[BarryRX]

Drugs containing hydrocodone like Vicodin and norco will soon be moving from schedule III to schedule II. This will limit prescriptions to a 90 day supply and no refills. Also, only doctors will be able to write prescriptions for them. This is being done to curb the growing misuse of these highly addictive drugs and to try and reduce the number of overdose deaths caused by them.

[rn1tv]

That is great news! I hope the change does not increase pharmacy robberies which can place the pharmacy staff in great danger.

[Neal2tire]

As one who has had to depend on that drug for pain management for years now, all I can say is, what idiot Dr. would give you a sript for more then 90 days?
Dr. Banala my Dr. here in TV and Leesburg is the most responsible doctor I've ever met. He is aware of abuse of pills but knows they exist for a reason. A good doctor will know how many pills he has prescribed and when you want a refill will do blood work and meet with you to make sure there is no abuse.
Florida was famous ten years back for the pill mills and while I need them I expect my Dr. to monitor me and check blood and take charge. Dr. Banala is also the head physician at Leesburg Hospital and as a son of a Dr. and son of a RN I recommend this man.
Neal G

[rn1tv]

Neal2tire, I agree about the way some drs. dispense narcotics. I had a PCP that I told I was having problems with my gall bladder. Instead of listened to me, he insisted that I had an anxiety problem and prescribed 180 Xanax (0.5 mg, 1 every 4 hr) for 30 days with refills. 2 months later, I had emergency gall bladder surgery and all the Xanax are still in the bottle. I have a new PCP.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

Drugs containing hydrocodone like Vicodin and norco will soon be moving from schedule III to schedule II. This will limit prescriptions to a 90 day supply and no refills. Also, only doctors will be able to write prescriptions for them. This is being done to curb the growing misuse of these highly addictive drugs and to try and reduce the number of overdose deaths caused by them.

90 days with no refills sounds like highly addictive drugs are not meant to be a permanent fix for any health issue. So the doctor doesn't have to decide whether the person still needs it for pain or is just addicted. That takes a lot of pressure off the doctor.

So what happens after 90 days? Will the doctor prescribe a less addictive drug? Or will the patient go doctor shopping?

What are some of the common health issues that call for those two drugs in the first place?

[paulascorpio]

My husband has been prescribed the med for a kidney stone and I have been for a knee replacement.

[rn1tv]

Villages PL, From my nursing experience, I know 90 days of a narcotic can be addicting to many. There are many chronic pain diseases that require these types of meds to make it through the day. Long term use needs to be closely monitored and now docs prescribing, especially pain management docs, are closely monitored. I guess my point was, in my situation, my doc did not listen to me. In my opinion, he one was a wonderful doc but, as your practice grows, getting the triple booked patients in and out of the office is first and foremost important ($$$$$). If anyone is looking for a doc to prescribe their desired medications, they can always be found.

[BarryRX]

I wasn't very clear about the 90 day supply on my original post. Sometimes, doctors will give a patient who has difficulty getting around three different prescriptions. One prescription to be filled immediately, the second prescription post dated 30 days, and the third prescription post dated 60 days. This is not done very often. Most schedule II pain meds are written for a few days supply. In the cases of severe chronic pain, they are written for a 30 day supply. If the patient with chronic pain has trouble getting to the doctors office , then the doctor will occasionally write a 90 day supply as I've described. Sorry for my poor communication skills. The point of the post was not to focus on a 90 day supply, but on a) the effort by the government to reduce addiction and overdose deaths; b) the impact the ruling will have on people who need the medication: c)the impact on the business of retail pharmacy.