The problem with a Schedule II Med

[willzzz]

So if you read my rant in Adult education I've waited until 1am to start my homework and am not getting any sleep tonight. I've been feeling the side effects of not getting my meds for 24 hours so far as I ran out and a request has been sent to my doc for a new script. Yeah... Why is it that I ALWAYS have to go pickup a new script in person and drop it off? I know it's due to risk of abuse but for those of us WHO NEED THIS MED TO FUNCTION. GAH! Already feeling the effects. =(

[willzzz]

Basically... Can I get a script >30 days/pills currently written by my doc? This way I don't have to go back EVERY month? What are the current rules for Schedule II/Concerta?

[Childe Roland]

Plan ahead. Oh, you have ADD? At least try to plan ahead :P (No, you can't get more than 30 days' worth of CII filled at a time)

[OrangeFootball]

Originally Posted by willzzz

Basically... Can I get a script >30 days/pills currently written by my doc? This way I don't have to go back EVERY month? What are the current rules for Schedule II/Concerta?

The following is how I understand the applicable federal laws regarding Schedule II meds:

There is no federal law that limits the amount of a Schedule II drug that can be prescribed or that can be dispensed at one time. For example, a doctor could write you one prescription for enough pills to cover 90 days and the pharmacy could dispense all of the pills to you at once.

Obviously, some doctors would be a little hesitant to write a prescription for so many pills at one time. However, the law does not allow for refills on a Schedule II medication. Not long ago, the DEA changed its interpretation of the law to allow a doctor to write multiple prescriptions at one time for the sake of convenience. That is to say, for instance, your doctor could write three separate prescriptions, each for thirty days, and put a "do not fill before" date on them. You would have 90 days worth of a prescriptions, but could only have them filled one month at a time.

I hope that explanation made sense.

State laws do vary with regard to these matters. It appears that you're in Michigan, which, from what I have gathered, does not have a restriction on the amount of a Schedule II controlled substance that can be dispensed at one time.

This is just what I have come up with after doing my best to actually research the laws instead of merely relying on hearsay. I would be happy to provide some links that may be of further assistance, if you so desire.

[Vickie]

Good explanations OrangeFootball. A limit on how many per month you can get may also be placed by your insurance. My insurance allows 60 pills at a time. Any amount over that cannot be used as a refill (as you noted) because of the controlled substance class. My doc also will write multiple scripts with limit dates for times I will not see him for a prolonged period due to schedule conflict.

[OrangeFootball]

Originally Posted by Vickie

Good explanations OrangeFootball. A limit on how many per month you can get may also be placed by your insurance. My insurance allows 60 pills at a time. Any amount over that cannot be used as a refill (as you noted) because of the controlled substance class. My doc also will write multiple scripts with limit dates for times I will not see him for a prolonged period due to schedule conflict.

Thanks. I forgot to address insurance issues. Obviously there is a whole lot of variability there. Considering the high cost of the brand-name stimulant drugs, the insurance may either deny coverage or require some sort of pre-authorization/letter of medical necessity/that sort of thing.

Being able to get a 90-day prescription from your doctor is not only more convenient, but it could also save you a lot of money, depending on how your insurance is set-up.

My insurance covers either a 30-day supply at the pharmacy or 90-days through the insurance's mail order program. In my case, 30 days of Adderall XR (60 capsules) costs me about $113 at the local pharmacy. If I get a 90-day supply (180 capsules) through my insurance company's mail order program, it is only $100.

That's ~$1.88/pill vs. ~$.56/pill.

[chsguy88]

Originally Posted by OrangeFootball

In my case, 30 days of Adderall XR (60 capsules) costs me about $113 at the local pharmacy. If I get a 90-day supply (180 capsules) through my insurance company's mail order program, it is only $100.

That's ~$1.88/pill vs. ~$.56/pill.

My goodness, this isnt on the original topic... but 4 dollars a day for a generic medication? Or do you insist on the shire adderallxr?? My 60 pills of 20mg generic adderallXR have a 10 dollar copay. If i had to pay full price I would go for the generic instant release formula, and just take it two times a day instead of the one time a day with the XR. Just a thought, we are in a recession, give me a way to save a dollar and i'll jump on it! =)

[OrangeFootball]

Originally Posted by chsguy88

My goodness, this isnt on the original topic... but 4 dollars a day for a generic medication? Or do you insist on the shire adderallxr?? My 60 pills of 20mg generic adderallXR have a 10 dollar copay. If i had to pay full price I would go for the generic instant release formula, and just take it two times a day instead of the one time a day with the XR. Just a thought, we are in a recession, give me a way to save a dollar and i'll jump on it! =)

That is my cost for the brand-name Shire Adderall XR.

For me, a 30-day supply of a generic drug costs $5, and a 90-day supply is $12. I have heard that some insurance companies are not covering it as a generic because the retail price is not very different between the brand and the generic versions.

I am very sensitive to minor differences in medications, and the difference in the amount of active ingredient, and possibly the "inactive" ingredients, in the generic caused some side effects.

[chsguy88]

Originally Posted by OrangeFootball

That is my cost for the brand-name Shire Adderall XR.

For me, a 30-day supply of a generic drug costs $5, and a 90-day supply is $12. I have heard that some insurance companies are not covering it as a generic because the retail price is not very different between the brand and the generic versions.

I am very sensitive to minor differences in medications, and the difference in the amount of active ingredient, and possibly the "inactive" ingredients, in the generic caused some side effects.

Okay, thats what I figured. I figured it was at least worth my mentioning bc, like u said, the generic cost of adderall XR is basically the same as the generic version, if your uninsured that is. I know if i was uninsured there would be no way I'd take the generic XR... i'd pay 1/6 of the price for the generic IR and be terribly inconvienced by taking it twice a day as opposed to one. lol, Ive been on both the shire XR and the generic XR and personally can't really notice a difference, and clearly not a big enough difference to justify spending over 100 dollars a month on one script. I'm a broke college student btw lol