NWR - Is it possible to get a controlled substance prescription early?

It'll depend on what the doctors office says. In MS you have to pick up the prescription too. You can't fax it

PA here. As far as I know you can technically get it early if they post date it and put the day you should be getting it/cant fill it before on the prescription. But that's up to the provider if they are willing to do that or not.

If they post dated it you would not be able to pick it up until that date.

Can you ask for just the few pills he would need until you get back home (instead of asking for the full prescription)?

Laws are different in each state. Some scheduled medications can be faxed but not schedule II drugs ever. It's also technically illegal to post date a prescription but some Doctors will do it. I feel like the doctor's office should work with you on this. It's a special circumstance and as long as your FH doesn't ask for these favors often, I would hope it would be okay. Good luck!

ETA: former pharmacy technician here.

I'm a nurse in NC. Controlled substances are highly regulated here and they cannot be faxed.

You can ask his MD to write the prescription with a do not fill before date on it and then fill it at a local pharmacy.

Good luck

Can they give you a physical prescription to take to a pharmacy there? For various reasons I've had to ask them to get out the ol' prescription pad to hand write a few times (usually for travel - while my prescription isn't a controlled substance, it's one that a lot of pharmacists & dr's are uncomfortable with since it can be abused). Usually takes them a minute to find it since everything is digital these days, but it's worked out well for me.

Thanks @Nancy and @Niccole. I'll give him those suggestions and see if either can work.

Pharmacist here. I would do whatever you can to work with your regular pharmacy to get it filled early. If a new patient brought me a script for a controlled substance, tried to get it early, and they weren't local I wouldn't fill it without verifying it's validity. Some might refuse to fill it all together. If I was your regular pharmacist I'd definitely get approval from the doctor to take care of it before the honeymoon. That doesn't mean the insurance company would be on board for filling it early though. Controlled substances just make everything more complicated. Best of luck!

ETA: dupe

Thanks, guys! They're going to give him the prescription today or tomorrow, and it can be filled the 23rd. So we'll just work that into our plans for that day.

I wasn't able to when I tried to get my ADD meds early here in NYC. I think each state has differently laws.

If it's getting filled on time, is it okay to get it filled out of town? Because if it can't be filled until the 23rd, we won't be in town. We'll be on the honeymoon.

Call his insurance company and see if there is a vacation supply override. Some plans have them so if you are on vacation in the middle of a fill they will give you a full fill if applicable overrides exist on the plan.

Edit: it depends on the drug and plan but I live in NY and I have never seen an issue with getting one if the member has the override

I used to be a pharmacy tech at a retail pharmacy and it varied by store how early you could fill a controlled prescription. My store was 3 days early from when a 30 day supply would run out and some other stores I worked at, it was only 1 day early. Like a PP had mentioned, if you're filling it out of town, it might look suspicious but I think it'd be less suspicious if you went to the same pharmacy (if it's like a Walgreens or something) so that they'd have your history. Being honest about the situation would be beneficial especially since you won't be at your regular pharmacy. Also depends on your insurance. When we filled controlled prescriptions 3 days early, I don't think there were any problems with insurance besides this one patient who the insurance was very strict on her filling hers early.

In healthcare in PA. Prescriptions have to be given to the pharmacist in person. I haven't had any luck prescribing controlled substances without handing over a script to the patient.

In the state I am in, no they will not fill them until 2-3 days prior. The actual Pharmacy is regulated so strictly that they will not fill it early. I tried a couple of times just because I was doing my shopping that day. Nope...had to come back. My insurance as well will not fill.

Possibly speak to the doctor to see if there is anything he can do or if they can call in a script to a pharmacy in the destination you are going.

I use a chain pharmacy so that when I travel in different parts of the country I can do things like pick up allergy medications and such.

I'm in NC too, and when I went on an extended trip to Mexico, I was in a similar situation. I talked directly to my doctor at an appointment I had before I left and explained the situation. They were really understanding and wrote me two month's supply. I highly suggest talking directly to the doctor versus front office staff, pharmacy etc. In my experience they aren't willing to help at all, but the doctor was very understanding. Just make sure you have an appointment with enough time before you leave (at least two weeks). Good luck!

I called around and found a Rite Aid that can fill it on Thanksgiving (when we need it). They just need to know the dosage so they can have it in stock. Thanks, guys! I wouldn't have thought to call around otherwise, and I'm glad I did. CVS wouldn't do it, and Walgreens only would if he'd been with the chain before.