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I currently read several reports about how Walgreen's treats chronic pain suffers. I have had almost the same treatment, but let me tell you an even more crazier story. This one is about the soon to be "very public" narcotics list.

I woke up one night a few months ago. in the worst pain of my life. I have had 4 kids so I know all about pain. I had a very strange reaction to all the spinal anaesthesia. I have a lot of nerve damage. I have been in chronic pain for years and never had to take medicine. I just lived with it. So for the past few months I have been trying to find out whats really wrong so i can get it fix.

Well Walgreen's felt that I was too an addict so the dilibertly put false information on the narcotics list so that I could not get any medicine or even a Doctor to treat me for anything. I can't even begin to tell you the horrible and truly agonizing *** I have been through. Every time I go to a new Doctor the come right in with this list. They absolutely refuse to even look at my medical records or even listen to me. All because of this list. They won't even let me see it either. Well about 2 months of that ***. I had it, I stole the *** thing from the doctors office.

This is the most messed up thing is at the bottom of it, it has a disclaimer that states "The state of Ohio doesn't Warrant the above information above to be accurate or up to date." That's exactly true the information on the list was doubled. From the date I dropped it off and picked it up were two different things. Not to mention I go to clinics so there are several Doctors that are listed so they just put a random name so that it looked like I go to all kinds of Doctors. There is just so much more so I hope others out there can get a hold of their "narcotic list" and put an end to this nightmare for so many people.

These list are created by the pharmacy. So the fault does lie with them, because a pharmacist is a licenced professional they are responsible. So if a doctor tells you about a list you on this is it. These list are meant for pharmacies,doctors, and the DEA. I finally found a lawyer to take my case. So if we "chronic pain suffers" stand up. We can eliminate a lot of pain and suffering.

Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan

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ramjet

The OP is obviously doctor shopping. I say that based on the sentence in the original post, "Every time I go to a new Doctor the come right in with this list. (sic) " That's not a statement someone who is using one doctor makes.

It's too bad (maybe) he/she is in pain but there is clearly a reason for Walgreen's action in this case.

Guest

I must say that if there was a DUR on you then there is a reason....The Insurance companies do have somehting to do with it, as they also keep track on excessive use. It stinks that there are people out there that unfortunately abuse these types of meds therefore making it hard on you because they (the government) have to keep a tighter ship on it...Not to mention any Pharmacist has the right to turn away a script that they feel may be abused because it is there license on the line.

I have worked at a pharmacy for 19 yrs and in my experience a tighter ship is needed...They now want the Pharmacist to consult you when you are taking pain meds and to intervene with the Dr if they think excessive use is happening....Narcotics are addicting and you build a resistance to them and end up having to get something stronger consistently...when does it end? It sucks, I get it....but to blame Walgreens completely...well you are wrong.

They aren't back there thinking ...hmmm I want to cause this person more pain...trust me, they would rather fill your rx...it means more to their bottom line. They have to do it to protect you and also to make sure the 6 yrs of school they had to endure to get where they are doesn't go down the toilet so someone can get there prescription, when perhaps, they shouldn't.

Guest

Walgreens en Pharmacists ARE NOT M.D.'S!!!I even had one of their pharmacists go so far as to call my Dr. office...they told her to mind her business and do her job!!!

Guest

Walgreens put me on the nationwide narcotics list so i couldn't get meds anywhere!"

Most likely because you were abusing prescription drugs.

Guest

Walgreens put me on the nationwide narcotics list so i couldn't get meds anywhere!"

Most likely because you were abusing prescription drugs.

Guest

sue thier *** sue the dea sue the walgreens sue the goverment sue everyone that breaks your constitutional right

Guest

mr. morpheus you are sadly mistaken if you think your insurance does nothing but payment!

YOU need to do some research and just how much insurance companies stick their fat noses into your business! making dr and pharmicists jobs very hard but its just easier to blame the pharmaicts isnt it??

Guest

Oh, let me add one other thing. I've had the same doctor for going on 17 years, and I've had ONE pharmacy for the past 9 years, and that WAS Walgreens.

