My insurance company will only pay for one month of my pain killer so in order

[Maraya1969]

for me to go away for a month, starting in 3 weeks, I have to pay full price ???? (My doctor ordered 2 months for the script)


That is so f$$$ked. I'm thinking about asking my doctor if he can prescribe something a little different so it will be looked at as a new script. They don't do this with other medications - I don't believe. I just think they mess with me because it is a controlled substance.

I am going to try really hard to cut down as much as possible again. I was able to stretch a script for 2 months in the past but recently my neck acted up and with pain going all the way down into my damn hand it is difficult.

I have creams, and traction devises and I even use my own cupping devise and some improvised acupuncture that I follow using online guides. I am definitely not just someone trying to get high.

But I do have an accentuated feeling of pain if that makes sense to anyone. I was dx'd wit Fibromyalgia and I think that has something to do with feeling pain more than usual.

[Jilly_in_VA]

1. Have you checked into

GoodRx, SingleCare, or Optum Perks? One of those could conceivably knock some of the $$ off so you wouldn't be paying full price anyway. I use GoodRx for one of my regular meds because it's cheaper than my insurance.

[tirebiter]

2. I recently had back surgery

For the post surgery my surgeon prescribed Xxxxx 10mg/325mg Tab. After awhile I didn’t need so much, it varies. So I downsized my request to 5mg/325 Tab. Realizing the variation in need I asked for it to go back to 10mg. That took a couple weeks but I got it back up to the 10mg level. I still do not have to take it all and can break the 10s into two 5s. That gives me the freedom to stretch it out without the red tape. Both cost the same. You know the particulars of your prescription. Do the math and see if it can be of help in your case. Good luck. I do recommend running your numbers by a partner.

[LakeArenal]

3. Where are you traveling. In Costa Rica my Tramol is over the counter.

[Maraya1969]

6. Portugal. I know that drugs are legal but I wouldn't want to buy something on the street

Of course if they have anything like our FL medical marijuana clinics that would be fine.

[questionseverything]

4. First of all I'm sorry you have to go through this

Typical government overreach, pain pill mills in West Virginia so everyone, everywhere has to jump through hoops.

My doctor wanted me down to one pain pill a day, basically saying, anything over that would bring scrutiny on both of us

I found cutting them in quarters worked for me, if I took a whole pill in 12 hours I was hurting but by taking a quarter every six hours (with tylenol) it’s all pretty comfortable

Good luck

[Phoenix61]

5. There is an override procedure for travel.

This is the one for Blue Cross Minnesota.
https://www.bluecrossmn.com/sites/default/files/DAM/2020-09/P11GA_15966497-Travel-Refill%20%20too%20soon%20override.pdf

Like so much if you don’t ask the question using the exact right words you can’t get an answer. I had no idea there was such a thing as “travel override.” I’m going to see if I can use it for my Claritan-D.

[Warpy]

7. In country or out of country?

In country, a refill will be honored by whatever chain your scrip is filled at. Insurance might even pay for it.

Out of country pharmacies will generally honor a legal US prescription refill, although you might need to visit a doc to get it rubber stamped (the odds go up if it's something like MS Contin). You'll have to pay for it but foreign prices are typically a lot cheaper than ours.

This came up for me when I was stuck in Florida for a few months when my dad died. I had no problem at a chain, they just called the local pharmacy to verify I hadn't prefilled the scrip. I've also refilled it in Mexico but had to pay for it. Oh, yeah, it was cheaper.