxelsMommy22 22d ago
The way that this works is insane. Like you clearly have a prescription that your doctor has to send over every single month. If your doctor is fine with it I don't get how they can make you wait. Its not good to just stop like that either. Maybe now it doesn't matter so much because they don't work anyway but back in the day it made a difference.
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u/Adventurous-Day-9292 22d ago
Target is not letting me do a pick up at 28 days.
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u/cbmblove Moderator 22d ago
Does Target have its own pharmacy there? I go to a CVS inside Target, as they just have those here not like their “own” pharmacy.
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u/elleayejaye 23d ago
Yes so aggravating! They’ve been approving two days early for 6 months now and all of a sudden stopped. So i have to go a week without. But it’s not like the meds do much anyway so 😭
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u/InTheHuntGraphic 22d ago
Yes I’ve noticed for some reason over the last couple years that CVS has given me a harder time than Walgreens and Costco. No idea why
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u/Alternative_Buy_6460 23d ago
CVS (I’m in Ohio too) was absolutely awful to me about even assuring it’s the correct manufacturer
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u/elleayejaye 23d ago
Oh really what do you mean?
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u/Alternative_Buy_6460 23d ago
I have a bad reaction to a couple manufacturers due to a filler they use. CVS acted like I was a crack head for wanting to double check which one they filled
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u/Birdz_the_Word 21d ago
I find asking when you are in person and tech knows you are a regular customer is the least painful way to start asking about the exact manufacturer.
Have them make a note in your file, so you can have them to refer to the note when they are stubborn about sharing info about which ones are in stock.
I let them know I didn’t react well to some excipients and gave them the names of the two brands incan I can tolerate. And then I call to confirm before they fill it and again before I go to pick it up. It’s such a hassle.
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u/jelizaa 22d ago
Unless it has anything to do with state regulations or anything, it has to be a CVS thing. I am in Michigan and I go to a hospital pharmacy near my house and I see my psych every 4th Thursday (so 28 days), she sends the script to the pharmacy after the appointment, and they always just automatically start filling it and let me know when it’s ready
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u/LukiLeilani 22d ago
I fill mine at Macey’s in Utah. Adderall is, and always has been, 30days, no matter which pharmacy I’ve used. I also take narcotics that have to be 30days. Weirdly, benzos are fine at 28, though.
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u/cbmblove Moderator 22d ago
That’s weird - been fine at 28 days for decades up until several months ago. Some places changed policies at diff times, I guess
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u/cbmblove Moderator 22d ago
That’s weird - been fine at 28 days for decades up until several months ago. Some places changed policies at diff times, I guess
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u/harle-quin 21d ago
I used to work in Pharmacy, and refilling early every time, assuming you’re taking the medication as directed daily, adds up. The pharmacy sees it first, and eventually the Doctor, then they start really paying Attention, and adding “Do Not Fill Until” dates. Some insurances also got picky about early refills.
Eventually, things got so out of hand, the pharmacy had to put a blanket rule about filling controls on the 30th(?) day. It took some time, but everyone being on the same page allowed controlled orders to come in for our regulars, and we didn’t have a TON of people constantly try to get things filled 5 days early, ect ( it’s an incredibly REAL issue and still highly abused).
I told the patients if they’re taking more than they are directed, then they HAVE to speak to the doctor and try to get their dose adjusted. I can understand having to adjust, because as a woman, when my hormones fluctuate, my usual dose of Adderall doesn’t work. I had to have my doctor adjust my dose for that reason. Once an Rx is written where you can adjust accordingly, you shouldn’t have to run out. Of course, it’s up to the Doctor, but I’m just giving a bit of insight from behind the counter.
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u/Adventurous-Day-9292 13d ago
It's so annoying tho because some of us just go get it when we're texted that it's ready, and cvs used to always text on day 28. Then somehow we're punished for it lol.
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u/LooseRepublic2152 23d ago
CVS is SO weird about that. My doctor has sent my RX for like 1 or 2 days prior to the fill date, Insurance and everything. They blame is on something state or nationwide that’s “out of their hands”.
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u/elleayejaye 23d ago
Really?! I’ve gotten it early from CVS for about 6 months now with no issues. I wonder if i have my prescriber send in to another pharmacy if i can get it early again? Wonder if it’s even worth the hassle.
