I'll keep this brief. My psychiatrist is trying to find the right medications for my severe anxiety. I am currently prescribed clonazepam in the day and alprazolam at night, but the low-dose of alprazolam wasn't helping with my sleep. So my doctor prescribed me temazepam for sleep. He's trying to find the correct medication to ease my issues. When I went to fill my
Script, I was told the system "flagged" me because there were three benzo prescriptions prescribed around the same time. Of course the reason for this is because he's trying to find the right cocktail to help me lead a life free of daytime anxiety and nighttime insomnia. The pharmacist was very kind and said that she would note in the system that my doc switched me from alprazolam to temazepam for sleep. My question is... because I was "flagged" will
I now have issues EVERYTIME I go to the pharmacist? She filled the prescription for me when I suppose she could have just refused it. But does this flagging mean I'm inevitably going to have a hassle for all my prescriptions from
Now on and for forever? It's causing me so much anxiety because I'm not abusing drugs, but just trying To find the right medication to control my symptoms. It makes me sick to my stomach and I've been really upset over this because it makes me feel like a criminal when all I'm trying to do is make through tomorrow. Any help would be so so appreciated. Thank you all.
Flagging at CVS Pharmacy?
Question posted by CJL900 on 22 Sep 2017
Last updated on 28 February 2023 by Missy1315
4 Answers
If you stay at the same pharmacy and they know you, they should be able to make a note in your file that your meds situation is temporary. You should not have problems filling other prescriptions, especially once you’ve found the right combination of medications. I’m also at CVS, but I suspect the flagging is happening at different pharmacies. My doctor warned me that too many controlled substances would automatically get you flagged, and now benzos are considered controlled.
I’m taking tramadol for chronic pain and temazepam for sleeping, and I have an emergency ‘panic attack’ script of alprazolam that I fill every three months whether I use them all up or not because you know the American medical system they will not hesitate to take your meds away for no valid reason.
Anyways I got a feeling from my doctor’s words that three controlled meds of the same sort (like benzos or opioids) were the maximum tolerated before the system automatically flags you. Just more annoyances that patients have to put up with.
What does "flag" mean?
Hi CJL,
I hope my experience helps you.
A few months ago I was also "flagged" because I had 2 short acting pain meds ordered.
The Tramadol was prescribed by my rheumatologist.
They apparantly called him and he refused to order it so it is impacting our medication regime.
In was no big deal for me because I only take it when my arthritis from cancer drugs was acting up. I may not take it for 5-6 months but it allowed me help in decreasing my Oxycodone amounts.
I guess they would prefer me to take more OxyContin... Lol.
One other thing about a news article yesterday.
CVS is going to institute a new policy in Feb.
Anyone on opioids will only have a week at a time dispensed.
They don't realize that most people on these drugs still drive.
It will cause me to have to find people to pick up my scripts weekly or drive myself which I'm not willing to do.
How is that helping their patients?
It's time to change pharmacies. They are not that great anyway.
CVS is just doing it for advertising as it got their name all over the news yesterday.
Don't take it personally. It's a waste of energy.
Best wishes
:-)
What CVS is doing is ridiculous. Especially since there are many of us, like you, who don't drive due to medical issues. Maybe you can try calling your health insurance company and see if they have a prescription mail order program.
CJL900; Stop worrying this is new to the doctor and the pharmacist all these new laws that are being put in place you see how easy you got it when you talked to the pharmacist And this should not keep coming up because you will not be taking 3 to 4 different medications at the same time once the doctor finds the one you have the best luck with. You could even have the doctor write on the Prescription this medication is to take place of blank prescription and that should help for both the doctor and the Pharmacist. now just take it as the doctor said and try not to even worry about all this new stuff.
Related topics
anxiety, insomnia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alprazolam, clonazepam, dosage, pharmacy, prescription, medication, psychiatry
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