Scott asked
I have been taking Norco 10/325 for a year now for herniated discs in my neck. My pain had worsened so my doctor wrote me 2 scripts this month for 120 each, take 1 every six hours. He said to fill one and if I needed to then to fill the other. I did read somewhere about doctors writing"do not fill til" on the scripts, but mine didn't. Is it legal to fill the second script? Or willhhe have to write a new one with a new dosage?
Answer
The pharmacy laws vary from state to state so it is tough to say whether or not those prescriptions are written legally. Many don't allow doctors to post date prescriptions or write multiples for one drug. The only real problem you will run into is that fact that both scripts are written with the same directions. If you happened to take more than one tablet every six hours and needed to fill the second script, the pharmacy and your insurance company would think you are "early" and that you are taking too many tablets.
As a pharmacist, there are two better ways to make sure you get the medication you need and not be held up if you need an "early fill".
- The doctor should write one prescription allowing for a higher dose. For example, they would write take one to two tablets by mouth every four to six hours. Maximum daily dose of 12 tablets. You don't need to take the max dose, but at least if you have to, the prescription has you covered.
- If the doctor isn't comfortable allowing for a higher dosage in one script, they should write you a second script only when it becomes necessary. It is NOT a problem for a pharmacy to fill a new prescription for the same drug when the directions are changed to allow for a higher dosage. For example, if you ran out early of your first prescription and needed a new one, the pharmacy will want to see a script with new directions, such as one to two tablets by mouth every six hours. This would explain why you are out of the first prescription early.
Dropping off the same exact script early to the pharmacy will only cause problems. The pharmacy will most likely deny you until they talk to the doctor and even then, they may not fill the script if the directions haven't changed because you obviously are not taking the medication that way.
