Benzos Can any action be taken against a pharmacy that refuses to fill a prescription?

[xburtonchic]

Especially if not filling that prescription is dangerous to the patient's health? Ran out of room up there, sorry.

Anyway I'm on Xanax, 3 mg per day maintenance dosage. I've been under a lot of stress this month, took more than I was supposed to a couple of days, and I ran of out my prescription a week early. My addiction specialist's office is currently moving locations, so they're closed and he's unable to write me any prescriptions. So I was given the instructions by the on-call physician to go ask the pharmacy to "loan" me some Xanax.

Um. Yeah, okay. Because that's going to happen.

So since I'm not an idiot, I went to the After Hours clinic by my house... told the doctor there my situation... he wrote me a script for 9 pills of the .5 Xanax to last me until I could get a hold of my addiction specialist. So I take it to the pharmacy, and they refuse to fill it. They were sitting there judging me and shit saying "You should have some left." I kept telling them "Yeah, I'm aware of that. That is something I'm working out with my addiction specialist, I don't mind paying the full cost." They kept saying they wouldn't give it to me. I finally said screw it and went to a different pharmacy... not even the same type of store. But of course they asked me "Well, where do you usually fill your prescriptions?" So I told them, and they called the dumbass pharmacy I had JUST been to, and what a surprise. They refused to fill it. She just kept saying "I can't."

I just walked out of the store telling her that was bullshit and to read the poster behind her head that said by California law, I am entitled to have my prescriptions filled unless the pharmacist deems it "hazardous to my health". And the last time I checked, giving me NINE Xanax is not hazardous to my health. What's hazardous to my health is running out of Xanax, are you unaware of what happens during Xanax withdrawals, idiot pharmacists? Yeah, go back to fucking pharmacy school, kthnx.

So basically, I want to know if there's anything I can do about this situation. My friend was able to give me some Xanax to last me through Friday and yesterday, but I haven't taken any since around yesterday morning, and I'm already starting to twitch and shit, and I don't know what's going to happen if I have to wait five days before I'm allowed to take a Xanax. I mean, that seems completely detrimental to addiction treatment in general. The medical system is aware that this kind of shit happens. It's not like I was taking 20 pills a day and trying to get double scripts. No. I ran out, I'm not trying to have a seizure, and I'm just trying to get enough to kill any risk of that until I can see my addiction specialst. Who, again, is fully aware of what is going on and said it was okay to get a few more until I could see him. I know for a 100% fact that even if you run out early and the insurance company refuses to pay for it, you can pay the full amount instead of the copay. Controlled substances are not excluded from this issue. I have done it once before with my Suboxone, and I did it once before a little over a year ago with my Xanax.

So, if I have a seizure because of this... and keep in mind that my addiction specialist is aware of it, and that I had a WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION from a legitimate doctor that I brought into the pharmacy... am I allowed to take any action against them or what? They shouldn't be allowed to get away with that kind of shit and just not fill scripts whenever they feel like it. They're pharmacists, not addiction specialists. They're not any type of doctor. Their job is to put pills in a fucking bottle. And if they're not aware of what happens during Xanax withdrawals, they don't need to be working behind the pharmacy. And if they ARE aware, and they're still refusing a patient their Xanax so that they don't have any... idk. That just seems really unethical to me.

So yeah. Just wondering. Sorry for the angry undertone of my post.

 

[Pegasus]

Just go to a different phrmacy, say you don't have any regular pharmacy if they ask. Don't try to use your insurance or anything, it shouldn't be that much for nine Xanax... Just say as little as possible, and try to go to a mom and pop type pharmacy.

What happened at the second pharmacy? Why did they ask about other pharmacies? Did you try to use insurance?

 

[AfterGlow]

Sorry to tell you... but the pharmacy can refuse to fill a prescription. Don't expect any sympathy from them if they know you're an addict.
http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/consumers/consumer_tips.shtml#refuse_to_fill

 

[BrokedownPalace]

Just take the written prescription to another pharmacy, adn tell them you do not have insurance. Pay cash. Benzos are dirt cheap, nine xanax should cost you less than a cup of coffee from starbucks.

It is up the pharmacists discretion whether or not they want to fill something. I'm sure the added anxiety of benzo withdrawal is compounding your situation, but they technically haven't done anything wrong. Some pharmacists are cock-swabs, without a doubt, especially when it comes to opiates/benzos.

If you bring the written script to another pharmacy (not the same chain obviously), and pay cash, it should not be an issue what so ever. I've been in teh same boat and never had aproblem going somewhere else.

