I am prescribed 75mg of generic ritalin each for 5 doses per day, a total of 375mg per day.
My new mail order pharmacy refuses to fill my doctor's prescription because this exceeds the "recommended per day dosage of 60mg). This is nuts, I have taken this size dosage for multiple years, and it works for me.
Anybody else having this problem? Is it an insurance related problem or a pharmacy related problem.
Help!

Yup. Although mine was because I was told to take it twice a day at a lower dosage. Because it was supposed to be a "ONCE A DAY" drug, my insurance refused to pay for it and the pharmacist couldn't fill it without payment.

THis is like fighting city hall. You're not gonna win, better to go back to your doc and the two of you work out an alternate solution. Otherwise it will be a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time before your next script is filled.

Sort of.

I had had about 2 comments from pharmacists. It has stopped.

I carry a letter from my Doctor with me, when I refill at the pharmacy, and when I travel. I asked them to put a NOTE on the system that I have "a neurological condition that requires the use of Dexedrine".
Mostly pharmacies worry about (a) liability, for if you have, say hypertension and consequentially get a stroke on a high dosage.
They also (b) worry about diversion (e.g. diverting medication to illicit distribution).
I can't comment on Ritalin dosages, but I have seen off-label prescribing of up to 150% of recommended dosages, in an anti-depressant order for a suicidal hospital patient.
Perhaps you have an Enzyme that speeds the metabolism of the drug. This is well known by pharmacists to happen. These metabolic Enzymes Perhaps you are just a fast metabolizer?


Anyway -- a Letter from your Doctor should help. e.g. "Mr/Ms X's prescribed amount is NOT a med error. He does take 375 mg/day".

:) Thanks for the info. Unfortunately the doctor has personally intervened, spoken with the pharmacy, sent information, etc. all to no avail.

Anybody else having similar problems getting legitiment large quantity prescriptions for ADHD drugs filled? Solutions?
Thank you,

Try a different pharmacy! Basically, they are concerned about the liability of filling a "red flag" prescription that will get the feds attention, which pharmacies don't want just like doctors don't want the attention.

While I don't know your medical history and won't question your doctors prescription, I can see how 375mg per day would make the pharmacist question the script.

OMG 375mgs Ritalin thats like near 80 of the 10mgg IRs i was taking daily!! INSANE, how many years havee you taken this dose?-this an insanely high dose, the previously highest dose i'd ever heard about was 200, for sever Narcolepsy.

Can you explain how you came to arrive at this incredible dose, thats like an equivalent dose of Dexedrine of 190mgs daily!

INCREDIBLE:faint:

Hello fellow Fairfax native. Get a new pharmacy. If you have a script they *should* fill it. I know that some pharmacists try to throw their moral/values on patients (like some refusing to fill birth control scripts, etc..). Some states allow that crap to happen but not all. I don't know what the rules are for Va though. When in doubt call a couple of pharmacies in the area and ask them about filling the script. For prices try Costco plus there are a bunch in our area.


Good Luck,
J

I can see why your pharmacist would have a problem with giving you 75 pills per day. Not to be judgemental, because I know everyone on this board is supposed to be very acceptable to each individual condition, but I can not see any reason why any person would ever need to take that much Ritalin for medical purposes. If I was a pharmacist, I would not fill that prescription, regardless of whether or not the doctor talked to me. There are many, many issues with crooked doctors these days (Anna Nicole Smith all the way back to Elvis, anyone?) so a doctor's say really doesn't mean much under certain conditions. The focus has been on pain killers, but a CII drug is even more controlled.


Do you ever take a drug holiday? Or eat, for that matter? That is as many pills as Johnny Cash was taking when he was at his worst after 10 years of full-blown amphetamine abuse.

