Right there with you. I got tired of the constant fight (long holiday weekend? Tough, you still can't fill, enjoy being without your necessary meds! Doctor didn't get around to re-issuing the same script you've had for years? Tough, same deal, etc, etc...) and just plan on taking partial doses on the days I can afford to be less functional so that I've built up a reserve. It sucks, and it's a bigger deal than I think most people know.

What's even more fun is when the pharmacy is out of stock, so your refill is delayed, meaning you'll run out in the middle of holiday or travel when otherwise you would have been fine.

As someone who has experienced this phenomenon in the US, outside the US is so much better. My doctor just prescribes me nice round numbers of pills, usually ending with two zeroes. I almost couldn't believe it at first.

That’s a pretty standard corporate policy for controls across most states. And yeah it’s burdensome to plan your life around it.

The best suggestion I got was find a independent community pharmacy. Transfer scripts there. The staff will get to know you and when you say “my vacation is next week can I get my refill a week early?”, there is a good chance they’ll say “oh yeah, you mentioned that trip. I’ll get it filled today.”

You’re less of a number and more of a community member.

I’ll give that a shot. By corporate do you mean set by the pharmacy (in my case, CVS?). They’ve tried to override the fill restriction before only to be given back an exception regarding state law, I know California my doctor was actually able to refill outside the normal cycle once a year, possibly more, but needed a really damn good reason.

Yes, there can be multiple layers of regulations and policies. State law might restrict it. The state pharmacy board may have guidelines and then corporate may have further limits.

With the big chain pharmacies you’re fighting against them actually knowing you well enough to trust your request is legit AND the fact their hands may be tied by corporate.

At smaller pharmacies the pharmacist can often make the call themselves.

It’s really due to the opioid epidemic. Pharmacies were flagged as “you should have known it was inappropriate use”. It’s the pharmacist who will be questioned as to their judgement. If they can say “I’ve know Mr Smith for 10 years, he fills all his prescriptions here, has only asked for early refills 4 times in 5 years and each time was due to travel. In my judgement he was no misusing the controlled substance.”, then they’ll be happy to do it.

If they don’t recognize you and when they look you’re a new customer and your reason is the same one they hear all day long from obvious abusers, then they won’t put their ass on the line for you. Double so if they know corporate will say no.