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How To Get Oxycodone On Time For Chronic Pain?
Question: I am a veteran, that has been total disabled. I broke my neck in the army. I have had a civilian doctor,that has to do 5 surgeries to save my life. I have 2 cables that hold my head on. And a 5 disk and vertebra in my neck. I have been on oxycodone, for over 20 yrs. With no problem. But the only problem I am having is not receiving them on time
sometimes, one to 2weeks late. I wish that I didn't have to take medication. But this is my life. I have been house bound for 8yrs. The last doctor said that the only thing they can do is try to make me as comfortable as possible, but how when I have to be in pain, until they mail them off. If you could help,it would be appreciated. Thanks
sometimes, one to 2weeks late. I wish that I didn't have to take medication. But this is my life. I have been house bound for 8yrs. The last doctor said that the only thing they can do is try to make me as comfortable as possible, but how when I have to be in pain, until they mail them off. If you could help,it would be appreciated. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Getting medication on time from the VA
Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon and thank you for your question on this network. I am sorry that you are not receiving your medication on time and for this reason your pain appears to be exacerbated or extended until your medication arrives.
I am a doctor that works at the XXXXXXX VA Medical Center and I can tell you that when we have issues with our patients not receiving medications on time there are a couple of suggestions. One is that you contact the pharmacy to begin with and explain the situation. If you have an idea of how long the medication seems to take to get to you after you need your next refill you can request that the pharmacy take that travel time into consideration and mail the medication out several days ahead of their usual trigger date.
The 2nd thing you can do is find out if there is a CBOC in your area (Community Based Outpatient Clinic) where you could go to pick up your medication directly from the window. You can then, call the pharmacy and have them change the delivery system from MAIL OUT to WINDOW PICKUP. Alternatively, you can have your primary care or pain management doctor do the same thing. By changing the mode of delivery in the CPRS system you can go to any VA pharmacy and pick up the medication in person.
There is a 3rd option which is similar to the 2nd option and that is to contact your pain management doctor at the VA on the same day your medications are being mailed from the VA and ask if they would write for a short 10 day supply to be picked up by yourself at a local CBOC assuming that your prescription can be calculated by the pharmacy as truly being out. Of course, getting the pharmacy to time the shipment or have it available for you on the day necessary so that you don't miss any doses would be optimal....but if that were not possible then, this 3rd option could work.
I'm not sure which doctor you spoke with from the VA who said that all they could do was make you comfortable until the meds came....but these are the 2 main courses of action that my patients are encouraged to take when timing of their medications is important.
Just to be clear about the extent to which we can "help" on this telemedicine network there is no ability for any physician to prescribe medications to patients nor do have the facilities or communications setup to interact with physicians, providers, or pharmacies that are outside the telemedicine network. Our role is strictly limited to giving cogent advice based upon questions and descriptions of clinical scenarios with recommendations and suggestions at best. Hope that helps clear up any misunderstanding in the event you were thinking that we could somehow call or transmit a script of any sort to a pharmacy for you.
If I've adequately addressed your concerns could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating to our encounter if you feel my suggestions have helped? Again, many thanks for posing your question.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 17 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Getting medication on time from the VA
Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon and thank you for your question on this network. I am sorry that you are not receiving your medication on time and for this reason your pain appears to be exacerbated or extended until your medication arrives.
I am a doctor that works at the XXXXXXX VA Medical Center and I can tell you that when we have issues with our patients not receiving medications on time there are a couple of suggestions. One is that you contact the pharmacy to begin with and explain the situation. If you have an idea of how long the medication seems to take to get to you after you need your next refill you can request that the pharmacy take that travel time into consideration and mail the medication out several days ahead of their usual trigger date.
The 2nd thing you can do is find out if there is a CBOC in your area (Community Based Outpatient Clinic) where you could go to pick up your medication directly from the window. You can then, call the pharmacy and have them change the delivery system from MAIL OUT to WINDOW PICKUP. Alternatively, you can have your primary care or pain management doctor do the same thing. By changing the mode of delivery in the CPRS system you can go to any VA pharmacy and pick up the medication in person.
There is a 3rd option which is similar to the 2nd option and that is to contact your pain management doctor at the VA on the same day your medications are being mailed from the VA and ask if they would write for a short 10 day supply to be picked up by yourself at a local CBOC assuming that your prescription can be calculated by the pharmacy as truly being out. Of course, getting the pharmacy to time the shipment or have it available for you on the day necessary so that you don't miss any doses would be optimal....but if that were not possible then, this 3rd option could work.
I'm not sure which doctor you spoke with from the VA who said that all they could do was make you comfortable until the meds came....but these are the 2 main courses of action that my patients are encouraged to take when timing of their medications is important.
Just to be clear about the extent to which we can "help" on this telemedicine network there is no ability for any physician to prescribe medications to patients nor do have the facilities or communications setup to interact with physicians, providers, or pharmacies that are outside the telemedicine network. Our role is strictly limited to giving cogent advice based upon questions and descriptions of clinical scenarios with recommendations and suggestions at best. Hope that helps clear up any misunderstanding in the event you were thinking that we could somehow call or transmit a script of any sort to a pharmacy for you.
If I've adequately addressed your concerns could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating to our encounter if you feel my suggestions have helped? Again, many thanks for posing your question.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 17 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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