Has anyone used 1st choice Meds?

[alumni]

I believe it is a relatively new "stigma" attached to prescription narcotics rather than an old one.
The problems occuring in recent years involving prescription drug abuse and diversion have affected policies at the majority of pharmacies and have focused more pharmacists on who the prescribing doctor is and possibly where they're located.
These pharmacists have to make the ultimate decision about whether to fill a script for a medication that has a well-known abuse potential and, more and more, they are getting pressure from their employers, state pharmacy agencies and regulators to excercise increased caution when questioning whether a prescription is valid in their professional opinion.
It might sound unfair to many patients but it's a sign of the times because of the increase in abuse, addiction and health problems caused by prescription drugs in the US today.

[mrsjones]

I am shocked that Walgreens was filling the prescription in the first place. They are the most conservative pharmacy out there. There is no law that prohibits out of state prescriptions but some pharmacies are implementing their own policies. Mom and Pops might be only option after a while. I would rather spend money in a mom and pop anyway. They have been squeezed hard by the chains.

[alprazo]

I am shocked that Walgreens was filling the prescription in the first place. They are the most conservative pharmacy out there. There is no law that prohibits out of state prescriptions but some pharmacies are implementing their own policies. Mom and Pops might be only option after a while. I would rather spend money in a mom and pop anyway. They have been squeezed hard by the chains.

I just filled two oxycodone scripts at wallgreens without a word one was 30 mg 180 count instant release and 15 mg 180 count instant release! no problems whatsoever!
I do agree though wallgreens is usally exspensive and I have found them to be not very polite either most times but this one time I used them they didnt say anything and believe me I was very surprised being from out of state doc!

[Richh]

Walgreens is so overpriced like CVS and they are rude and difficult to work with at the best of times. I can't believe you ran those thru Walgreens. LOL! WELL DONE!

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How many Congressmen and women are on heavy meds? It's all about the lobbyists & Big Pharma's $$$$$$ !!! No longer are patients a concern. Even the doctors are getting kickbacks for prescribing and loads of free samples themselves. America has become so childish and all about the Benjamins!

[lucyloo]

I did end up using a doctor through 1st choice and I still feel it was a good option for me. I live in New England and had no trouble filling a script for hydro from a neighboring state. Yes, I did pay that first fee, but the doctor they sent me to looked at all my records, talked with me for half an hour, listened to my goals of non-medication strategies I would like to try or continue to try and also recommended some newer non-med strategies. It wasn't just "wink wink, here's a script.". Most important to my life situation, it is all legal.

At least with the doctor I saw, if you don't have a legitimate need for the Meds, you will not be getting them.

[alumni]

It's all about the lobbyists & Big Pharma's $$$$$$ !!! No longer are patients a concern. Even the doctors are getting kickbacks for prescribing and loads of free samples themselves. America has become so childish and all about the Benjamins!

I've heard this complaint before but don't quite understand how it relates to pharmacies getting more cautious about filling prescriptions for scheduled narcotic drugs. I'm sure there are people in Congress who are prescribed them but so what? I would think that pharmaceutical companies and their lobbyists would not be supporting these kinds of restrictions in pharmacies since they can reduce the sales of their products.
I also don't know how "kickbacks" to doctors and "free samples" affects any of this topic at all.
As far as I can tell, America has always had a love affair with the Benjamins.

[Citmyway]

Is there a concrete list of current referral services that provide f2f services in all 50 states? I am currently using central medical consults and unfortunately my Texas doctor is shutting down his practice to do allergy.

[GreenThumb]

Walgreens is so overpriced like CVS and they are rude and difficult to work with at the best of times. I can't believe you ran those thru Walgreens. LOL! WELL DONE!

*This post was auto-merged. The following text was added 3 minutes after the last post:*

How many Congressmen and women are on heavy meds? It's all about the lobbyists & Big Pharma's $$$$$$ !!! No longer are patients a concern. Even the doctors are getting kickbacks for prescribing and loads of free samples themselves. America has become so childish and all about the Benjamins!

I've said it before, so just call me the Board (Bored) Broken Record.....come voting time, do not vote for ANY politician at ANY level that does not actively speak out against and vote against the 'drug war'. The drug war, as they call it, is nothing more than a war against Y-O-U and your constitutional right to treat your own body as you wish. They can promise you the moon and stars, but if they support the war on drugs, they are enslaving you.

Stop electing filth to represent you.

[alumni]

I've said it before, so just call me the Board (Bored) Broken Record.....come voting time, do not vote for ANY politician at ANY level that does not actively speak out against and vote against the 'drug war'. The drug war, as they call it, is nothing more than a war against Y-O-U and your constitutional right to treat your own body as you wish. They can promise you the moon and stars, but if they support the war on drugs, they are enslaving you.