Again, I apologize for being so judgemental, but that just seems ridiculous to prescribe one person that dose...no matter their condition. What do you feel like? I really want to know. Also, have to tried to get like 2 seperate prescriptions each month (maybe 10mg and 20mg pills)? That might make it a little easier, just go to two different pharmacies. How about trying Desoxyn, or even 15mg Dexedrine Spansules? Or a Compounding pharmacy?

I really think you are joking, since you have 2 posts and both are in this thread.

Some of the responses seem to have lost sight of the facts. The dosage taken is 75mg either four or five times a day. The total number of pills involved is a max of 25 per day, 3-20mg per dose and 1 10mg and 1 5 mg. That is a far cry from 80 pills per day.The Doctor is one of the foremost physicians in the treatment of ADHD. He has made this his life's work. He is a frequent speaker at CHADD meetings and the author of several books. Over 4+ hours of car travel is required to see him once every 3 months, and there are phone consults monthly.

The concern is the high dose. Most of us take much much less than that. (I take 10% of your dose.)


I would be concerned that more than ADHD [alone] is going on here. (e.g. Sleep Disorder?)


In the meantime, there are cardiovascular concerns associated with taking stimulants, due to their strong sympatho-mimetic effects.
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic562.htm

If a pt. has an MI or strokes out on this high a dose, the coroner could have a 'field day' with the prescribing doctor.

Methylphendiate has been linked to heart problems and a dose that high simply scares me. Thats the highest dose i've ever heard of in my life. Even the guy prescribed 80mg of desoxyn a day cant touch that.

I am prescribed 75mg of generic ritalin each for 5 doses per day, a total of 375mg per day.
My new mail order pharmacy refuses to fill my doctor's prescription because this exceeds the "recommended per day dosage of 60mg). This is nuts, I have taken this size dosage for multiple years, and it works for me.
Anybody else having this problem? Is it an insurance related problem or a pharmacy related problem.

Help!Why do you have a "new" mail order pharmacy?


You indicate that you have already made your doctor aware of the situation and he has been trying to intervene on your behalf. Has he just given up now and wished you good luck? If so please provide the name of one of his books so that others can avoid this lazy doctor.


You travel over 4 hours to your doctor, is there not one pharmacy within 4 hours range that will fill your prescription, especially since you have a history of years of filled prescriptions to back you up?


Have you run out of meds yet? If so, how do you handle that? Going from 375mg/day to zero cold turkey must lead to a withdrawal warranting an emergency room visit. Certainly you'd get your meds there and be referred to a pharmacy that will fill your prescription.


If your very own prominent, published doctor who you hold in such high esteem that you drive over four hours to see, cannot or will not help you, what do you think are the chances that you will find help on an anonymous message board?


Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to get the obvious stuff out of the way first.

I think our point is that, regardless or who you doctor is, the fact is that being prescribed a gram of meth every three days (I know, different chemical, but for all intensive purposes the same) is a little concerning. That is more than most people take in an entire month. You could easily die from a drug overdose taking that much Ritalin...and any good doctor would know that, regardless or how many books he has written.

Methylphendiate is an NE/DA reuptake inhibitor and has nothing to do with methamphetamine.

Hamlet I never heard of ritalin withdrawal being fatal.

Hamlet I never heard of ritalin withdrawal being fatal.Neither have I.
But I am not sure why you are telling me this....?

@optimum00 : my friend who used to be addicted to cocaine said withdrawal caused panic attacks that made him seriously believe he was having heart attacks. Methylphenidate works a lot like cocaine, and high doses like this would likely have similar withdrawal -- hamlet said nothing about dieing, but I believe he meant (correct me if I'm wrong hamlet) that you'd feel like you were having problems severe enough to warrent a visit to the emergency room.

Withdrawals are not fatal, but you would definately sleep for a few days after stopping at that dosage...even <40mg per day for a few months. I do not think there are any cases of dying from just stimulant withdrawal, although one could die from alcohol, barbiturate, or benzodizepine withdrawals. Basically, tranquilizers. Even heroin won't kill someone withdrawaling.

