Mail order problem

Penny · #1 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 09:05 AM

I wasn't sure where to put this, so please move it, if needed.
I order what is supposed to be 3 months supply of Lantus at a time. I get 4 vials, that doesn't quite last 3 months. I manage this by ordering as early as possible, and they overlap just enough to last. Then I send in a new prescription before I run out of the last quarterly supply. It should work, but sometimes I cannot get the last bit out of a vial, or maybe I use too much or there isn't quite a full bottle. So this time, I knew I was running short, but my online order status said they could not ship until the 16th. That should have been OK, I figured if I was careful I could last until it got here. So today, when it still had not come, I checked online and it said the Lantus would not be mailed until the 22nd, and (with the 23rd a holiday) could take up to 4 days. I would be out by the 23rd. I have to admit, that after I got through pushing numbers for 30 minutes, the lady I talked to was extra nice and promised I would have my Lantus by the 22nd.
Now, what can I do to keep this from happening again? It is too much stress at a time when I do not need one more thing to go wrong in my life. I do not see my doctor again until January, he is very understanding, but if I take exactly what he says, the vials should last. They just don't always do so, and the mail order isn't always right when you think it should be.

JediSkipdogg · #2 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 09:19 AM

How does your doctor fill out your prescription? Does he place 4 vials on it? If so, I would have him write it for 5 vials. There is no reason he should not do that if you need more. Explain to him what happens. And if he says you shouldn't be taking that much, then show him your BG charts and then tell him how much you take.

If he's not writing how many vials on it and it's a mail order company problem, then I'd have the doctor specify how much you need. I've NEVER gone bottle to bottle or strip to strip on any product. That's just too dangerous to do. I always have a good 1-2 months extra of all supplies in case I lose insurance or something else happens. I figure that buffer can hold me over some until I get a new job with insurance.

Good luck.

Gangrel · #3 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 09:20 AM

Well, i'm not sure on mail order stuff, as up here in Canada I don't think that's an option for us.... thou I could be wrong.

But if i was you, i would always have extra supplies around if you could manage it! Timing it "just right" and hoping the mail comes seems a bit risky to me....... You never know when you will break a vial (been there, done that) or have a vial that's gone bad.

Unlike some medications where it'll be "ok" if you miss a day or two, this is the stuff that keeps us alive! I know I wouldn't want to mess with it.

Penny · #4 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 09:31 AM

I intend to talk to the doctor about it, but do not see him until January. I will call him, he will probably write a new prescription (he is a really good guy). He will not fax the prescriptions, so I will have to go pick it up. This is a little problem, since I do not drive, husband is not able to yet either, I need to ask someone to pick it up. I have plenty who have offered to help, but I sure hate to ask. Everyday, I am understanding more the problems our Senior people go through. If you have someone who needs help, offer instead of waiting for them to ask. It is hard to always need help.

notme · #5 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 09:58 AM

Penny, I run into this situation all of the time. I ran out of of my medication and no matter what I did, I could not get it filled. I was also promised and it didn't happen.

Call your doctor and tell him your situation. Your doctor will write you a Rx for an emergency vial of insulin. DO NOT wait for the promised one. There is a very good chance that it will not show up. Call your doc, tell them you are worried that it will not show up and you can get an "emergency vial" from your local pharmacy.

Funnygrl · #6 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 10:01 AM

Ask your doctor to either:

a)change it to 5 vials- easiest and most obvious solution
b)give you a sample vial- then you can replace this "backup" vial everytime you get an order, and have that in the fridge in case you need something to get you through those last few days
c)give you a script to get filled at a local pharmacy in case they are late

JediSkipdogg · #7 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 01:20 PM

Why won't he fax the prescription to the mail order company? Or even do it over the phone with the mail order company? Having you pick it up just seems like an extra step that should be avoided. I've called down to my doctor's office before for a prescription for BG strips and they called the pharmacy and had it all taken care of by the time I arrived. Mail order should really be no different.

Penny · #8 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 01:29 PM

Don't know about the fax thing Kevin, just that he won't. I did call and got things taken care of, along with a lecture for not doing it sooner.

Lowell even offered to send me some. Do we have great people here or not?!

Dewey · #9 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 01:32 PM

Penny, I recently ran into similar trouble with test strips. I was able to purchase some locally to "tie me over" (out of pocket) and my situation is certainly not urgent. However, it's still frustrating to find that after we mailed them a new prescription (which listed 3 additional boxes of strips), they still only filled the original strip order. :****mate:

Guess a call to the insurance folks is in order. As the others mentioned, I'd not wait for their promise if you are in need of meds. Hope things get cleared up for you soon!