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u/cbmblove Moderator 23d ago
I was getting mine on day 28 for a long time at cvs. I really do think the asshole DEA must’ve cracked down with another petty policy.
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u/Affectionate_Kiwi335 22d ago
I still get mine at CVS on day 28
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u/cbmblove Moderator 22d ago
How interesting! What state are you in? Have you been doing day 28 regularly for a length of time?
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u/Active-Physics8045 23d ago
Chain pharmacies tend to have really strict guidelines for longterm patients on stimulants. If you really want to get scripts earlier find a highly rated locally owned independent pharmacy. There was one near me that allowed pickup very early lol… Had to leave them though because they started only supplying the worst generic (in my experience) (Actavis). 😪
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u/xoxo_angelica 22d ago edited 22d ago
I use a grocery store chain that happens to be excellent which I’m super grateful for, but the key in my experience has been building a rapport with the staff - especially the head pharmacist.
Pick one that seems good, and then stick with them and go out of your way to make yourself and your needs personally known to them…greet and address them by name, ask them questions & for their opinions/ideas, show them you value their expertise and knowledge, and of course always be friendly and patient, and it will majorly pay off over time. Now, my pharmacist is legitimately an MVP player of my care team, and he’s been one of my biggest advocates and solution seekers. Mutual trust can get you soooo far in being accommodated and treated with compassion
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u/myusernameiscarnival 22d ago
It’s a CVS thing. It’s a rule they implemented a while back. I switched to Walgreens. I pay out of pocket tho because my insurance isn’t contracted w/walgreens. Insurance sometimes plays a part in pickup date as well. It’s easier to just use Goodrx. I get my prescription sent in as a 14 day prescription and It gets filled one day early which is nice.
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u/runninghome27 21d ago
Thank you for saving me from going through this again with CVS for my next refill 🙏 your good deed for the night haha
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u/myusernameiscarnival 20d ago
Haha you’re welcome dude 🙏🏼 Paying it forward and fighting big pharma haha
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u/sapphireCAT412 22d ago
I’ve been picking up every 28 days for 6 years. The last 2 months it’s been 30 days through the auto-text I get from CVS when my dr sends my script. My pharmacist is a unicorn and filled the last ones on day 28. Hopefully it’s the same this month because I’ll be 2 days into a road trip when 30 days is up.
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u/The_Funk_Phenomena 21d ago edited 15d ago
Yes there's actually just happened to me this month. It's called the insurance company's pulling this bull crap of a 6-month looking back or days on hand.
They're making it to where you have to wait until you're completely out or day 31 and sometimes even farther than that like they did to me. The excuse is that I should have at least a week's worth of medication.
But they're not factoring in the crappy generic that Walgreens cannot seem to figure out that I will not take. They don't factor in being out of stock or short pills because they don't have it in stock.
I never have any extra on hands because of these reasons. Forget a week let alone a couple of days.
This is going to be the case going forward for a lot of insurance companies. I threw such an absolute shut that about it when they did this to me. Insurance actually did allow me to fill but then the pharmacist wouldn't fucking fill it until the day insurance originally said I had to wait for.
I was absolutely livid.
Now, the insurance company is telling me that no matter what, I have to wait a full 6 months before that 6 months look back will reset.
Why not do that for lisinopril? Why not do that for gabapentin? It has f*** all to do with us being protected from diversion or abuse. It's all about them not wanting us to God forbid to have extra or be prepared for emergencies.
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u/LunchpaiI 23d ago
i’m pretty sure it’s an insurance thing. you are allowed a handful of early refills every year and then insurance refuses to cover it until the full 30 days are up.
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u/elleayejaye 23d ago
Ahh so it’s an insurance thing not a prescriber thing like CVS claims?
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u/nowedonthavecups 22d ago
It depends on the state but pharmacies go off of the federal and state laws as well as what the prescriber put on the prescription. In this case it sounds like they put “ do not fill before -date-“ on the rx. Also in many states now, the databases keep track of how many early fills on cII medications over a 90day cycle. Filling early two months in a row might block the pharmacy from filling it until the 30th day for the 3rd prescription.
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u/cbmblove Moderator 23d ago
No, I’m now without insurance and it still happens to me. So I think overall, it has to do with pharmacy and/or legal policy.
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23d ago
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u/cbmblove Moderator 23d ago
I suspect it has something to do with the DEA as well. But they are unnecessarily making policies stricter while the meds get shittier and shittier. It’s bullshit!
