Lack of communication between pharmacy and neuro

[Cint]

Okay..... I don't vent often on CWE, but I have to this morning 'cause I'm at the end of my rope. Back in December I wrecked my car because I had a break thru seizure. My neuro decided it was time to start a new medication, Potiga. Plus I had to remind her that my VNS battery was over 10 years old, and she thought that it was probably a good idea to have it replaced. I know it is time for a new battery! I had to remind her of that! So finally in mid-February I had a meeting with the neurosurgeon for a battery replacement of the VNS. He said that within two weeks I would be hearing from him about surgery. Well, it's been two weeks and I've heard nothing! And I'm out of Potiga and I called in a new prescription to the pharmacy on Wednesday. I went in to pick it up yesterday and my pharmacist told me they hadn't heard from my neurologist. So I called my neuor's office and they said they hadn't heard from the pharmacy. I was there at the pharmacy practically in tears because I know what can happen when you stop taking a seizure med abruptly. I've called around to different pharmacies this morning and nobody has it in stock and can't get it until Monday. So, if I go status......... they will hear from me!!!!!!!!!! I've been there before and it isn't fun. It nearly killed me and I am scared to death now. They will hear from me anyway.

What has happened to COMMUNICATION these days??!!

 

[Chaz1]

"nobody has it in stock and can't get it until Monday"


shit CINT, time to stock pile?

this is heavy, so sorry I am feeling speechless...

 

[Chaz1]

speechless yes, but hugs galore for our mentor...

xxxooo

 

[jyearta]

Can your pharm call around to other pharm. for you, knowing how important this is?

I ask this because this is what my phar. has done for me in the past.

 

[Nakamova]

That's terrible Cint. And it seems to be happening a lot lately. I hope you find a way to stay safe over the weekend. And I hope that the neurologist will get an earful from you on Monday.

 

[Cint]

Can your pharm call around to other pharm. for you, knowing how important this is?

Yes, my pharmacy did call around to other King Sooper's pharmacies in my area. And then suggested I call Walgreen's. So I did call Walgreen's. The pharmacist there called around to pharmacies and no Walgreen's has it in stock either because it is such a new medication. What the hell? :bigmouth:

 

[jyearta]

How manny time a day do you take this?

 

[qtowngirl]

i am feeling ya cint, so sorry to hear, it's a real bitch when unexpected. as vimpat is so expensive my med coverage will only allow a month at a time. i was a day from the end of january and called my pharmacist to get it ready, i'd be in by the end of the day.
HOW THE FUCK was i to know i was the ONLY one in a city of 30,000 people that took it??? he couldn't get any for 24 hours, shopper's drugs had never heard of it and neither had the two other pharmacies in town. my pharm said 'yeah, you're the only one, i'd never heard of it before your prescription either.'
so, call the closest city of 80,000 (thank god my bf works there), and ask around. most hadn't heard of it either, but the biggest one did and had enough in stock for 2 weeks.
i cannot believe it is so rare. i was pissed and SO worried like you, but chalked it up to 'hey, i am unique!!'

when they bring out new drugs they should account for how many docs are gonna prescribe it. idiots!!

 

[CathyAnn31]

Ack! Cint, that is scary. And shame on that neuro. I'm sorry you're getting the run-around and I hope it gets squared away ASAP and that you have no seizures in the meantime.

***hugs***

 

[Cint]

How manny time a day do you take this?

3 x a day

 

[jyearta]

It just shouldn't be this way....as if I'm telling you something you don't know.

I pray you will not have seizure.

Do you have anything like Valium, Dr. used to presc. this for me to use to stop when seizures closter.

 

[CQ:)]

Oh Cint,
That is terrible. I hope you can make it through the weekend ok & get your Potigo ASAP.

 

[valeriedl]

I try not to let myself go with out less than a weeks worth of meds. This way if there are any problems then I've got a while to go before I get it. Usually the pharmacy won't fill the pescription until I'm down to 12 days left of pills.

Luckily my pharmacy, CVS, is pretty good about things. If I bring in a pescription they usually know if it's something that they have in stock or not. If it's not in stock they'll have it the next day unless I take the pescription in on a Friday, then they won't have it till Monday.

My husband and I use the same pharmacy and they only times we've had a problem is when the medicine is something new. There was something that my husband was pescribed once that was new and they didn't have so he went from pharmacy to pharmacy and luckily one of them had it.

I know what it's like not hearing from dr's ether. If I don't hear from them when they say then I'll call every day, sometime 2 or 3 times, until they get back to me.

I hope everything goes ok, I'll be thinking about you.

 

[CQ:)]

Usually the pharmacy won't fill the pescription until I'm down to 12 days left of pills.

I'm not sure how it works with getting your scripts over there but when you get your script does the dr usually give you a certain amount of repeats you can use?

With my scripts for the epilepsy meds I usually get a certain amount of repeats, usually its 5 repeats. When I last saw the neurologist in September he only gave me the original script & 2 repeats because there 200 tablets in the Tegretol box so I would have plenty of repeats before my next appt which is at the end of the month.

Once the chemist fills my scripts they usually put on the script when I can get the script refilled which is usually approx every 3 weeks. For example the last time I got Keppra filled it was on 6 Feb & on the script it said *if needed before 27 Feb consult pharmacist*.

I try not to let myself go with out less than a weeks worth of meds. This way if there are any problems then I've got a while to go before I get it.

I'm the same.
I usually have 1 sheet (10 tablets in a sheet) left when I get my script refilled so if for some reason there is a problem with getting the script filled I still have some there to get me through.