My pharmacy is giving me a hard time on my refills even though my Doctor has told them I do not abuse the drugs
Can I refill my vicodin prescription at 28 days instead of 30 days?
Question posted by chloemamma on 11 Aug 2009
Last updated on 6 January 2020 by Drkatzjr27
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
15 Answers
Drkatzjr27
6 Jan 2020
For controlled drugs, most pharmacies will dispense the medication three days early.
They will give you a three day grace period, but usually never a four day grace period
But again, it is at the entire discretion of the pharmacist, And yes, they do profile…
Dominoebarb
4 Dec 2018
Not here in New York state in the town I live in they will allow you one day and that's the pharmacy choice the insurance company allows two days however New York state has a new law that you're not allowed to have any more than a 7-Day supply on hand at all times so if the pharmacy ads it up and you had them filled early 10 times you're not going to get it filled because you should have enough for an extra 10 days and to tell you the truth I don't think the pharmacy should be the one regulating when you can have your prescriptions
Inmytree
16 Aug 2016
If your insurance company will put it through, yes. I've don't that many times. I would NOT go to a different pharmacy though, too many red flags.
Good Luck!
Namaste,
Kate
shelleysbeads1
9 April 2017
Don't go to a different "name" Pharmacy try another location of your pharmacy. Pharmacists have a license and some of them are really TOOLS they have what you want and they know it. Just keep your drugs to 28 days and you will be fine I've been a Walgreens customer for 10 years and I have never had a problem. It's a state law in New York that a pharmacist must fill a honest script from a licensed Doctor. Hope this helps.
DSherself
9 Aug 2017
Having a very difficult time with Walgreens in Florida. I've been in pain management for several years. Walgreens pharmacist says I cannot fill my prescriptions every 28 days and are making me wait 36 days to make up me previously filling at 28 days.
How can this pharmacist get away with this ? It's just this 1 pharmacist that gives me a very difficult time. Dr says to fill every 28 days and pharmacist refuses to do this.
I am 69 years old with substantial injuries
to spine and the pharmacist at Walgreens harasses and punishes me for legally wanting to fill valid prescriptions every 28 days. She has gone as far as entering in computer to not fill my prescriptions every 28 days.
What can I do ?
highdesertlady
26 Sep 2017
If this pharmacist is doing this to you, I would suggest you go to another one or call your insurance carrier and tell them so that maybe when the time comes up to possibly change who they do their prescription business with, they will change to someone that did not have so many complaints. If the prescription is written to you for 28-days, then you should have the new one in your hot little hands on the 29th day. This is how my dr does it. If a month has 30-days, I get it on the 31st day, same thing goes for a month with 28 days - I have to wait and get it on the 29th day. I wish the Feds would get to the real problem of the use of our much needed drugs. We are not abusing them. They can come in from across the border and are on the streets causing overdoses. I live in a community with 288 residences of seniors, have lived here 6 years and not once has anyone here overdosed and we're all on some sort of pain meds. They need to be scrutinizing the borders, not us! All this does to us is cause high blood pressure and more sickness.
kienera
8 June 2018
I agree, stay away from Walgreens! I'm in Texas and used Walgreens to fill Norco in large amounts after emergency neck fusion surgery 3 months ago. I also use a chain grocery Kroger pharmacy. I was under the impression that walgreens was a nationwide chain that would let me fill at any location. I took the Norco Rx to a walgreens that I never use because that's the part of town I was in and it would be the most convenient.
The pharmacist asked if I had filled with them before and I said "yes at another walgreens across town" She looked at the DEA database and said "No you fill this at Kroger, I cant fill it" She treated me like I was flat out lying to her face and had never used a walgreens at all when I know damn good and well that she could see that I had filled Norco twice just 3 months ago at the other Walgreens closest to the hospital that I had the surgery at! I'm really sick and tired of being treated like and looked at like a criminal junkie by these pharmacists. They think that everyone who takes a narcotic is a scumbag. And some pharmacies carry crappy generic versions of meds that don't work as well as other brands of generic Norco and my estrogen patches. I feel like that just going to that Walgreens with that pharmacist probably got me red flagged in a computer or something. I've never had a problem in 7 years of my pain management like this was today. I'm worried that she could have noted something that will piss my doctor off.
Michele joly
16 Aug 2016
Duse not matter fed lWs bs state laws bs pharmacy laws
billnterrac
21 May 2013
My pain management clinic and I have an agreement that scripts are written for 28 days. The amount on the scripts will cover 28 days. I am to call the pain clinic 1 week before my medicine runs out, and they will call in a new RX or they will have a paper one for MS Contin ready for me to pick up. If it is more than 5 days or so before my last RX runs out, it will state "fill RX on or after MM/DD/YYYY. That way I know I will have the ability to get it filled a couple of days before mine runs out. Each month is a new, no refill RX, even the antihistamine I need to counteract a dystonic reaction I have from a combination of meds and getting the slightest bit dehydrated. I am in MI and that seems to be the standard practice for pain clinics in my direct area, and it is always in the pain management contract you enter if you are using any of the narcotic or opioid or there derivatives.
So, I get RXs that cover 28 days, and the pharmacy may fill them either on the date specified on the RX or when they get my RX from me if there are no restriction dates, or using what information the clinic tells them when they call in the RX. Please let me know if you have any questions about this... I know it is lengthy and there are so many details about how it works it is insane!