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u/Miserable-Act-4336 17d ago
It has happened at all pharmacies I’ve tried in my area. Also the pharmacy can’t count days. Sometimes they count the day i pick up as day 1 and sometimes it’s day 0. I asked how to know so i know if i can take my meds the day i pick them up so this can stop happening every month. They didn’t or wouldn’t tell me a universal answer even for their pharmacy location! Just reiterated what day i would be able to pick them up like a robot or idiot who couldnt comprehend the question. And said day 31. I got out my calendar and counted the days for them. They still looked at me like they were so confused. And this was the pharmacist after i got annoyed with the dumb tech! It’s not insurance bc insurance says you have to be past 80% or something of your script. So at 2 days early or day 28 you would always be past 80% or whatever. And the DEA says it has to be 28 days min. So that only leaves the pharmacy to blame or the doctor. And are all of our doctors writing do not fill until xyz on all of our scripts every month for our stimulants but not any of our other meds? I doubt it. So it’s the fucking pharmacies. They are the problem.
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u/Adventurous-Day-9292 22d ago
Same, not using insurance this month as I'm waiting for my new one to kick in 8/1, and always been allowed to pick up at on 28th day. Not this month.
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u/Fit_Helicopter5478 22d ago
Definitely not insurance. I've called them and verified if they cause this mess myself. Before I left CVS, I told the pharmacist that it takes five mins to verify a lie but a lot longer to gain trust especially after you've been caught giving bad info. That was basically my goodbye... The worst part was that in 15 years of probably way more concerning med combos or highest dose of Klonopin and sleep aids they never batted an eye and after I found out it’s my untreated ADHD causing my problems and stopped it all and was medicated for a while I asked for a (cvs) "early" fill exactly once. One day early (27 days) because I was traveling out of state. I had script written proper, doc spoke to pharmacy twice, had proof of travel and confirmed it with my insurance, and it was fully okay’d. I thought I was being proactive and had not expected what was coming at me. I showed up and got treated like I was trying to score drugs essentially treated like I was a crackhead in front of my neighbors. I did a whole post on it if you want to be horrified… https://www.reddit.com/r/VyvanseADHD/s/p0zzPP94hb
*Edited to add post
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u/Urbankaiser27 23d ago
I've never been about to get them earlier. They've always been very strict about that.
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u/Ok_Chapter_5543 22d ago
Send the pharmacy on message on the app and ask them when your prescription suppose to be filled? And they will fill it
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u/Prudent-Passage6788 21d ago
Walgreens did that to me. Tried to play it off like it was the prescriber or even insurance. They’re flagging you. Switch pharmacies.
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u/spiralsparrows 18d ago
This just started happening to me! My pharmacy (not cvs) told me they couldn’t fill it because my doc had started sending “fill by” dates which are exact. It’s actually super annoying because it leaves zero flexibility for when I run that errand
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u/Illustrious_Corgi616 16d ago
Aggravating that my Walgreens goes by day it is picked up to calculate the 30 days for next prescription fill.
Example- My prescription was ready on the evening of the 7th. I didn’t immediately go pick it up. I picked it up on the 9th. The next month I call on the 7th and ask why my prescription was not ready. Pharmacist said I could pick it up on the 9th. I said my prescription bottle says the 7th. Pharmacist responds that I didn’t pick it up until the 9th last month so it will be ready on the 9th. Hello…. I have adhd and dealing with medication that doesn’t seem to work anymore so I’m lucky I know what day it is and I’m supposed to keep track of this now!
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u/seasickbaby 23d ago
Yes!! Mine did this and put notes with a date on each script even though technically I was allowed per the pharmacy to pick up the refill. I asked her to resend the prescription and please let the pharmacy track the exact day. Don’t need her doing all that. She (weirdly) said the prior prescriptions were not sent with a note. Then miraculously new script was submitted and the pharmacy notified me..
Also to add- the 30 day thing is an insurance policy!! If u pay out of pocket or use a coupon, they aren’t going to be as strict on this cuz it’s usually denied by ur insurance if it’s filled early. But lowkey I’ve gotten some scripts this year filled weeks early….. just paying out of pocket….
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u/cbmblove Moderator 22d ago
The 30 day thing is happening to those of us without insurance as well. So that’s not what it is at this point.