It will now be CVS ONLY. This isn't a case of doctor shopping or going to multiple pharmacies, it's simply a way to harass legitimate, law-abiding citizens who are medication dependent.

Guest

I don't know about a nationwide list, but there are lists kept by each state. I too have been treated poorly when it comes to narcotic medicine at Walgreens.

They have a DUR on me for my pain medication. I asked what that meant, and they wouldn't tell me. Two minutes online and I was able to find it stands for Drug Utilization Review. I have degenerative disc disease and fibromyalgia, and I'm not on any kind of excessive dose.

My doctor checks for interactions EVERY time he prescribes me a medication. Seems that Walgreens feels that their pharmacists should second-guess my M.D. I took my prescriptions to CVS and had no problem. Walgreens often lies to you about why they won't fill a prescription.

They ALWAYS blame it on the insurance company even though they aren't involved in the issue in ANY way other than payment. Do some research online and you'll find that Walgreens is very well known for this reason.

Guest

Walgreen pharmacist do not send anything to your state. However, some states (Ohio is one) give themselves the right to download prescription info about scripts filled in their state.

The pharmacist has no choice and does not know if or when this info is downloaded by the state. (Keeps the pharmacy employees from being involved and changing the info) If you don't like your state laws call your state representative. Any info or list your Dr.

might have was almost certainly pulled from Ohio state files. The idea behind this law was to keep addicts from Dr shopping and pharmacy shopping.

Guest

Thats horrible! I am sorry you went through so much.

I am in chronic pain for IBD, diverticulitus, ulceritive colitis and I take narcotic pain meds. I understand your frustration.

Guest

8) :x :x woww man you people are fiends if you really care about getting drugs from the pharmacy there is the streets for a reason get it all from the streets

Guest

i would sue them so fast!!!!!!!!! what a terrible thing to do to a person... let a court of law or someone decide that, walgreens who the *** are they.....

Guest

Yes, I'm sure you've told the whole story, right!

Guest

I'm a pharmacist and there is no such thing as a nationwide narcotics list.

Guest

2. Duration of Therapy

Clinical studies document a maximum treatment duration of 56 days (eight weeks) for anti-ulcer therapy in the management of peptic ulcer disease, gastritis and duodenitis. The Texas Vendor Drug Program limits reimbursement for proton pump inhibitors and related drugs to 62 days per calendar year at the maximum daily acute dose listed in Table 1. This treatment duration has been allotted to allow the usual 31 days supply per prescription. The prescribing health care provider may continue acute dosage regimens for periods longer than 62 days per calendar year for patients with conditions such as hypersecretory disease states, esophagitis, or GERD. A diagnosis must be written on the prescription for acute treatment regimens exceeding the recommended treatment duration of 62 days per calendar year. Treatment regimens at acute dosage levels lasting longer than six months will be reviewed.

Esomeprazole, when prescribed for risk reduction of NSAID-associated gastric ulcer, may be administered for up to six months, as controlled studies for this indication do not extend beyond this time period. Similarly, lansoprazole may be administered for up to 8 weeks when prescribed for healing of NSAID-induced gastric ulcers and up to 12 weeks for risk reduction of NSAID-associated gastric ulcers, as controlled studies have not evaluated longer treatment durations. Treatment regimens for NSAID-associated gastric ulcers extending beyond six months for esomeprazole, 8 weeks for lansoprazole 30 mg, and 12 weeks for lansoprazole 15 mg will be reviewed.

Unless otherwise specified, maintenance therapy, at the recommended daily maintenance dose (Table 2), may be continued indefinitely based on patient need.

Proton pump inhibitor duration for H. pylori eradication is summarized in Table 3.

Table 3

Proton Pump Inhibitor Recommended Therapy Duration

In H. pylori Eradication

DRUG

RECOMMENDED THERAPY DURATION

Esomeprazole

with triple therapy: 10 days

Lansoprazole

with dual therapy: 14 days

with triple therapy: 10 days

Omeprazole

with ulcer present at treatment initiation,

dual or triple therapy: 28 days

without ulcer present at treatment initiation,

dual therapy: 14 days

triple therapy: 10 days

Rabeprazole

with triple therapy: 7 days

Guest

Filed under: Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, Anna Nicole Smith

A California pharmacist testified that he refused to fill a prescription for Anna Nicole Smith written by Smith's psychiatrist, Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, in 2006.

