trouble getting Vimpat ???

[lovemyladybug]

Is anyone else in the US having a hard time getting their Vimpat filled ? I ask because i went to transfer my scrips over today ( my grocery store has a deal where you get 25 dollars for every one you transfer to their pharmacy ) and the pharmacist told me that she would try , but they had only been able to get it in titration packs ( which i also found odd b/c i've never got a titration pck from the pharmacy the doctor always gave those to me ) they werent able to get the regular pills to fill an ordinary scrip , well my husband was going to pick them up on the way to work , so i wont know for a few more hours if they were able to get it or not ..... but in the mean time has anyone else heard of this ?

 

[Aicila]

I just started Vimpat and the first time I had it called in they said they were out of stock and had to order it. I didn't call any other pharmacies because it was supposed to be in before I needed it and that is the pharmacy I use. I'm not sure if that makes it US wide or just local. I'm sure there are more people in this area that are on Vimpat...

 

[Jeannie55]

I have to call the pharmacy 1-2 weeks in advance so it will be there when I need it. Even though they know I will be on this for prob. the rest of my life they can not or will not stock it in advance.

 

[lovemyladybug]

just what i figured , the store pharmacy wasnt able to get it , so i called it in at my usual pharmacy and they did like always and filled part of it , i have to go back monday for the rest , good to know it's not just me having trouble with it , does anybody know why we would keep having this problem ?

 

[Endless]

Vimpat doesn't seem to be on the current U.S. drug shortage list.

http://www.ashp.org/DrugShortages/Current/

However:

Q. Why aren’t all drugs in short supply listed on the Drug Shortage web page?

A. The CDER Drug Shortage Program focuses on shortages of medically necessary products since these shortages have the greatest impact on public health. The Drug Shortage page on the FDA website lists shortages primarily of medically necessary products. Shortages that are expected to be resolved quickly or which involve only a particular strength or package size, which has a substitute strength(s) and package size(s), are not usually the focuses of the DSP.

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050796.htm

Valproate (Depakote) in injectible form IS on the list. Could affect ER visits. Uh, oh.

There are reasons for the shortages:

Federal Food and Drug Administration officials say the shortages are caused by manufacturing problems, firms that simply stop making drugs, and production delays.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4371829...es-slam-patients-health-workers-surveys-show/

http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/drugshortages/default.htm


Two of the drugs I'm on are hard to get, too. My pharmacy usually gives patients a small supply (one week) while they order more. It's their way of dealing with the shortage.

 

[lovemyladybug]

Vimpat doesn't seem to be on the current U.S. drug shortage list.

http://www.ashp.org/DrugShortages/Current/

However:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050796.htm

Valproate (Depakote) in injectible form IS on the list. Could affect ER visits. Uh, oh.

There are reasons for the shortages:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4371829...es-slam-patients-health-workers-surveys-show/

http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/drugshortages/default.htm


Two of the drugs I'm on are hard to get, too. My pharmacy usually gives patients a small supply (one week) while they order more. It's their way of dealing with the shortage.

well now i know , thanks ! and thats what my normal pharmacy does ( did the same today ) but it's extremely aggravating to call it in and need it and have to go multiple times to get it ( my husband works aloooot of hours and doesnt have endless amounts of time to be running to the pharmacy , ya know ? )

 

[Endless]

I keep forgetting they owe me more, I call in to refill the prescription and insurance won't pay for more yet, and I'm upset because soon I'll be out of pills. Then I go in for something else and they say, "oh, here's the lamical and the diamox we owe you from your last prescription." Like DUH, why didn't they call me or at least TELL me when I called in for the refill? Other than this they are a great pharmacy.

Now that I know about www.healthwarehouse.com I worry less about running out without insurance paying. Lamictal is cheap enough for me to buy some. ($7 for 30 - 200mg tablets.) But I hate switching between generics. It sometimes means seizures for awhile.