 

[heavyriffer]

That sucks man, it happened to me plenty of times. Either reluctancy or outright refusal to give me more even tho I had alot of Prescriptions left, cuz of same thing; taking too much for real legit Anxiety/panic or just to get a buzz. I don't know if it was my use of words or logic but when they did I would question what if I were to seize up or go into status epilepticus cuz i don't have my medication...they would usually fill it up i think cuz they know i was very concerned. But i do remember a few times i sort of gestered something like "well if something bad happens because i dont have my prescription do I sue you guys or what?" hahaha 8)

 

[lorne667]

^ No offense man, but WTF would you tell them about the pharmacy you just went to, knowing that if they talk to them they will refuse you??? LOFL, it is hilarious how addicts act sometimes. I mean I feel for you, but my mom used to have those same problems when I was a kid. She runs out of her opiates/benzos, then gets so fucking paranoid she blows it. Just go to another pharmacy, PAY IN CASH, no one will ever be the wiser.

And yes, they have the right to refuse service. Why do you think Wal-Greens is the only place I can go to get clean works???

 

[xburtonchic]

Just go to a different phrmacy, say you don't have any regular pharmacy if they ask. Don't try to use your insurance or anything, it shouldn't be that much for nine Xanax... Just say as little as possible, and try to go to a mom and pop type pharmacy.

What happened at the second pharmacy? Why did they ask about other pharmacies? Did you try to use insurance?

I tried not to say anything, but they asked a bunch of questions when they typed my birthday and name into the computer. Then they asked me, "Why didn't you go to your regular pharmacy to get this filled?" I told them I did, and that they wouldn't fill it.

AfterGlow, I'm not looking for sympathy from the pharmacy, I'm looking for my medication so that I don't have a seizure, I could give a fuck less about their sympathy and I also don't care if they know I'm in treatment for addiction. I have nothing to hide. It's not their job to judge me on that - that job is for my addiction specialist. Not the pharmacists. There was a sign right behind the pharmacist's head that said "By California law, you are ENTITLED to have your prescription filled unless the pharmacist deems it hazardous to your health or deems it unethical on a religious level." So. Since it's not hazardous to my health... quite the opposite actually... and I had a written prescription, they should have filled it. And I'm just going to ignore that religious bullshit because it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, religion has no place in modern medicine wtf.

Anyway. My mother is being kind enough to take my prescription into a different store... a mom & pop type one, like you said... and try to get it filled without having to give any insurance information. I am praying that works.

 

[xburtonchic]

^ No offense man, but WTF would you tell them about the pharmacy you just went to, knowing that if they talk to them they will refuse you??? LOFL, it is hilarious how addicts act sometimes. I mean I feel for you, but my mom used to have those same problems when I was a kid. She runs out of her opiates/benzos, then gets so fucking paranoid she blows it. Just go to another pharmacy, PAY IN CASH, no one will ever be the wiser.

And yes, they have the right to refuse service. Why do you think Wal-Greens is the only place I can go to get clean works???

That's exactly what I was trying to do... I never gave them my insurance information. They typed my birthday and name into the computer, because it was written on the prescription, and that's when they started asking questions. I was definitely not "acting like an addict" wtf... lol... I was sitting there talking to them calmly. And also, I'm definitely not addicted to Xanax. I would quit that shit tomorrow if I could, but my addiction specialist knows I've been on them for a long time and refuses to go lower than half a pill per month. I take them for anxiety. And you know what, something happened this month that caused my anxiety to go through the roof, and there were a few days I couldn't get through unless I took a few extra. Am I addicted to opiates? Yes. Well, technically not anymore since I'm on Suboxone. But I assure you, the Xanax is purely for my anxiety and has nothing to do with being addicted.

Also, I apologize, because I know I'm being kind of bitchy right now. I just don't see how someone can be allowed to let someone run out of a prescription if doing so can literally kill them. That seems ridiculously unethical on so many levels. Fuck, I've never had a seizure before... I don't know how my body and my brain will react to it if, God forbid, it happens. Pardon me for trying not to die, holy fuck. I am so fed up with the pharmaceutical system right now. Hopefully whatever my mom is doing will work. If not, then oh well, I guess by law I'm required to have a seizure. How cute.

EDIT: Mods, you can close this if you want. I got whatever answers and judgements from people that I needed, I suppose.

 

[Pegasus]

I'll close it now.

@lorne667 For future reference, please be a bit more understanding than "LOL addicts are stoopid"...

 

[BrokedownPalace]

^ No offense man, but WTF would you tell them about the pharmacy you just went to, knowing that if they talk to them they will refuse you??? LOFL, it is hilarious how addicts act sometimes. I mean I feel for you, but my mom used to have those same problems when I was a kid. She runs out of her opiates/benzos, then gets so fucking paranoid she blows it. Just go to another pharmacy, PAY IN CASH, no one will ever be the wiser.

And yes, they have the right to refuse service. Why do you think Wal-Greens is the only place I can go to get clean works???

Is your post directed towards me?