Peace and health to you, TC
rob love
19 May 2013
alot depends on how the scrip is written... twice a day? every 4 hours, or as needed... etc. Every state seems to have its own rules... but trust me..in a few years it will be very hard to get a refill. NY for instance is going to no refills. Once its out you need to go back to DR. which is absurd. The pharmacy i use is good at 26 days... You can register on computer and you sign in and it shows you what scrip , how many refills etc..On your refill day i just click on refill and tell them the time and thats it... But pharmacy will not call in a refill when you have none left..I have to call the dr. and they fax over the new refills
Inactive
15 Aug 2012
Not even the Wizard of Oz can answer that question-Maybe yes, maybe no. I don't think it is writing and I think it is purposefully vague and they leave it up to the pharmacies. I think usually a couple of days is OK with the average pharmacy. You can drink yourself to death in 10 minutes, or in 5 years-no problem with that-Smoke 10 packs a day-no problem-refill Vicodin a couple of days early? Whoa.
misszee007
25 April 2011
In CA I can renew mine almost every 15 days, or twice a month. In my case, I always put the refill a few days early as they have to contact the doctor for approval. The pharmacy never looks at me strange and I've been going for a few years now. I have Kaiser so I dont know if they are more relaxed on their refills compared to CVS or Walgreens.
I would change pharmacys if they give you trouble. If they wanted to scrutinize people and ailments, they should have been a doctor. It is their job to administer medication and not make one feel like a criminal.
slygirl
1 April 2010
Hi. I agree with all of these answers. I get mine between 28 & 29 days, no problem. I would maybe have your doctor speak with the pharmacist and straighten this out. God bless & good luck!!
BubbysMommy07
20 Aug 2009
I am not to sure where you live. But here if you tell them to cantact the doctor who issued you the prescription they will call and as long as he verifys that it is okay with him I don't see what the problem would be. Either that or ask your doctor if he can up the dosage or call them. That way you have enough and don't have to go through it everytime you need them in advanced. Hope this helped..
steven396
20 Aug 2009
i know that here you can refill after you have waited untill 80 percent of the days have passed. i e . on the 24th day you can refill it here if you have a valid perscription from your doctor
Inactive
26 Nov 2017
WHERE IS HERE LOL I MAY move lol
smltngrl
15 Aug 2009
NO, pharmacies are regulated by the federal government in such a way that if you try to refill any controlled substance before 30 days, it will be rejected by the pharmacy pc and you will have to wait the other two days.
Icefalken
3 Nov 2016
Actually this is not true. Pharmacists are permitted to refill narcotics no more than 2 days early but it is their decision. Some may fill it 2 days early, 1 day early or make a patient wait until the 30 days. Completely up to that individual pharmacist.
Of course, this only works if the script does not have a, "earliest fill date" printed on it.
In cases of drug theft and too early refill date, almost every doctor will require a copy of the police report they expect you to get done. The pharmacy may also require a copy of the report.
In the end, there is no federal statute forcing a pharmacist to require the entire 30 days for a months supply. If your pharmacist has told you otherwise, they are lying to keep you from arguing.
Simply try another pharmacy!
Biggcity
24 Feb 2017
I receive my oxycodone script every 28 or 29 days. There is no federal law, it's up to the pharmacy. I recommend staying away from Walgreens. Schedule III or IIII can be filled after 80% used. If I am wrong show me the fed statute.
Wwwhello
3 Sep 2017
I'm sure by now you didn't listen to this person and filled it in 28 days, anyone else that's reading There is no law you have to wait 30 days, if someone at the pharmacist is uneducated on this like this person is. Say thank you and ask them to send it to another pharmacy, some pharmacists now days are against pain Med. and can at times hassle you. But there are plenty that are considerate of your condition.
Inactive
19 Jan 2018
Dear smltngrl... pardon my enthusiasm but as an experienced prof. I would hate to see how you feel if you were on a very necessary pain medication due to a severe illnes (cancer) . Now imagine that you are not able to over lap 2 day of medication. Would you ENJOY the severe chronic pain without medication for 1 day , because YOU ASSUME that refills aren't allowed 2 days early... btw breaking news for you... look at the label on the bottle, it will display the original fill date and the earliest refill. ... NEVER ASSUME... BECAUSE YOU MAKE ANN ASS OUT OF YOU & ME.
Sweetdee88
21 Feb 2018
That's b's you can fill narcotics 3 days early sometimes 4 if theirs only 28 days in the month lol
Inactive
12 Aug 2009
I would go to a different pharmacy maybe they are jus idiots there.
snakelady628
12 Aug 2009
I get refills all the time at 28 days. If the pharmacy is giving you a hard time , thats just someone trtying to be an ass. You can get narcotics refills 2 days before you run out. Mine are even much stronger and I dont have any issues. I did once with a new pharmacist and didnt let her get away with having a hair across her ass. I hope you get this worked out. Snakey
bdredwine922
17 March 2017
My walmart pharmacist actually said they can fill narcotics 3 days early as long as the insurance will process it.
bdredwine922
17 March 2017
My walmart pharmacist actually said they can fill narcotics 3 days early as long as the insurance will process it.
Justmax36
14 April 2017
These posts and comments all seem to be several years old, but 3 days early is the correct answer. But it is still at the pharmacist's discretion if they want to even do that for you. But legally they are allowed to fill it up to 3 days early and it has nothing to do with whether or not the insurance will pay for it or not. That is solely up to you whether you want to pay cash out of pocket if they won't.
lasmart2008
6 May 2018
I switched to Fred's. Got tired of Walgreen's trying to override my doctors orders.
itsmetoo2
12 Aug 2009
If there is a problem.. Tell the Pharmacy to call your Doctor. To save you time just call ahead.
chemoangel
2 July 2012
EXCELLENT Idea. :)
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