how to obtain controlled meds out-of-state.

[kalynzoo]

I am assuming you are using a Class 2 medication. Every State is regulated by the laws of the individual State. Additionally, the DEA maintains jurisdiction over the dispensing of controlled medications. Part of the problem comes from enforcement that holds the pharmacist and the pharmacy liable for errors in dispensing controlled medications not written for a "medical necessity." Therefore, when you present an out of state prescription, or even an out of town prescription, if it turns out the doctor is operating a "drug mill" you are clear, because you received a prescription after see a MD, the MD may get a slap on the wrist by the Board of Medical Examiners, but the pharmacist and the pharmacy will be charged with improperly dispensing a controlled substance. Their license can be in danger, fines are huge, and criminal charges are a possibility. I receive monthly warning from the State, the Feds, and my insurance company giving me examples of current cases and warning me to be careful in my practice.
So what can you do: Work with your doctor, your insurance company, and whatever groups your doctor is associated with to establish a travel plan that will give you access to a physician in the areas you wish to visit. Arrange in advance to sent a copy of your medical records to urgent care centers so new prescriptions can be written. This is similar to the procedure you would have to follow if you needed dialysis or chemotherapy while traveling. It will make last minute changes in schedule very difficult, as you will have to be in appointed areas to see a pre-arranged physician.
I am sorry to say, if you were to enter a pharmacy I was supervising, even as clean cut, well identified individuals with an out of state prescription and a letter of introduction, I would not be allowed to fill the prescription. I would instruct you to drive down the road to the emergency hospital where you would have to wait a while, since your not having an emergency, to see the ER doctor to evaluate your needs and issue a new prescription. It really SUCKS, but an error on my part filling a non-authorized precription would cost me thousands of dollars in legal fees and fines. The legal fees would prove my intentions were honest and good, the fines are almost impossible to overturn, even if the courts find you innocent.
I hope my long explaination gives you some background as to why you are having so much trouble. The best suggestion I can give is to maintain careful advanced planning. Or, you can have your family physician write monthly prescription, then have a family member pick up the medication and mail it to you each month. Don't as the pharmacy to mail the Class 2 medication as they may not be able to and the knowledge that it is being shipped out of state may be enough to prevent them from filling your prescriptions.
Gary
Semi-retired California Pharmacist.

[WoodGlue]

Or, you can have your family physician write monthly prescription, then have a family member pick up the medication and mail it to you each month. Don't as the pharmacy to mail the Class 2 medication as they may not be able to and the knowledge that it is being shipped out of state may be enough to prevent them from filling your prescriptions.

This is about the best solution for Schedule II Narcotics. Just don't let the filling pharmacy know that they intend to send the meds out of state via USPS or UPS or FedEX, etc like Ron said.

It used to be you could take an out of state triplicate prescription into a CVS and have it filled. I always had my doctors business card and always asked them upfront to call the doctors office to verify. Nowadays, the triplicate prescriptions forms are no longer required - afaik. Doctors write the controlled substance alongside of the other medications on the same pad of paper these days.

The criminals have really screwed things up for the decent people!

WoodGlue

[jzick]

So what can you do: Work with your doctor, your insurance company, and whatever groups your doctor is associated with to establish a travel plan that will give you access to a physician in the areas you wish to visit. Arrange in advance to sent a copy of your medical records to urgent care centers so new prescriptions can be written. This is similar to the procedure you would have to follow if you needed dialysis or chemotherapy while traveling. It will make last minute changes in schedule very difficult, as you will have to be in appointed areas to see a pre-arranged physician.

This is what we had to do when DW needed these types of medications temporarily. We did not even think about changing plans during this time period. The suggestion to have a friend/relative mail the script sounds good, but is it legal?

[celler]

A C2 prescription (Paper) can be mailed into a national mail order pharmacy. These pharmacies are licensed to ship to all 50 states. You would need to give the mail order pharmacy a physical address ( Cannot ship to a PO box) and the med would require a signature upon receipt. You could change your ship address regularly. This is done about 3 million times a year by the company I work for. Your pharmacy bennefit would have to include a mail order option. The large mail order pharmacies are tied to a Pharmacy Bennefit Manager. I don't know of any cash option.

Good luck. I really do understand how tightly these drugs are controlled. I think in the next year the DEA is woking on new regulations that will let electronic prescriptions be used for C2 drugs. This willl get this process into this century of technology.

[llmrealestat]

We deal with Express Scripts for all our meds, including our Class 2 pain meds. They issue and mail 3 months worth at a time, but you can only get them refilled 1 time (for a total of 6 months' worth). We have them shipped to our mail forwarding service in South Dakota and then they ship them to us. We return to California once a year for check-ups and new prescriptions, but because of the 1 refill rule on the pain meds, I cannot take them as prescribed and must ration them to last the whole year.

[Hooligan]

Prescriptions can still be a problem even with chain pharmacies. We evacuated Pensacola prior to hurricane Ivan, went to a Walmart in Meridan, MS for Rx refill. Our records were not available because the Pensacola Walmart was without power.(So was our doctor). Went to sick call at the Naval Air Sta. to get meds...
(we now keep a longer supply on hand and use mail order)

[new rver]

we have a handy cap daughter she uses medicad they told us they don't follow her out of state.we have to pay co pay for meds.had no problem filling meds at wallgreen
safe travles bob,linda & missy

[Wayne M]

I agree with Selah on mail order. I have never had a problem filling a prescription via my two mail order pharmacies. But then, I do not have a high profile narcotic, but still some potent meds.

[Dog Folks]

WOW! I feel for the OP. Probably easier to get medical marijuana.