topic Re: Drug Availability in Wellness

Drug Availability

Kachina624 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 19:32:19 GMT

We've heard for some time that some drugs may be in short supply. I have auto refills from my mail-order supplier, OptumRX. I've received 3 notices in the past week that they may be unable to fill my prescription or can only do a partial refill due to availability. None of these prescriptions are earth shakingly important, but I'm somewhat alarmed that other more important things may also become scarce.

Has anyone else experienced a problem filling prescriptions?

Re: Drug Availability

catter70 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 19:32:52 GMT

I use OPTUM, also, but no issues as of yet. Hope they can get you what you need.

Re: Drug Availability

Still Raining — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 19:41:49 GMT

I have already run into this.

The pharmacist can or won't help, but I went over to urgent care and laid it all out.

First find out exactly what strengths are in stock and then ask for a mix to get up to your strength. Have to pay for two prescriptions, but my heart thanked me.

Re: Drug Availability

ThinkingOutLoud — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 19:50:45 GMT

No, I haven't had any issues but I've known for years that there would be scarcity problems and that people will have to rely on natural methods/remedies.

Re: Drug Availability

Desertdi — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 19:53:06 GMT

@Kachina624 This is NOT about prescriptions....but other "little bathroom stuff" you don't think much about.........so I have been buying backups of tooth paste, rubbing alcohol, contact wetting solution, aspirin, cotton balls, etc. "just in case".

This morning on the news, I saw pictures of the empty streets in Shanghai, deserted docks with containers unable to be loaded....and their government's fear of ANOTHER covid strike. Made me nervous to think about another supply chain disaster that will affect all kinds of products, and from all over, not only just China. And then....there's the war..... di

Re: Drug Availability

Kachina624 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:01:12 GMT

@Desertdi I, too, heard last week that there are new Covid problems affecting manufacturing and shipping in Asia.

Optum has been sending some of my drugs much earlier than expected and I've been hoarding them....just in case. I also keep "extras" of otc bathroom products on hand as well as otc drugs like generic Allegra. Kerchoo.

Re: Drug Availability

Effie54 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:01:47 GMT

I had that problem with OptumRX in the past. My friends love the convenience of them, but I stopped using them years ago and just went to Walgreens to fill them. It's much easier, and I've never had any problems with shortages.

Re: Drug Availability

Kachina624 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:05:19 GMT

@Effie54 I've had Optum about 3 or 4 years and have gotten great service. Previously had Caremark which was awful. I've never experienced shortages before

Re: Drug Availability

CelticCrafter — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:07:37 GMT

We didn't have medication issues, it was with the last two refills for diabetic testing supplies.

Both times it was for testing strips.

Re: Drug Availability

Desertdi — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:18:39 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Desertdi I, too, heard last week that there are new Covid problems affecting manufacturing and shipping in Asia.

Optum has been sending some of my drugs much earlier than expected and I've been hoarding them....just in case. I also keep "extras" of otc bathroom products on hand as well as otc drugs like generic Allegra. Kerchoo.

@Kachina624 I don't mean to sound like CHICKEN LITTLE....but I spent years in the Girl Scouts(!!)

(And I buy Walmart "benedryl" in the BIG bottle...everything is blooming here...98° tomorrow.) di

Re: Drug Availability

skatting44 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:23:04 GMT

Heard on the news that it is anticipated more shortages because of what is happening in China. Also, many economists are anticipating a major recession within 2 yrs.

I was hoping 2022 would be a better year .

Re: Drug Availability

Kachina624 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:23:36 GMT

@Desertdi Yikes! And I was dreading our 81° today. I'd have my swamp cooler turned on but then I'd have no heat and it's been cold in the mornings. We had 2 freezes last week.

Re: Drug Availability

Desertdi — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:29:15 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Desertdi Yikes! And I was dreading our 81° today. I'd have my swamp cooler turned on but then I'd have no heat and it's been cold in the mornings. We had 2 freezes last week.

@Kachina624 You are so much CLOSER TO THE SUN than down here...... I musta missed something in geography class...

Re: Drug Availability

Kachina624 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:33:02 GMT

@Desertdi Air is thinner at higher altitudes. I'm at about 6,000 ft. Albuquerque is the same mile-high elevation as Denver. Santa Fe is the highest state capitol in the nation.

Re: Drug Availability

Desertdi — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:44:58 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Desertdi Air is thinner at higher altitudes. I'm at about 6,000 ft. Albuquerque is the same mile-high elevation as Denver. Santa Fe is the highest state capitol in the nation.

@Kachina624 I am from the FLATLANDS....Chicago 600', LA 300' and PHX 1,200'. I have been up in the mountains....and have trouble breathing...

Re: Drug Availability

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:15:07 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
No, I haven't had any issues but I've known for years that there would be scarcity problems and that people will have to rely on natural methods/remedies.

@ThinkingOutLoud

You've "known for years" there would be scarcity problems? Really? Are you psychic?

BTW .... Natural methods and home remedies won't work for people who actually need real medications.

Re: Drug Availability

BlueFinch — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:10:27 GMT

Yes, I've experienced a couple of my meds being unavailable, or they would only have a week's worth of a refill, uncertain when supply would come in. A real nuisance.

Most recently, it was for a 50 mg Losartan refill. I was running out; couldn't wait. I was told they had no idea when it would be available.

I asked if they checked other stores. The answer was yes, it was not available. I was told to call my doc and get a script for a different medication. Uh, no. Not happy with changing a long term med. Then I asked if they had 100 mg tabs of this med. Yes they did.

I was aggravated that they would have me get a new medication that might not work well for me, instead of suggesting half a tablet? Crazy. Of course, some meds can't be split, but this was not one of them.

They wouldn't contact the doc, so I just sent an e-mail for a new order to split tabs. No problem. Why didn't they think of this? We have to be our own advocate.

Re: Drug Availability

Mindy D — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:51:12 GMT

@Kachina624 @There are always drug shortages. The FDA posts lists of these shortages. If you ever need any information about this, check. The lists can be seen in a separate listing based on the drug category. Here's are examples from the regular listing and from the drugs by category listing.. There are nine pages of shortages right now. This is not a phenomena arising just since the pandemic.

Re: Drug Availability

Kachina624 — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:09:22 GMT

@Mindy D All I know is that I've been taking prescription medication my whole long life and never experienced a shortage until this week.

Re: Drug Availability

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:28:37 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Mindy D All I know is that I've been taking prescription medication my whole long life and never experienced a shortage until this week.

@Kachina624

Good grief ..... As my Dad would say (half joking) ... it's always something, isn't it?