How annoyed should I be?

[Bernadine]

Feb 27, 2023 20:24:31 GMT -5 luckystar2 said:

Feb 27, 2023 20:09:28 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Yes! My H also called a couple of pharmacies that were like "we can't tell you what we have unless your doctor sends a prescription". Which puts a lot of onus on the doctor to keep sending prescriptions to random pharmacies, especially if they have a different dosage or type that would work if he knew they had it!

To make things extra fun our insurance will no longer cover brand name Concerta so even if that is in stock, it will be like 1k so we can't get it. God bless America!

Yeah I have lucked out that most pharmacies have told me if they have it in stock. But one told me they had it but she couldn’t tell me how much. Ughhh!! I’m not going to send it there and not get my full script when maybe someplace else has enough. I had one pharmacy not even bother looking and just said there’s a shortage so I’m sure we don’t have any.

FYI concerta has a savings program thing on their website. I looked into it cause one pharmacy had it but not the generic my kid takes. It still would be pricey for me but it’s something to look into at least if it does come down to that.

I’m realizing I was lucky CVS at least told me they had it in stock. Walmart wouldn’t.

[stemmie]

We ran into this issue a couple of times when DS was still in high school and on Adderall XR or the generic. At that time, the bigger issue was that 1) you needed a paper prescription and 2) sometimes only the brand-name was available and the pedi wrote for generic because the insurance would only cover generic if available so I would have to pick up a second paper prescription and return to the pharmacy before the brand-name got sold to someone else.

When he aged out of pediatrics, he started have a psychiatrist write his Adderall prescriptions. He was more open to writing a second prescription of short-acting Dexedrine or regular Adderall to have on hand to use as needed but suggested DS trial Vyvanse which doesn't seem to be impacted by shortages and pissy pharmacy techs in his experience. (he's older and takes care of his own meds now). Vyvanse is more expensive, but there is a patient discount program if you're on commercial insurance.

[twilightmv]

Pretty darn upset. My Dr has been extremely helpful getting scripts filled asap for both me and DS1.

[wanderlustmom]

Yes I think you need to move on too, we've had to leave from plenty of practices if they are not responsive. I know they need to have boundaries and rules but this is too far. So sorry you're had to deal with this for an important medicine

[mrsjuleshs]

My BF can't even find Adderall in stock anywhere and hasn't in weeks. Lasdt time,. he had to drive an hour away.

[sparkythelawyer]

Feb 28, 2023 9:41:47 GMT -5 stemmie said:

We ran into this issue a couple of times when DS was still in high school and on Adderall XR or the generic. At that time, the bigger issue was that 1) you needed a paper prescription and 2) sometimes only the brand-name was available and the pedi wrote for generic because the insurance would only cover generic if available so I would have to pick up a second paper prescription and return to the pharmacy before the brand-name got sold to someone else.

When he aged out of pediatrics, he started have a psychiatrist write his Adderall prescriptions. He was more open to writing a second prescription of short-acting Dexedrine or regular Adderall to have on hand to use as needed but suggested DS trial Vyvanse which doesn't seem to be impacted by shortages and pissy pharmacy techs in his experience. (he's older and takes care of his own meds now). Vyvanse is more expensive, but there is a patient discount program if you're on commercial insurance.

Vyvanse will be generic eligible in August and I am counting down the days :-)

[wanderingback]

Feb 28, 2023 9:09:18 GMT -5 @rebeccawelton said:

Feb 27, 2023 19:40:31 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Yep this is what happens when healthcare is run by administrators and becomes a for profit model. You’re forced to see a million patients and then policies get forced on us in regards to these things plus it’s impossible to respond to 25 requests per day when you’re forced to see a million patients. So frustrating.

What was really infuriating is she's been there like three times in the last few months. It's not like we're calling out of the blue and they haven't seen her. But it feels very profit-y (to your point) to have an appointment just to generate a referral. 

Yeah, understandable.
I certainly write referrals for people without seeing them, but I actually have a smaller panel of patients since I don’t work full time.
So some practices just have to put a blanket rule in place about referrals or if they have a triage nurse or advance practice clinician handle it that works too. But it’s really difficult for a doctor to see patients every 15 minutes and also respond to dozens of portal messages and phone calls without working 80 hours a week. So something has to give, there’s no good answers with today’s system. Doctor’s definitely don’t like working within that system either and are leaving the field. It’s shitty for everyone.