As far as my comment comparing Ritalin to an methamphetamine, I said I know their action is technically different. However, at that dosage the effects would probably be very similar. The two chemicals can be used as substitutes, even though one is an antagonist and the other a reuptake inhibitor. My point is, taking 375mg of any amphetamine or amphetamine derivative, and you will probably feel rather squirrely.

I honestly do not think there is any medical use for a dose that high, and that any pharmacy not wanting to fill a prescription would be right in doing so. I know it is not 75 pills per day, but it would be in 5mg doses. Again, apologizes for coming off as a jerk, but your question just strikes me as "No wonder! That is probably more than anyone has ever been prescribed..." And that is just how much you are prescribed to take, let alone actually taking.

yea its true- this is way beyond the norm and I think in cases like this, it should be up to the doctor to contact the pharmacy and explain what strange medical circumstances call for such a high dose (extremely high natural tolerance for example) + take full responcibility in writing or something of the sort. Maybe ask your doctor to do something to that extent?

@ManInBlack : as far as being like meth-- I think a better comparison would be to cocaine, which works in almost the same way; meth releases large amounts of dopamine, epinephrine and in theory serotonin, and manages to penetrate the brain to the point where you can easily cause brain damage by taking too much (one of the reasons its watched so carefully)- cocaine simply produces a more pronounced euphoria than methylphenidate dose to dose but otherwise works similarly by blocking reuptake-- someone prescribing large amounts of meth would be putting the patient in way more danger tho than methylphenidate or even (if it was legal) cocaine

@optimum00 : my friend who used to be addicted to cocaine said withdrawal caused panic attacks that made him seriously believe he was having heart attacks. Methylphenidate works a lot like cocaine, and high doses like this would likely have similar withdrawal -- hamlet said nothing about dieing, but I believe he meant (correct me if I'm wrong hamlet) that you'd feel like you were having problems severe enough to warrent a visit to the emergency room.Ah, ok, I guess some equate emergency room with dying; that explains the comment.
There are a lot of in-between the lines stuff in my post, for reasons I won't come out and say here because I guess almost anything is possible no matter how far-fetched it seems. Although, the monitor ought to consider if they want this thread to remain later on given that it might create the wrong impression on a new-comer's mind.

The total number of pills involved is a max of 25 per day

Well the pills alone would fill me up I would not need to eat meals because I would be too fulll of pills to have room left in my stomach.

Will you have withdraws? Who knows but if you really take this much ritalin every day then yea I am betting your probably going to notice a difference of some sort when you stop. If any thing you will have an empty stomach. . . . gravy that is simply too many pills of any thing. 300+mg is a heafty dose ofRitalin and I agree with several of the others if I were the pharmist I would question it no matter how well qualified the doctor is.

Im pretty certain if you brought that script into a normal pharmacy the DEA would be investigating your doctor soon.

I think the basic point is that there is something wrong with your dosage, not any pharmacy. Why don't you just switch to Dexedrine or Desoxyn if your doctor is so good?

Jees everybody - cut the poor dude some slack.

mbirge - If I were you - and this is my ADHD talking - I would tell the pharmacy to kiss my a*$ and fill the d@mn script and it is none of their buisness why the doc prescribed it. It is a legetitment script and it is their job to fill it and it is your insurances responsibilty to pay for it under the terms of your policy.

Stand up for yourself - the DEA is NOT watching anybody - I was toLd that line of crap as well, so I researched it - IN PERSON - I wanted to speak to the people watching face to face. Well guess what - no person exists it is a line of crap.

STAND UP FOR YOURSELF - TELL THE PHARMACISTS TO FILL IT AND MIND HIS OWN BUISNESS.

Jees everybody - cut the poor dude some slack.

mbirge - If I were you - and this is my ADHD talking - I would tell the pharmacy to kiss my a*$ and fill the d@mn script and it is none of their buisness why the doc prescribed it. It is a legetitment script and it is their job to fill it and it is your insurances responsibilty to pay for it under the terms of your policy.