Why wouldn't he do so? Because the high doses of medication the doc wanted to give Smith amounted to "pharmaceutical suicide." That's a fairly good reason.

Ira Freeman said he received a request for painkillers, muscle relaxants and sedatives on September 15, 2006, four days after Smith's son Daniel passed away.

According to the Los Angeles Times, he declined to fill it: "If she got ahold of these medications, it could have fatal consequences," he told a judge Thursday.

Anna Nicole Smith died five months later of a drug overdose. Reports of her final days are not pretty, and those responsible could pay dearly with jail time.

Is Dr. Khristine Eroshevich responsible for Anna Nicole's death?

The testimony took place during a preliminary hearing to determine whether Eroshevich, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor and Smith's boyfriend, Howard K. Stern, should be tried on felony charges of conspiring to aid the drug addict Smith. The three face 23 felony counts of doing so through fraudulent means.

Freeman said Eroshevich's prescription for the Playboy model called for a staggering eight times the recommended dosage of a hypnotic sedative called Dalmane.

He also said Eroshevich seemed unfamiliar with the meds she was ordering. He recounted a toxicologist saying Eroshevich "was way out of her league on this."

An autopsy revealed Smith's death was caused by a combination of toxic drugs, especially chloral hydrate, Benadryl, clonazepam, diazepam and lorazepam.

Earlier this week, another psychiatrist testified that Smith tried to quit prescription drugs in 2006, when pregnant with her daughter, but failed to do so.

Luckily, Dannielynn is healthy and happy, living with dad Larry Birkhead.

Guest

In the Nevada case, Clark County district court Judge Douglas W. Herndon dismissed the pharmacies from the suit, noting that the Nevada law creating the task force doesn't specify what action, if any, is required by the pharmacies.

In a statement, Walgreen said: "While we're sympathetic to those injured in Ms. Copening's car accident, we agree with the district judge's decision that our pharmacists fulfilled their legal duties.

Years ago (30+) a judge stated in his ruling that "... a Pharmacist had no more right to warn a patient about the drug they were taking than a grocery store clerk had a responsibility to warn people about their purchase.."

This case is now before the Nevada Supreme Court...

Digest of lawsuit ... woman was obtaining large quantities of controlled substances from numerous pharmacies... all pharmacies were warned by the Nevada controlled substance database.. the pharmacies/Pharmacist did nothing .. not even a note in the computer about the warning

One year later .. woman- while apparently under the influence - hit a guy changing a tire on the side of the road .. killed him & injured someone trying to help him..

The consequences of this case - no matter which way it goes.. could impact all Pharmacists..

If the drugstores prevail .. if the Pharmacist has no legal responsibility other than making sure the Rx is right... bring on the techs and the automation. With automation and e-prescribing.. maybe the insurance industry and corporate Pharmacy will try to get the laws changed that a Pharmacist doesn't even have to be present when refills are done.. after all .. all it has to be is RIGHT... fill them off site in some warehouse..

If the drugstores do not prevail .. Pharmacists are going to be drug into every lawsuit involving a drug.. if you don't carry individual professional liability it will become mandatory and the cost of professional liability insurance is going to go thru the roof.

Guest

NEVADA SUPREME COURT: Pharmacies not liable in case

Man was killed when struck by car driven by woman on prescription painkillers

By ED VOGEL

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court ruled 5-2 Thursday that eight pharmacies in Las Vegas cannot be sued for negligence in the death of a man killed by a motorist under the influence of prescription drugs purchased at their businesses.

Justices decided Nevada's pharmacy laws "are not intended to protect the general public from the type of injury sustained in this case."

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Pharmacies do not have a legal duty to protect people injured by their customers, they stated.

"The duty (under state law) is to the person for whom the prescription was written, the pharmacy's customer, if anyone, and not for the general public's protection," stated the court in the majority opinion.