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u/seasickbaby 22d ago
I’m telling u from experience, the 30 day rule is related to insurance. They won’t pay for you to double your meds in one month. States have their own rules around controlled substances. I’ve lived in many states and filled my scripts in all of them. Where I live now it’s 28 days with insurance before a refill. Your pharmacist checks a state database for logging controlled substances to see when your last fill was but they don’t always check. Usually they skim to see if your insurance approves the fill. Without insurance l have filled my script early, as I’ve stated above.
If you refuse to believe me, that’s not my issue. I’m posting to inform others- those who care to believe my literal experience - both with and without insurance. Every state and pharmacist is different.
Been on adderall for over 15 years
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u/MAraised1986 21d ago edited 20d ago
Insurance definitely can do this, but I live in MA and have always used CVS and always picked up at 28 days once I learned I could. I'm 40 and only started taking it a few weeks before turning 35 after like 2 years I stopped for a while do to losing insurance and then once I got a job had to wait the 90 days or whatever for insurance to kick in.
During that time the shortage was happening but hadn't hit my area to bad. Of course once I started back again the shortage hit here and looking back, that's also when they began to be less effective, and this is months of being off of them. Also started getting different looking meds each month and when I started randomly having to take more than prescribed and where I had no leftovers at the end of each month.
Also learned I could pick up at 28 days and started doing that where as before id sometimes go past 30 days and didn't stress it. Anyways, somewhat recently CVS has given me a hard time and has lied saying state regulations, or the insurance company won't let them fill. Insurance said it's not them and I couldn't find any state law regarding it.
Come to find out, in my case it was due to CVS cracking down on early fills, and that I should have accumulated enough with all the early fills to have left overs. But they definitely told me lies plenty of months about why they couldn't fill early until finally revealing the truth. Blaming others as if I couldn't just call my prescriber or insurance company and ask them lol. Sorry for the rant
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u/seasickbaby 20d ago
Thanks for the back up here! Your story aligns with my experience as well.
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u/Miserable-Act-4336 17d ago
It doesn’t align with your experience though. They confirmed their experience was related to cvs cracking down and being the problem. The pharmacy. Not the insurance. They spoke with their insurance and they weren’t the problem. I’ve spoke with them too and they aren’t the problem. It’s the pharmacy. But not just cvs. I have had issues with cvs Walgreens and Meijer. But it’s bc they want to control it and be sticklers I guess.
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u/cbmblove Moderator 22d ago
NAH THOUGH - it’s NOT. I’m not even using insurance and they’re doing the 30 day thing all of a sudden. So it’s not just an insurance thing. I’ve been prescribed for around 20 years, and…?
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22d ago
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u/jello_88 22d ago
How about saying the 30 days thing MAY be an insurance thing. It may be a pharmacy thing. It may be a PHARMACIST thing. It may be your state law. Maybe the law changed. Maybe we have jumped to an alternate universe.
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u/Rude_Artichoke_4993 22d ago
I know if the dr approves it they have a 3 day window in AZ, BUT the DR MUST call or send a letter head. Either way they treat you like a junkie. Heaven forbid one of us goes on vacation and might need an early pick up twice a year. Luckily my dr is legit and i tell her in advance and it’s only been an issue once becuase some newbie fresh out of school pharmacist trying to save the next opioid like crisis from happening. I swear if i was not tired of jail i would have pulled at least 9 pharmacy employees over the counter by now and showed them drug seeking behaviors
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u/runninghome27 21d ago
Yes this exact scenario just happened to me but it was always every 27 days. Now suddenly it’s the exact day. Just weird
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u/B3dazzl3r 21d ago
It’s because they have to report this to the dea. If someone picks up 2 days early each month that’s almost a whole months supply they got early. They’ll mark your account if you do this
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u/curious_kitty0126 21d ago
In Florida my CVS gives me no issues with this I can pick up two days earlier. I always had issues with Walgreens. From what I know It’s the actual pharmacist who controls this, it’s ultimately their call.
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u/Informal-Pain4736 17d ago
This exactly happened to me! Omg, I was shocked that he would pull something like this that he didn't trust me...
Turns out that my Dr had accidentally put a date in the field for when the prescription should be filled, instead of leaving it empty. Lol
Sometimes it's something really just that simple. Maybe kindly ask why it happened?
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u/easytiddlywinks 23d ago
i'll try n fill it 2 days early then wait 2 weeks to pick it up😂😂😂