Stand up for yourself - the DEA is NOT watching anybody - I was toLd that line of crap as well, so I researched it - IN PERSON - I wanted to speak to the people watching face to face. Well guess what - no person exists it is a line of crap.

STAND UP FOR YOURSELF - TELL THE PHARMACISTS TO FILL IT AND MIND HIS OWN BUISNESS.
The feds are watching for abuse. I have posted about this before, plenty of Oncologists and pain doctors have had visits at their offices with warrants to get the medical records of patients that have received large prescriptions of Oxycontin, or Fentynal suckers, or Dilaudid etc. The Feds are not watching each and every script, but there are scripts that will stand out. For instance, if you were to fill 20 scripts of Oxy at different pharmacies, the Feds will show up at your door with some questions!

Stand up for yourself - the DEA is NOT watching anybody - I was toLd that line of crap as well, so I researched it - IN PERSON - I wanted to speak to the people watching face to face. Well guess what - no person exists it is a line of crap.
Get a good sized script for desoxyn and they'll be interviewing your neighbors pets about you by the end of the week.

I get 1440 pills of Desoxyn every 2.5 months. Nobody is bothering me.

I forgot what prompted my investigation, but I asked numerous pharmacists and Doctors who was waqtching them and it was just the insurance companies, because they do not want to pay if they do not have to.

But if you pay for the script yourself, nobody cares.

Rush Limbaugh - when he was charged with "Doctor shopping" it was a friend or a reporter who turned him in. Not a pharmacists or doctor.

Okay how about some reality check for a change.

If you are receiving a schedule 2 narcotic this includes Adderall Ritalin desoxyn then prescriptions are being tracked by the DEA no joke. They do not have men in black suites following people around that would be silly.

When you get your next prescription filled note the number at the top right corner I believe, then note the number that appears around the doctor signature. They use these number to track prescription habits and distribution with the goal of decreasing abuse and diversion.

I have to load up in a minute so I do not have time for a long explanation so here is some sources that can explain this practice in more detail for those who wish to live in reality

I do hope this answers some questions.
Illegal sales and use of control substances (http://archive.gao.gov/d33t10/147189.pdf)

prescription fraud prevention (http://www.popcenter.org/problems/problem-prescription-fraud_p3.htm)


I forgot what prompted my investigation

Here is my first clue . . . .math.

I get 1440 pills of Desoxyn every 2.5 months


2.5 months is apx 80 days 1440 divide by 80 equals 18 pills per day which is not standard practice here in the US. So this should answer your question or you have posted one to many digits.

- If I were you - and this is my ADHD talking - I would tell the pharmacy to kiss my a*$ and fill the d@mn script and it is none of their buisness why the doc prescribed it.When did ADHD become synonymous with stupidity? :D

Some of the responses seem to have lost sight of the facts. The dosage taken is 75mg either four or five times a day. The total number of pills involved is a max of 25 per day, 3-20mg per dose and 1 10mg and 1 5 mg. That is a far cry from 80 pills per day.The Doctor is one of the foremost physicians in the treatment of ADHD. He has made this his life's work. He is a frequent speaker at CHADD meetings and the author of several books. Over 4+ hours of car travel is required to see him once every 3 months, and there are phone consults monthly.Would you mind sharing how many years you have maintained this dosage? People who are worried about long term effects of stimulants will be interested.

I posted correctly 1440 pills every 2.5 months. I take 4 pills 4 times a day for a total of 16 pills a day - 80mgs a day.

I use my insurance companies mail in service, but since I cannot get automatic refills, each prescription has to be treated like a brand new script which takes about 3 weeks. Neither I nor the Doctor want me to run out, so I reorder soon enough I that when it arrives I still have a few days left of the previous prescription.

