Managing prescription refills while you're over the road.

The VA actually doesn't do routine refills at the hospitals anymore. I get all my VA refills through the mail and they come from regional pharmacies all over the US. Take notice of my use of the word routine. I have a printed note on the wall next to my desk with the extension of the Hampton Pharmacy and to always ask for "Mary" one of the pharmacy supervisors. I also have a Clinical Pharmacist (PhD type) I can call If I need something!

I don't know how long it's been since you dealt with the VA, but the entire VA pharmacy system is all hooked together today. However, NO I would NOT try to get a refill in a VA hospital anywhere but Hampton. In an emergency, I would have to go to their ER and register!

 

Publix has a list of free meds too. Used them for a while but eventually had to switch and start paying at Wal-Mart when I went back to OTR.

 

Statins are dirt cheap unless there is a new "designer" statin that I haven't heard about. Usually about $35-40 WITHOUT INSURANCE for a 60-90 day supply.

 

First off it has been years since I last bought a statin and that was a $10 for 90 day supply at Walmart for one I have already forgotten what it was called. I am currently taking Atorvastatin and get it from the VA. I think the most expensive medication I get from the VA is Jardance and I have been told a 90 day supply costs around $1600 bucks. Before I went fully with VA healthcare I always had a Walmart 10 dollar Rx printout when I went to see my doctor. Now my VA co-pays are such I no longer worry about the costs.

 

Your doctor should have a health portal. In the health portal there is a spot for medication renewal. Figure out what pharmacy you can be near. Ask that pharmacy for the number to have the doctor contact them directly. Inform your doctor that you are over-the-road and need the prescription filled at some where other than where you normally go.

If the doctor wont do that you need to get the prescrip filled at your normal pharmacy and get some family to pick up the medication. You may have to inform the doctor that so and so will be collecting your meds. Then it is either getting routed near your home to get the meds. Or have the meds (presuming they arent narcotics) overnighted to you on the road.

Tho the last suggestion it might have to go through a hospital.

 

I use Wal mart. The trick is to order a refill from Local Pharmacy by Home. (Or have Dr. call it in). Like normal, if you were home. Then when I have time, and I’m near a Wal mart, I call the Wal mart I’m near, explain I’m traveling, and my prescriptions already been called in at home. It can be 15 minutes, after it’s called in at home. Or 3-5? days. Doesn’t matter. Never a problem.

 

Pharmacy can contact your doctor for refill. I had to do it once, at a Walmart pharmacy. It’s not unusual circumstance

 

Call your doctor’s office and have them send it to a Walmart enroute. You may have to pay out of pocket though and if it’s a controlled substance you’re sol.
I have RA so I’m on lots of meds. I’ve been filling my scripts as early as possible for the last ten years. Now I have at least three months - on one I have a year’s worth- extra.
If you’re unable to fill on the road you should still fill at your regular pharmacy then maybe have a friend pick it up and UPS it overnight to a terminal or something.
Again- if it’s controls you shouldn’t do it and you shouldn’t be taking any (especially while training) unless you’ve been absolutely cleared by your physician AND have a note stating that your meds do NOT affect your ability to drive a commercial vehicle.
I once forgot to take my Zoloft with me.... I only realized when I started having withdrawal symptoms. I immediately contacted the Doc and they sent a small script to a Walmart that I’d be passing by the next day.
Good luck and have fun trucking!!

 

The Federal Controlled Substance Act sets up five categories or "schedules" I, II, III, IV, and V. ALL 5 categories are considered "controlled". What has happened over the years is the definition of controlled has become illegal narcotics and the illegal possession of legal narcotics. About 5 years before I retired I was taking a multivitamin along with a blood pressure med and Metformin! I was speaking to an Officer while being inspected at the Wildwood Florida scale. We got onto this subject! It was a casual conversation after the inspection and the officer asked me what meds I was taking. I got into my tractor and brought out my shaving kit where I kept my meds in a dispenser. The cop then informed me to keep my prescription bottles close by. That Florida law was clear about ALL controlled substances were to be in a container with the prescribing information on it. That was the day I stopped using that dispenser and just took my pills out of the bottle. I have spoken to Cops in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia about this. I have not yet got a consistent answer on this topic. I will say this, EVERY one of them stated if you have a narcotic in your vehicle you had better have a bottle with all the legal information on it.

Think of it this way. ALL narcotics are controlled substances but not all controlled substances are narcotics! This was how a VA clinical pharmacist explained it to me.