I take a controlled med to help with PTSD. I get 28 days worth of pills (56) to take 2 pills a day. When am eligible for a refill?

Maj Kim Patterson — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 20:34:48 -0400

I picked up my meds 16 July. July has 31 day. 16-31= 32 pills. 1 August- 9 August= 18 pills. 32+18=50. I have 7 pills left (I dropped one down my sink) so on August 12, I will be out of pills. I am a pick up only because my controlled pills have not come when I tried mail service. The pharmacist as Robert Dole VA told me to come back 16 August. Any suggestions?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2020 8:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 20:39:30 -0400

Ooof. You may be out of luck until the 16th. Moving forward, I would recommend getting the refill ball rolling at least a week before you are out.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Aug 9 at 2020 8:41 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 20:41:58 -0400

If you call your local VAMC and talk directly to the one call’ nurse; they are able to address the issue and message your provider...you could also go to the ER in the VAMC. Certainly hope you get things straightened out before you run out...Nancy

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 9 at 2020 10:10 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 22:10:47 -0400

Maj Kim Patterson I struggle with the mail order pharmacy also.

I do not like telephone calls with ‘vendors’. Nevertheless, after 6 months of struggles, one of my meds is finally on 90 day prescription and refills. I read all of their denial and other confusing
letters, put my ear piece on and patiently call them and await a live person.

Being a prudent customer, I used to be moderate in asking for refills, after negative - rush -rush experiences, I try to maintain enough meds in the cabinet to cover me in case of more screwy demand - inform - challenge letters from that pharmacy.

Response by MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. made Aug 10 at 2020 6:11 AM

MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 06:11:30 -0400

I have been blessed with having excellent primary care teams on Hawaii's Big Island for 20 years and now here in northern Idaho for a year. Hilo has an outstanding CBOC and Sandpoint has a very good contract provider working under VA's auspices.

I'm a little perplexed re your problem with having your controlled substances mailed. I've been taking morphine for pain management continuously since early 2011. I also take some controlled PTSD meds. In the case of the morphine, I just send my PC a MyHealthyVet secure message two weeks prior to my fill date to remind her to send me a refill. For my other meds I handle refills through MyHealthyVet online. In both cases, I always get my refills by mail without a glitch.

Response by SP5 Roger Hurst made Aug 10 at 2020 10:36 AM

SP5 Roger Hurst — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 10:36:54 -0400

Contact your VA Doctor, by email, or phone and tell them your situation. They can phone in an order for you. I use mail, only, as I don't want to drive to the VA hospital, to get meds. I have been getting them mailed to me, over 5 years and they haven't missed me yet. Do you get on-line and order the meds yourself? Do you have a "my health.va.gov" account? I order by email, but I have to call on my PTSD medicine, as it is controlled. Hope this might help

Response by TSgt George Austin made Aug 11 at 2020 1:54 PM

TSgt George Austin — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 13:54:10 -0400

I have had the same nightmares with VA meds. If possible and you are eligible for Tricare have your civilian doc fill a prescription and use the mail in Express-Scripts. Controlled meds script MUST be mailed in. They will do 90 days of controlled meds. You can refill ( must be new script each time) 2 weeks in advance and they will hold til last week. Never missed a script now for over 6 years.