I haven't check out the links yet, I will. But I highly doubt someone is paid to do nothing but review prescriptions. People will investigate once a complaint is submitted to authorities, just like regular police with anything else. Usually complaints will come from family members, friends, and occasionally pharmacists.

Where were these "watchers" with Anna Nicole Smith? They said she had 9 different prescriptions in her system.

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by Bugs-n-Bunnys
- If I were you - and this is my ADHD talking - I would tell the pharmacy to kiss my a*$ and fill the d@mn script and it is none of their buisness why the doc prescribed it.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
When did ADHD become synonymous with stupidity? :D


I am very bold and straight to the point. I tell it like it is and I do not sugar coat anything. You could call it stupidity, because it has cost me many jobs.

On my meds I am much better about thinking before I speak.
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I do hope this answers some questions.
Illegal sales and use of control substances (http://archive.gao.gov/d33t10/147189.pdf)

prescription fraud prevention (http://www.popcenter.org/problems/problem-prescription-fraud_p3.htm)


One is from 1992 - and both mention that these programs are very limited and not very effective.

With the HIPPA laws as they are there is not much these programs do except sound good and give politcians speaking points.

This is exactly what I was talking about - someone has to submit a complaint - there is no one just watching prescriptions
Increasing the Risk of Detection


Informing doctors and pharmacists of fraudulent activity.
Improving pharmacists’ screening of prescriptions and patients.
Educating the public about prescription abuse and fraud.
This is more like public awareness/education than monitoring.

This is exactly what I was talking about - someone has to submit a complaint - there is no one just watching prescriptions
In Canada there is. This is from one of the provincial health plans:
On receipt of the College copy of the TPP prescription, data from the prescription is entered into a database. Reports are generated and analyzed on a monthly basis to monitor utilization rates for the TPP medications. Prescriber prescribing patterns are also monitored. Statistical reports are also maintained.

Quote:
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;">Originally Posted by Bugs-n-Bunnys
- If I were you - and this is my ADHD talking - I would tell the pharmacy to kiss my a*$ and fill the d@mn script and it is none of their buisness why the doc prescribed it.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
When did ADHD become synonymous with stupidity? :D


I am very bold and straight to the point. I tell it like it is and I do not sugar coat anything. You could call it stupidity, because it has cost me many jobs.

On my meds I am much better about thinking before I speak.
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->Bugs, upping the dose of a med isn't always a good thing. With the amount of pills you go through in a month, when are you ever off meds?

haven't check out the links yet, I will. But I highly doubt someone is paid to do nothing but review prescriptions. People will investigate once a complaint is submitted to authorities, just like regular police with anything else. Usually complaints will come from family members, friends, and occasionally pharmacists.

Gee I do hate to be the barer of bad news here but this is the computer age, all these numbers along with several more are entered into a data base, which send them to a central data base located at the drug enforcement agency . Many medical things are tracked with computers and this is how it works . Once certain pre-defined criteria is met the computer spits out the information automatically. It isn’t any harder than that really. It is harder to bust the neighborhood drug dealer than it is to track prescription usages of schedule two narcotics. Many places no longer use the old fashion three colored paper triplicates because so much is now computerized.


So if you got “dinged
chances are a computer dinged you” because you met a specific criteria.





Where were these "watchers" with Anna Nicole Smith? They said she had 9 different prescriptions in her system.


Not wishing to mix silliness with logic but as some one who isn’t even paying attention to the Anna thing I did manage to hear that not all the prescriptions were hers, some belonged to that Howard dude.






I am very bold and straight to the point. I tell it like it is and I do not sugar coat anything. You could call it stupidity, because it has cost me many jobs

As do I , I think you will find many here who share this trait. I have learned how to present my thoughts as to not loose jobs. I am actually paid for my ability to think and be realistic.




One is from 1992 - and both mention that these programs are very limited and not very effective

I pulled those up on my way out the door I merely wanted them to explain what the system was all about that was basically it.


