Controlled drugs away from home

[Tom & Diane]

We are hard core full timers; we don't sit still longer than 3 - 4 weeks. Before retiring I had two failed back surgeries that have left me on a very "controlled" prescription pain drug (Oxycontin), this medication cannot have more than a 30 day supply, with no refills allowed. This means, I need a new prescription each month. I have the greatest Dr., he will mail my prescription "pre-dated" to allow for the mail transit. I have had no problems with this system, except Texas, California, and I believe (New York or New Jersey). Those states only accept a prescription written by a Dr. from that state. Try getting a Dr. that doesn't know you, to write a script for 120 pills of Oxycontin (I take 6 a day). By the way, these pills can be sold on the black market for $200 or more per pill. Does anyone have a better system or know of a different way to accomplish this? Each month, I worry that something will happen, and I will not get the refill. Stopping this medication abruptly can result in very nasty withdrawal issues or death.

[Tom & Diane]

We are hard core full timers; we don't sit still longer than 3 - 4 weeks. Before retiring I had two failed back surgeries that have left me on a very "controlled" prescription pain drug (Oxycontin), this medication cannot have more than a 30 day supply, with no refills allowed. This means, I need a new prescription each month. I have the greatest Dr., he will mail my prescription "pre-dated" to allow for the mail transit. I have had no problems with this system, except Texas, California, and I believe (New York or New Jersey). Those states only accept a prescription written by a Dr. from that state. Try getting a Dr. that doesn't know you, to write a script for 120 pills of Oxycontin (I take 6 a day). By the way, these pills can be sold on the black market for $200 or more per pill. Does anyone have a better system or know of a different way to accomplish this? Each month, I worry that something will happen, and I will not get the refill. Stopping this medication abruptly can result in very nasty withdrawal issues or death.

[MMouser]

Get off the OXY. There is NO reason on earth that this is the only pain killer that will work.
I have survived three Spinal Ops. Between C2 thru C6. Still need a knee and hip and yes there is constant pain. Still I have never had a OXY, which goes for $20 plus on the street accept maybe 90210.
Change to Vicadin or Percaset, etc. This will make it easy for monthly renewal through my favorite and easiest for travel in the 49, WALGREENS.
You know the reason Oxycotin is on the top of the list. Highly addictive with a high street demand. Vicadin and others are made up of the same pharmacitical but the dosage and form of admit istration make it favorable to abuse.
If you are taking six a day and that is just fine by me, however for the rest of your organs it may be time to look
into an alternative pain managemt form. If you just like the Oxy's you will have to jump through the various hoops.
Personaly I take nine pills daily but manage the pain relief to save my liver and kidneys.
GOOD LUCK your situation and desires have built in travel hastles.

[hondo122]

Do you see a pain Doc or an Ortho. Pain docs can work with a mail order Pharmacy. Mine are mailed monthly for up too 3 months then I see the Doc again Hope all works out. Mouser there are reasons to take the Oxycotin over the percocetes and vicodan. I spent many months working out a program that worked for me.

[MMouser]

PERCOCET and OXYCONTIN have the same identical active ingredients. It is OXYCODONE.
There are variations on the Percoset pills and tabs, oxycodone plus this and that. They vary from 1.5mg to 10mg.
OXYCONTIN means Oxycodone in a Continuess release form. It comes in 20mg to 80mg and up to 2001 a 160mg. dose.
Crush a 20mg Oxycontin and it now has the same instant active ingredients as two 10mg. Percocets.
Yes there are reasons for everything. Doing re search will help keep many from getting caught in
the med trap.
I know to many 60 plus med abusers who know everything about everything. Unknowingly doing permanent damage to organs.
Please, I do not which to tell any member what todo or not. I do want to make all awAre to be careful.
There is no free ride.

[Tom N]

My doctor, he's my neighbor, will not give me anything stronger than Darvocet.