The decision upholds a ruling by District Judge Douglas Herndon who earlier dismissed the pharmacies from a lawsuit filed by the deceased man's family.

But in a footnote, the justices noted that the State Board of Pharmacy in 2006, after the death occurred, approved new regulations defining what steps pharmacists must take in filling prescriptions. Justices said they have not decided yet whether the new regulation makes pharmacists liable for damages when their customers injure others.

The case arose from a June 4, 2004, traffic accident in Las Vegas where Gregory Sanchez Jr., 21, was killed and Robert Martinez severely injured when they were struck by a vehicle driven by Patricia Copening.

Sanchez had stopped on U.S. Highway 95 to fix a flat tire. Martinez, a co-worker, arrived to help him. While transferring items to Martinez's vehicle, Copening's vehicle struck them both.

She was arrested for driving under the influence of controlled substances.

Sanchez's family and Martinez and his spouse filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Copening and several doctors.

In the course of the litigation, they learned that the state Prescription Control Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force in 2003 had written letters to pharmacies and doctors concerning Copening's drug use.

In a 13-month period, she obtained 4,500 hydrocodone pills at 13 different pharmacies.

The families then added Wal-Mart, Longs Drugs, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Rite-Aid, Albertson's and Lam's Pharmacy to the lawsuit.

Hydrocodone is a frequently prescribed opiate-based drug used for cough suppression and pain relief.

But the court pointed out the letter did not require the pharmacies to stop filling valid prescriptions for Copening.

Justices said there is "no material difference" between pharmacists who dispense drugs and bartenders who provide customers alcohol.

Under the state's "dram shop" law, bartenders are not responsible for accidents caused by their alcohol-drinking customers.

Justices Michael Cherry and Nancy Saitta dissented.

Cherry said that in past cases the court has established a special relationship constituting a duty exists between "innkeeper-guest, teacher-student and employer-employee."

"The relationship between a pharmacy and a pharmacy customer should also be considered a special relationship," said Cherry, allowing the families to sue the pharmacies for negligence.

He stated that before filling prescriptions, pharmacists must review the customers' records and determine possible drug abuse and adverse side effects.

"If a pharmacist reasonably believes that a prescription for a controlled substance was not issued in the normal course of a professional's practice, a pharmacist is prohibited from filling the prescription" under state law, Cherry wrote.

Ruling for the pharmacies were Justices Hardesty, Mark Gibbons, Michael Douglas, Ron Parraguirre and Kri

Guest

With Ohio prescription-drug abuse, deaths soaring, state will share data with Kentucky

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Harlan Spector

Plain Dealer Reporter

The number of drug-overdose deaths in Ohio has climbed so high that it surpasses deaths from motor vehicle accidents, but street drugs are not the main cause.

Health officials say abuse of prescription pain medications is behind the lethal trend, and the most common victims are not young people but middle-aged men. With many abusers crossing state lines for prescriptions, Ohio for the first time will share with another state the prescription-drug histories of residents.

Three years ago, the state Board of Pharmacy launched a Web-based program that allows doctors, pharmacists and police to check records of all prescriptions filled in Ohio. A growing number of states have authorized these monitoring programs to catch people "doctor shopping" for narcotic painkillers such as Vicodin and Percocet.

Now, Ohio is set to share prescription data with Kentucky, after the Ohio Pharmacy Board found a substantial number of people are obtaining prescriptions out of state.

The state hopes to reach data-sharing agreements with other states as well, said Danna Droz of the Ohio Pharmacy Board. She said pain clinics springing up in Florida are a major source of prescription pill trafficking.

"When we're able to share live data, physicians will be able to get better information on patients and hopefully discourage people from going to multiple doctors," Droz said.

Drug-related deaths in Ohio soared 304 percent from 1999 to 2007, a trend attributed mostly to abuse of prescription pain medications called opioids.

Only in recent years have federal health authorities realized that a rise in overdose deaths was due to prescription painkillers rather than street drugs. The trend corresponds to an increase in prescribing opioids to treat noncancer pain.

Narcotic pain medications are among the most prescribed drugs. By 2004, U.S. deaths from their misuse outnumbered deaths from cocaine and heroin combined, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

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