Triplicate prescriptions of schedule two narcotics are now national here in the US. If indeed you are getting the medications you say you are then you should already know this. As far as the DEA is concerned the only thing this tells me is they have had 12 years to improve.

Computer tracking is now done by Fed-Ex with packages and some how you think the DEA would be unable to do the same with narcotics? Each step of this medication movement being tracked counted and re-counted by more than one person who enters there numbers into a computer . All these numbers are sent to a central computer . Hospitals weren’t tracking their narcotic usage by computers 12 years ago . . . . they are now and God help you if your numbers don’t say the same thing as the narcotic dispensing computer.

I know how drug are tracked first hand so believe what you want it doesn’t change reality and has nothing to do with mine. I am simply sharing what I KNOW to be true what you choose to do with the information is up to you, Each member here is free to make up their own mind I have no need to force my knowledge upon any one . . . .nor do I have need to partake in silly arguments with some one who doesn’t handle drugs for a living.

Now the topic was trouble fillling a perscription by a pharmacy

Here is what an insurance comapany has to say about this

AETNA (http://www.aetna.com/products/rxnonmedicare/data/CNS/stimulants_2007.html)


Desoxyn methamphetamine / 60 mg/ Once or twice daily/ 5 mg/ Up to 120 tablets in 30 days


Metadate ER, Methylin, Methylin ER, methylphenidate, methylphen. SR, Ritalin, Ritalin SR /60 mg/ Two or three times daily 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg /Up to 90 tablets in 30 days


For coverage of additional quantities, a member's treating physician must request prior authorization through the Pharmacy Management Precertification Unit. Additional quantities of drug class/brand names will be considered medically necessary for those members who meet ANY of the following criteria:

Member requires a dose including half tablets OR
Member's dose is being titrated by physician (3-month limit) OR
Member has had intolerance to drug administered as a single daily dose OR
Member's physician provides documentation (controlled clinical trial) from the peer-reviewed medical literature for use of a higher dose.

***End Quote

Each insurance carrier is different however this may give the intial poster a starting place as far as answering the question of difficulty filling larger amounts of medications.

I hope this helps.

The dysexoyn thing

All I could find due to sleepiness (http://www.healing-arts.org/children/ADHD/medications.htm#Desoxyn)

Methamphetamine HCL (Desoxyn):
Desoxyn is rarely used in the treatment of ADHD. There is no generic available. Desoxyn is made by Abbott and the dosage is comparable to Dexedrine. However, Desoxyn is about 2-3 times more expensive than Dexedrine.


Important points to remember when prescribing or taking Desoxyn:
Desoxyn is apparently effective for the Inattentive form of ADHD.

Onset of action is 20-30 minutes, lasting 3 to 4 hours where the drop-off in effect is more similar to Dexedrine than Ritalin.

Desoxyn is contraindicated in patients with glaucoma

***End Quote

Man I hate swallowing one pill every 4 to 4.5 hours, I coul dnot imagine 4 pills that often = yuck

No I do not handle drugs for a living. I just really hate when people use that as an excuse not to push their doctor for what they want to try. Or an excuse for the doctor not to prescribe a medication. If it is a valid prescription than there should be absolutely nothing to worry about and nothing to hide.

Desoxyn and been the best medication I've tried so far and I am glad to have a doctor open enough to prescribe it to me.

I don't mind taking all the pills they are actually really small and go down very easily. However, the funny looks I get from the large size of the bottle can be annoying at times. Plus, when I am around someone for more than a few hours and they keep seeing me whip out the big bottle of pills, I know they are thinking I'm a junkie or something.

But it really truelly has litterally saved my life.

For that I am thankful.

However, the funny looks I get from the large size of the bottle can be annoying at times. Plus, when I am around someone for more than a few hours and they keep seeing me whip out the big bottle of pills, I know they are thinking I'm a junkie or something.It is generally recommended that meds be kept in a cool, dark place. I have even read that putting pills in a container in your pocket may not be a good idea. Why do you pack a large bottle of pills around?