-Tom

[Jackm]

We've been full-timing for five years now and all the while, I take 90 mg/day of methadone for a botched spinal fusion. I've been on opiates for 19 years now and have used every trick in the book to stay supplied.

The drug has enabled me to have a semi-normal life which is just fine with me and my family. If I need to go some time without seeing a pain management physician, I cut back for a few months to build up a buffer. In other words, I use less and then use the ones I save for life on the road when there's no way to get it. Some people use two doctors. That way, they get two scripts and then use the extra to get by when they're on the road. Other folks try to get more pills prescribed than they really need. Then they use the extras to fill the gaps.

The bottom line is this. If you take opiates for pain, you will have to devise some way to get some extra pills to tide you over when things are going like clockwork (i.e. you run out or you're in one of the anti-drug states).

Only people in similar situations will truly understand what it's like to constantly be afraid of running out. If you have high blood pressure or ED, you can get all the drugs you need, no questions asked. On the other hand, if you are unfortunate enough to have chronic pain, you'll never be out of the cold. Strange world.

Jack

[Digital Boy]

NY will accept a new prescription from your Dr.

We use CVS for all my meds where ever we are there seems to be a CVS. Although we had scripts (11) on file with CVS that were good in CA, TN and PA, we new that NY would require a new script from my Dr. We were in NY 5 months last year and had no problem filing the new scripts.

[K-Star]

my wife was on pain killers for about a year. Still is occasionally. We use Wal*Mart as they are all over the country. If she needs a new prescription she calls the doctor and has him send it to the local Wal*Mart. Then we go to the Wal*Mart we are near and have it transferred and filled. Haven't had an issue yet; even once while in Lake George, NY.

[MtManLee]

Been in severe pain since 88 and the VA will not give me anything stronger than Motrin and Tylenol and I survive and will continue to survive. I too have herniated discs in my back all my c's and most the L's. Days the pain gets bad enough I cannot walk but the pills help, wish for something stronger.

[Jackm]

Lee and Fran,

Is there an actual pain management clinic in your area? If so, give them a visit. You should be on something stronger than Motrin and Tylenol. I've been through the whole route so I know what you're dealing with.

Jack

[Wallaby Dan]

I get all the Meds I take from the VA and they mail mine to my Mail forwarding in Ohio! I am in AZ and may be here for awhile. I have 1/3rd of my back in need of some kind of repair, but no doctor will do anything as they say my choices are Death, Paralyzed from Neck down or nothing, as in do nothing! I am on severial that are not main named and don't have a book but I know it isn't OXYCONTIN or PERCOCET as I am allergic to them and One I take is Diazepam and the other was Demirol. I can't remember the genetic name anymore. I take severial other in the cocktail but can't remember the names. Point is, Get a doctor that will work with Wally World or the VA health care system. Good luck, Dan

[Jackm]

The problem is that in some states, a pharmacy will not fill the script for an opioid-based medication unless it was written in that same state. As a full-time RVer, it's often not practical to get different doctors in multiple states. As a result, you're flat out of luck.

For example, in Kansas, you can't get a script for certain pain medications filled by a pharmacist unless it was prescribed by a licensed Kansas physician. However, if your doctor in located in New Hampshire, it doesn't help if they send the script to you in the mail. Since it's illegal to ship many of these medications via the U.S. mail, they can't send them to you. I've been through this exact situation dozens of times. There's no logical reason why people with chronic pain should be punished because they live and travel in an RV. I have no problem getting Lipitor in every state. But pain medication is a whole different story. Okay...I'll admit it. It's a pet peeve of mine.

Jack

[Wallaby Dan]

That don't make any since. It is Illegal to ship Pain meds?? The Va has always sent my meds by mail,including schedule meds! I get any meds they have for me sent to Mail Forwarding and then to me from Ohio. I am in Arizona and they have never stopped or said a thing in our 12 years of fulltiming. Shame you don't have VA access!!! It has made our fulltiming so much easier!! I guess I am lucky that I'm a vet! Sounds like a real PITA!!!