This showed up in my inbox today…
Hi Pharmacist Steve,
We’ve never talked or met on any websites/chronic pain support groups before, so I’m hoping you’ll take pity on me and answer my inquiry even though you don’t know me.
I have severe RSD/CRPS in my feet, ankles, and back of legs. Also have peripheral neuropathy as well. My question is about the lack of medication at my pharmacy and a lot of other ones too. A little back round on me, I’ve been with the same pain management clinic for over 3 years and have never failed a drug test for either illicit drugs or for non compliance. Never missed a scheduled appt or even been more than 2 minutes late for one either. I have a very good working relationship with my anesthesiologist/pain management doc and my regular pharmacist as well. All that being said, I’m having a terrible time locating my regular 50mcg fentanyl patch and my regular 15mg oxycodone IR tablets. Is this happening all over or is it just in the south? Do you know if this is going to continue to get worse or is this a fluke in your opinion?
Thank you so much for any/all help you can give me (your opinion) and for your time. I know you must be extremely busy and that your time is very valuable, but I am frightened and your knowledge and insights will at least open my eyes to the “real world”. Having RSD has made me terrified of most everything lately, not sure why.
Thanks again for your time and for taking time out to read a strangers email. Have a blessed day and hope to hear from you soon.
Here is a VICTIM of the DEA’s war on drugs… Here is a patient that is being TORTURED by the DEA’s war on drugs.. she is FRIGHTENED of the collateral damage of the DEA’s war on drugs.
How many pts that are just like this one out there?… and I can’t believe that the MORONS at the DEA give a shit… If/when this person becomes too frightened, anxious, depressed and/or increased pain levels.. and commits suicide.. out of despair … and she will probably use her drugs to “take care of business” and the DEA will have another “death by drug over dose” to justify their war on drugs… And those BOZOS in Congress will just keep giving them more money.. to do it..
I may be wrong… but isn’t this your basic cluster-F ?
Filed under: General Problems
Don’t know if this helps but fentanyl transdermal patches were on critical shortage most of 2011 and 2012 and the supply chain is still recovering. Per ASHP, Teva had stopped making all strengths which caused the shortage. Not sure if the patient who contacted you preferred the Teva brand (as let’s face it, Teva had the best delivery for chronic pain patients) but other brands are back in stock. The patient may need to get a higher dose of a non Teva brand if that was the issue.
OxyCodone IR tabs also recently just had along standing critical shortage resolve. Multiple reasons for this one but I remember just last year having to manually package stock bottles because we couldn’t source any unit dose oxy ir in any strength. If I remember it was because mallicrodt discontinued their 5mg capsules thusly decreasing the other supplies.
I just checked my wholesaler and both products you mentioned are on allocation so I imagine the shortages are starting again.
It may not be the DEA this time. It may be the FDA being too slow to approve new mfg lines. Or maybe not.
Food for thought.
I think you’re getting the cluster thingy. In my state there seems to be a never-ending supply of both of the medications you mentioned. I don’t know about other states but we never seem to have any problem.