^^ on that note- depending on how many there are they could be losing material by grinding against eachother (as a reason for why carrying them in a bottle is a bad idea) -

It's against the law in the U.S. to carry any prescription drug outside of its
original prescription container.

Here's what I do. Instead of carrying around 400 Dexedrine tablets with me in my backpack or when I travel, I ask the pharmacist (when I get my presciption filled) if they can provide me with a second smaller presciption bottle (with the same label as the first bottle) that I can use to carry some of my prescription with me. I have never had any objections from any pharmacist over the last 16 years of doing this.

PS To avoid pills grinding together in the bottle as described in the post above, I use cotton balls in the pill bottle to prevent this. Works perfectly.

Jeeze guys - are you out to get me or what?

I carry them in the prescription bottle that they come in. Remember I get 1440 pills per prescription.

If I get pulled over or something, I would hate to have to explain having meth on me in a little baggy. Boy oh boy wouldn't that look good.

I carry them in the container the pharmacy packs them in with the prescription lable stuck to the bottle.

Do any of you guys take your Schedule II drugs in a seperate container for the day?!?!

H*ll no - you carry them in the prewscription bottle the pharmacy gave them to you ion that way your name and dosage is on the bottle with the pharmacy name and number.

I DO NOT want to get arrested for distribution of meth.

Yes, I take my schedule II drugs out in a seperate container daily, but I never take a whole months supply along with me.

Perhaps you misunderstood my post, because the last thing I was telling you was anything that would get you into trouble.

This is what I was trying to convey: When I get my prescription filled, I ask the pharmacist to prepare me a second smaller empty prescription bottle that has the same label printed on it as the original prescription container. In the eyes of the law this is the same thing as having the prescription in its original prescription container when I carry it around with me or when I travel.

I'm not sure if I can explain it any simpler than that. There is nothing illegal at all about what I just described, and every pharmacist I have ever asked to do this was happy to help.

When I get my prescription filled, I ask the pharmacist to prepare me a second smaller empty prescription bottle that has the same label printed on it as the original prescription container.
Same here. That way the large bottle stays at home where it is safe.

The small bottle can be carried with you, refilled each day, or each week, with a small amount of the medicine. The small bottle is less likely to be stolen, less likely to attract attention, if lost it is only a small fraction of your pills instead of teh whole month's supply. And it's perfectly legal. No baggies, no drug posession or distribution charges. Just your prescription in two bottles instead of one.

Thanks for the great tip, Lars and DianeS.

It's against the law in the U.S. to carry any prescription drug outside of its
original prescription container.
Lars, where can I find that law? I would like to read through it! Is the extra empty bottle covered in the law? Thanks-knowing my luck, the pharmacy in my town would balk at the empty bottle/label thingy! Having it in black and white would change things!

I am a teacher and make sure no one knows I take methylphenidate- especially the students! I usually take only my dose for the day-unmarked-to prevent any problems. If my purse were stolen-very limited amount of the med. I even asked the nurse at one school if she should keep my meds-like the kids-for security reasons! The information you shared makes me rethink what I am doing-I do like the small bottle idea! That might work very well for me. I do keep my purse locked up, but you never know what could happen!

I am traveling to Australia and will have a letter from my doctor to prevent any problems going through customs! Here is a link to Australia's medication policy for foreign travelers, thought you might find it handy to have:
http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/bringmed/intoaust.htm

Thanks for helping me out with this-but only when you have time,
ME-VI

Lars, where can I find that law? I would like to read through it!
I would suggest doing a Google search, or perhaps calling a local pharmacist to find out the specifics of your states laws.

Thanks Lars-was thinking this was Federal. Will talk to pharmacist-and of course I shall google-it is the stuff of life! :)

Lars -

Sorry I think we posted at the exact same time. Your post was not up when I started my reply.

