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Re: Difficulty getting Ativan (lorazepam) prescription fille
What a monumental hassle. Glad you were able to get it sorted out, but I am stunned that one would have to go through the DEA to get this sort of situation resolved.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Difficulty getting Ativan (lorazepam) prescription fille
That was so smart of you to contact the DEA and the Florida Board of Pharmacy. Now you have the ammunition you need to question a pharmacist's statement if it ever happens again. I hope that you register a complaint about the pharmacist who gave you incorrect information. It is up to the pharmacist to know the regulations and the class of drugs that are being prescribed.
Thank you for sending us the information that you posted.
Nancy in Phila
Thank you for sending us the information that you posted.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Difficulty getting Ativan (lorazepam) prescription fille
First, I want to say I am sorry for your struggle and I understand your frustration. I have taken Ativan (lorazepam) on and off for over 10 years. And have had to take it multiple times daily for the last 5 years. I had not had any problems filling my prescription until the last year or so. I also had not had a problem with my doc prescribing it until the last year, so much so that I've had to change doctors (I had been seeing for almost 10 years) and pharmacies.
Without Ativan, I couldn't function or sleep, but that did not seem to matter. So, I asked my new doc what the issue was. He told me that the governing agencies have really started to look at docs that prescribe Ativan and other benzos. With the extra scrutiny and the existence of abuse and dependence, doctors are hesitant to prescribe it and pharmacies won't fill except to the letter of the law, no matter the circumstances, because it's a controlled narcotic.
Unfortunately, it is a situation where the few who abuse the drug have made it harder for those of us who need it to get it. I have been made to feel like a drug seeker also, I needed to go out of town to take care of a sick parent and when I asked for the script to be filled early, by the doc and pharmacy I used for almost 10 years, I was denied. Even though they knew I wasn't a drug seeker. I was still denied. That's when I switched.
I wish I had a more positive answer for you. What I can tell you is to find a doc that understands your situation, and make sure he / she writes the script appropriately. That way, the pharmacy can't dispute the script.
I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck.
Without Ativan, I couldn't function or sleep, but that did not seem to matter. So, I asked my new doc what the issue was. He told me that the governing agencies have really started to look at docs that prescribe Ativan and other benzos. With the extra scrutiny and the existence of abuse and dependence, doctors are hesitant to prescribe it and pharmacies won't fill except to the letter of the law, no matter the circumstances, because it's a controlled narcotic.
Unfortunately, it is a situation where the few who abuse the drug have made it harder for those of us who need it to get it. I have been made to feel like a drug seeker also, I needed to go out of town to take care of a sick parent and when I asked for the script to be filled early, by the doc and pharmacy I used for almost 10 years, I was denied. Even though they knew I wasn't a drug seeker. I was still denied. That's when I switched.
I wish I had a more positive answer for you. What I can tell you is to find a doc that understands your situation, and make sure he / she writes the script appropriately. That way, the pharmacy can't dispute the script.
I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck.
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dep
Re: Difficulty getting Ativan (lorazepam) prescription fille
Hi Anthony.
I hope you are doing well. And, WOW! Very impressive research and information. I greatly admire your initiative and determination for finding and understanding the truth about this topic. And am very grateful for your sharing it with all of us.
Thank you very much!
As far as the other post about trying to sleep on dex, I am sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately, this is a very common problem with dex. If the Benadryl (diphenhydramine) doesn't work (it never has made me drowsy
), you might want to ask the doc if its ok to try over the counter melatonin. Again, doesn't work for me, but I have known many people who swear by it. Other non traditional methods are acupuncture or reflexology, with traditional Chinese medicines. But, again, before trying any of the meds, please check with your doc first.
Good luck and best wishes to all of you.
I hope you are doing well. And, WOW! Very impressive research and information. I greatly admire your initiative and determination for finding and understanding the truth about this topic. And am very grateful for your sharing it with all of us.
Thank you very much!
As far as the other post about trying to sleep on dex, I am sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately, this is a very common problem with dex. If the Benadryl (diphenhydramine) doesn't work (it never has made me drowsy
), you might want to ask the doc if its ok to try over the counter melatonin. Again, doesn't work for me, but I have known many people who swear by it. Other non traditional methods are acupuncture or reflexology, with traditional Chinese medicines. But, again, before trying any of the meds, please check with your doc first.Good luck and best wishes to all of you.
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dep
Re: Difficulty getting Ativan (lorazepam) prescription fille
Doctors prescribe, pharmacists fill. That's the way it works. Change pharmacists.
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Mister K
Re: Difficulty getting Ativan (lorazepam) prescription fille
Mister K,
Your comment about changing pharmacist really misses how it works in Florida. If I could have walked my script into another pharmacy, I would not have gone through last September the problems with the refill.
In Florida, when someone tries to filll a script and the pharmacist thinks that the person is a piller or worse, the pharmacist can flag your name so when you try to fill at another location, the pharmacist sees the info and denies it too.
Since September, I have had no problem filling my lorazepam (Ativan) because I contacted federal authorities and showed my doctor and the pharmacist the legal information about lorazepam. Now my refills are not questioned and I receive my refills with no problems. Many pharmacist place the lorazepam in the same class as the opioids or pain medicine that is currently a problem in Florida.
Your comment about changing pharmacist really misses how it works in Florida. If I could have walked my script into another pharmacy, I would not have gone through last September the problems with the refill.
In Florida, when someone tries to filll a script and the pharmacist thinks that the person is a piller or worse, the pharmacist can flag your name so when you try to fill at another location, the pharmacist sees the info and denies it too.
Since September, I have had no problem filling my lorazepam (Ativan) because I contacted federal authorities and showed my doctor and the pharmacist the legal information about lorazepam. Now my refills are not questioned and I receive my refills with no problems. Many pharmacist place the lorazepam in the same class as the opioids or pain medicine that is currently a problem in Florida.
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Aclinkboca - Name: AC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: Difficulty getting Ativan (lorazepam) prescription fille
Have your doctor give you a prescription for more than you need. Also, lorazepam comes in up to 2 mg per pill. Same price per pill as 0.5 mg. Federal law gets in the way because lorazepam can be used in bad ways.
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Smokey
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