Tramadol woes and happy pharmacist

[freespirit114]

Last month my state reclassified tramadol as a scheduled drug. I believe schedule III. I take this for a chronic on again off again pain condition. My doc was great about it and wrote me a new rx to bring to the pharmacy after the change. I last filled it about 2 months before.
So I go to the pharmacy to drop it off and have this conversation with the tech-

Me: Hi, I still have refills on an old rx for tramadol but my doc gave me a new one and said you'll have to cancel out the old one.
Tech: Yup, due to reclassification we need the new script. Most insurances also pushed back refill dates so let me just check.
Me: That's fine, it should be ok, last filled 2 months ago. I'll be back in a few hours, please call if there are any problems.
Tech: (goes back to speak to pharmacist comes back) Hey, I just need ID and we'll get this done for you right now, 5 minutes maybe.
Me: Really? Wow, thank you so much!!!!!
Tech: No problem, so far today we've been screamed at at least 10 times about this change, you are the first to have it together. Glad to help!

And less than 5 minutes later I'm out the door. Moral of the story is it always pays to be ready. Pharmacists hands are tied when it comes to this kind of thing so I have no idea why anyone would yell over it. Made my day to make their day! It's my new favorite location of this chain.

[XCashier]

Moral of the story is it always pays to be ready.

And polite. How many of us are more willing to bend the rules for nice customers than mean ones? Since you were nice, understood the rules change and had everything together, you got top speed service.

[Shyla]

That was actually a federal change I think. Being nice will get you a lot further as we all know here. Pharmacists are being yelled at all over because of the new classifications.

[freespirit114]

True. I just don't understand why people are blaming pharmacists and getting mad at them. They simply can't do anything about it. Most decent doctors like mine should have known and had new scripts for their patients.
Off topic a bit does anyone know why the new regulations? I know it's likely because of the abuse potential but I've used it on and off for years and stick with it when needed because it does not make me feel "high" like true opiates do.

[freeatlast]

The last prescription given to me for Norco had 5 refills. When I tried to call in a refill over the weekend the system told me it could not be refilled. When I went to pick up my other prescriptions I asked the pharmacist. He said that I would be able to get my 2 remaining refills, but any future prescriptions for this pain pill would have to be handled under those guidelines.

[wolfie]

Just curious, but for any pharmacists/techs out there, was your employer pro-active with the 2 recent hydrocodone/APAP blend pill (e.g. Vicodin) changes? Specifically, keeping track of which doctors prescribed the medication dispensed at your location, and informing them of the upcoming changes (APAP quantity decreased - what to write for the transition period where you might have only old formula or only new formula available, and before the 3->2 switch letting them know that they have written refills that can't be dispensed due to the "don't fill before" date being after the change, so they need to get their patient a new prescription that meets C2 standards).

[Seshat]

I don't know why Tramadol is on the restricted list; but it's on the restricted list in Aussieland as well.

Here, it's not the same classification as the severe opiates and opiods, but it's on the 'any doctor can prescribe it but you gotta have a good reason' list.
Some of the other drugs can only be prescribed a pain specialised doctor, or someone like a surgeon, cancer-specialist doctor, and other docs whose patients are inevitably in severe pain: Tramadol's not in that category.

Yes, I know there's a technical term for the categories, but I'm brainfarty tonight and this makes the point.

[Cazzi]

It's restricted in the UK too.
Didn't take me long to get used to having my Id ready when I went to collect my prescription

Poor pharmacist last week though must have been on autopilot, almost had to remind her I needed to sign for my meds.

[XCashier]

I just don't understand why people are blaming pharmacists and getting mad at them. They simply can't do anything about it.

Same reason they yell at cashiers over store policies; the customers don't like the policies, but don't care enough to actually talk to the people who make the policies, so they bully the frontliners instead.

[Cooper]

Yeah, I believe it's a federal change. I'm running low on my tramadol prescription, but it's starting not to work well for me anyway, so I might have to change pain meds again.

Funny thing is, I was prescribed tramadol after saying: "I need pain medication better than aspirin, but I've been on vicodin before and it gets me high. I don't want to regularly be high." And it works. Tramadol doesn't get me high.

[Lady Legira]

It's restricted in the UK too.
Didn't take me long to get used to having my Id ready when I went to collect my prescription

Poor pharmacist last week though must have been on autopilot, almost had to remind her I needed to sign for my meds.

Yeah, mine nearly forgot when I picked up mine on Friday and it had a large red sticker on it to say!

[Tama]

I'm betting most of the screamers are addicts.

[Seanette]

That would match my experience when I worked in a call center that dealt with Medicare prescription coverage. The diabetics, high blood pressure, etc., patients I dealt with were generally very courteous to me while seeking my help with problems with their prescriptions.

The patients with oxycodone/hydrocodone/similar addictive narcotic that either commonly gets used for recreation or has street resale value were MEAN. I remember getting a personal threat at least once because the insurance company and the pharmacy were obeying Federal law about early refill/prior auth/etc. (sigh)

[Food Lady]

I figure if I've been getting refills for a while or if the script is a year old, I should see my doctor anyway. That way I will know about stuff like this. It comes down to taking responsiblity for my health and making sure I'm communicating with my doctor. I don't know; maybe some people can months without seeing their physicians and refilling scripts, and it's fine for them. I like for my doc to know what's going on.

[Sapphire Silk]

True. I just don't understand why people are blaming pharmacists and getting mad at them. They simply can't do anything about it. Most decent doctors like mine should have known and had new scripts for their patients.
Off topic a bit does anyone know why the new regulations? I know it's likely because of the abuse potential but I've used it on and off for years and stick with it when needed because it does not make me feel "high" like true opiates do.

Tramadol does have a potential for abuse. It can also cause seizures in some people.

However, it is only a Schedule IV (it was schedule V). Oral prescriptions are still allowed, as are up to 5 refills in 6 months, and the prescription is valid for 6 months. Honestly, it shouldn't be affecting people much at all.