Why won't my pharmacy let me pick up my medication 2-3 days early?

Question

Hello, I have had scoliosis since I was a child, which causes me severe back pain. I have been taking Loxycodone 5mg 4 times a day for more than a year because the effect only lasts about 3 hours. I would like to understand why this medication is so badly regarded. When I go to my pharmacy I have the impression that they take me for a drug addict and I don't like that. A huge thank you

Naji-tom Samaha · Accepted Answer

Hello Mrs., I'm sorry to read about your troubles! Unfortunately there is still a lot of misunderstanding and fear about chronic pain, opioid use, and communicating with someone in pain. I can't speak for the members at the pharmacy you frequent, but the discomfort of this can come out as dismissive or stigmatizing The first step is the easiest, but also one that may seem difficult to take: talk about it Have you ever discussed your pain in depth with your pharmacist? Has he/she ever brought up the topic of pain or opioid use with you? Your pharmacist is your medication professional, a coach whose primary role is to support you as you navigate through your health condition. If your pain or treatment plan is beyond his/her scope of practice, he/she should refer you to a colleague who can help you. Without going into too much detail as I don't know enough about your case, your pharmacological history, your previous trials, your current therapy, here are some questions that should be discussed between you Is oxycodone the only medication you are taking for pain (here's a hint: it shouldn't be) Speaking of oxycodone, if you have been taking it for 1 year, has the long-acting form, so that you can take fewer pills per day, been discussed with your pharmacist or doctor? Is there a way to modify the treatment so that your relief lasts longer than 3 hours? If so, are these medications being taken at effective and tolerable doses? Has your pharmacist ever asked you about this? Are you receiving other treatments such as physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, or any other modality? Has anyone ever mentioned to you what the primary goal of pain management is? It is not simply to decrease the amount of pain you feel (e.g. on a scale of 0-10), but to help you preserve or increase your level of function: In this regard, is your treatment successful in this mission? I hope that my answer will provide you with some guidance, but if you are not satisfied with the treatment and/or service you are receiving at your pharmacy, I invite you to speak with your pharmacist. He/she should be able to answer your questions, address your concerns and complaints, and listen to you. I will remain available if there is anything to discuss. Tom Samaha, Pharmacist With pleasure, good continuation!