That is a great idea - I will deffinately request an extra bottle for daily storage.

I have been VERY concerned about the bottle getting stolen or my purse with the bottle in it getting stolen or just anything. Something always happens - it is always my (bad) luck and it always happens to me at the WORST time.

Thanks very much.

Again - your post was not up when I started mine - I sometimes get distracted when posting. I do have a 1 year old and a 3 year old and severe ADHD. It could be an hour from when I start a reply till when I submit it.

What is even worse - I see myself 100% in my little girl. I am in for a wild 20 years!

Her picture is to the side. Her name is Kayla.

Again - your post was not up when I started mine - I sometimes get distracted when posting. I do have a 1 year old and a 3 year old and severe ADHD. It could be an hour from when I start a reply till when I submit it.
What is even worse - I see myself 100% in my little girl. I am in for a wild 20 years!Her picture is to the side. Her name is Kayla.
Bugs-n-Bunnys,

What makes you think it's gonna just be just "a wild 20 years" :D I had 6 kids, 3 with ADD & 3 without. Hubby was dx as a child but hadn't taken meds since he was a kid & I wasn't dx until we had just 2 left at home (1 with ADD, 1 without) My youngest is 21 & has ADD. My point is that those "wild years" continue after they are grown/move out.

For kids that are "grown" mine call me frequently for some bit of info, an address of an old friend, the contents of a website, info the need for Student Aid, someone's birthday they went to high school or middle school with, ect. Then about half the time when I call them back with the info......they forgot they called me & they already have it:confused: . But, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

For what it's worth. I believe that when a parent & child (especially when it's a mom & daughter(s) or son(s) & father) both have ADD that they have a connection....maybe it's a understanding, that is unique for them.

Enjoy as much of these next 20 Wild years as you can, they are the most precious.

1 more thing, I do the same thing with some of my Replies. Except I get up for a "second" forget what I was doing on the computer & may not get back to it for a hour or so. You have 2 Beautiful & Precious Reasons that take Priority over other things.

BlessedLady

Plus, when I am around someone for more than a few hours and they keep seeing me whip out the big bottle of pills, I know they are thinking I'm a junkie or something

Gosh with such a big bottle it may entice thieves. . . .getting a smaller bottle would attract less attention thus decreasing the chances of some one stealing your prescription. Even if they do steal it you would not loose the whole month at one time. I have had this happen so never carried my entire prescription on my person except when it goes from pharmacy to my house Most of my medications are locked up in a safe behind locked home doors. . . with a large dog in the house . . . .. a much more secure place than in the purse or back back of an ADD {has any one seen my cell phone} person. . . . .Some people get a hold of these drugs by stealing them from people like us. . . . . :mad:

No I do not handle drugs for a living. I just really hate when people use that as an excuse not to push their doctor for what they want to try. Or an excuse for the doctor not to prescribe a medication. If it is a valid prescription than there should be absolutely nothing to worry about and nothing to hide.

I do agree that docotrs should be more willing to admit they personally feel uncomfortable rather that treating people who geniuenly benefit from these medications like drug addicts. Of that I do agree.

Desoxyn and been the best medication I've tried so far and I am glad to have a doctor open enough to prescribe it to me.

I am glad you have found some thing that works for you.

I don't mind taking all the pills they are actually really small and go down very easily.


OKay Adderall are some what larger and I hate having to remember to swallow pills every four hours, but it does work {when I remember}


However, the funny looks I get from the large size of the bottle can be annoying at times. Plus, when I am around someone for more than a few hours and they keep seeing me whip out the big bottle of pills, I know they are thinking I'm a junkie or something.

Ah **** em if they have to know your business and make some stupid judgement without knowing what the **** is going on besides it is your life and your business. It ain't like you are holding up liquore stores . . . . . people can either accept me perscription meds and all or they can just go eat a big bug. . . . . .