Stop electing filth to represent you.

Quick question: Are there any politicians you can identify who have run for office (except possibly Ron Paul) and actively spoken out against or ultimately voted against the "War on Drugs"?
During the 2008 Presidential election campaign, I was amused by the number of Obama supporters who believed that he would somehow dismantle the DEA 's infrastructure along with significantly easing federal laws and enforcement efforts regarding marijuana. Didn't happen.
Given the electorate mood in the US today, I seriously doubt that any politician-who actually wants to be elected-is going to publicly speak out against the War on Drugs. If those are the only candidates you are supporting, you're probably going to be pretty bored inside the voting booth.

[GreenThumb]

^ Cop out, no disrespect intended...there are always constitutional-based candidates on the ballot for most of the major races....the problem being, that people get conned into the "don't-throw-away-your-vote" nonsense that the establishment media puts out there. Or they get turned off by the media hit-pieces that are launched against any candidate that dares to stand up for liberty. The last thing the mainstream media wants is individual liberty.

.....and when the brain-washed minions of Corporate Stooge X or Military-Industrial-Complex Puppet Y, call me looking for my support, the first question out of my mouth is "are they in favor of or against the war on drugs".......you can almost hear them grimace through the phone line.

We get the government we deserve.

[alumni]

I don't know about getting the "government we deserve" but I'm pretty sure we get the government representatives that the majority of voters selected.
Supporting and voting for a candidate or not based on their opposition to the War on Drugs seems like a pretty narrow approach to participating in an election.
But if that is working out well for you in your attempt to change this dynamic, continued good luck to you.

[ddj]

Well, I'm going to do it. I don't know how it will play out or if this was a good idea or if it will come back to kick me in the a$$.. but I sent my records and payment to 1st choice meds and will supposedly receive my appt date Monday. It was late when I got my paperwork together. So, I'm extremely nervous but also kind of hopeful that this will be a good thing for me. I will let you know how it goes because I know there has to be people out there like me wondering if these services are great or just a big waste of money. Take care all and will keep you posted..

[GreenThumb]

I don't know about getting the "government we deserve" but I'm pretty sure we get the government representatives that the majority of voters selected.
Supporting and voting for a candidate or not based on their opposition to the War on Drugs seems like a pretty narrow approach to participating in an election.
But if that is working out well for you in your attempt to change this dynamic, continued good luck to you.

@alumni, if the war on drugs is not such an important issue, than why in the hell are we all here? Would any of us need to be on Pharmacy Reviewer if we had unrestricted access to medicines? What individual freedom is more fundamental than the right to decide what to do with your own body?

The right to use (or yes, even abuse) your own body is fundamental, so much so, that one can never claim to be truly free if this right is infringed upon.

Further, I believe that the issue of drug is policy is closely entwined to many other issues....it's no coincidence that the same people that scream so loudly in favor of the drug war also want to bomb other countries and do big favors for their corporate shills.

Ultimately, you either believe in freedom or you don't. I believe many people today have traded freedom for the illusion of security. I really hope more folks wake up and see this.

[gallielo]

So with 1st Choice, is PM all they work with? I have GAD, and multiple other anxiety issues, but the psychs I see always throw a bucket of SSRI's and the other anti-depressants,... no anti-anxiety medicines at all. While they do help some, I have severe panic attacks multiple times a day. I would love to find a Dr. that actually cares, but if F2F is my only option I'll take it.

I'm looking into a few MD's in GA that have been mentioned by a member on here, but if that doesn't work I would like to try 1st Choice if it's worth it.

[Lazyboy]

Just wondering if you had your f2f yet and what kind of experience you had. Most 1st choice doctors are doing 6 month f2f visits now which makes it even more expensive but if you need to go this route then so be it. It is sad when our society has to find it's own answers because the medical community is so screwed up with all the LE crap and all. Drug abusers didn't help the situation any either. Now we are all paying the high price of trying to be well and get through our days without anxiety, stress and or pain.

[ddj]

had my F2F today.. it was a little crazy as there was a guy in the waiting room counting a huge wad of cash.. telling everyone this is what it cost to come here and letting us know he had a gun stashed outside in the bushes because he's not allowed to bring it in the clinic.. no lie. It was interesting to say the least.. anyway..long story short, the doctor was fine and no problems.. went over all my records and I left with a bump in the meds I had been taking so all in all.. happy right? Wrong.. seems like no pharmacy will touch his prescriptions so I have a very nice piece of paper now.. can anyone recommend a place that might take these prescriptions? I was thinking a mail order out of state but I know they do call that office and validate the rx and Im not sure they want that at the office or if they would even fill it.. kinda at a loss as to what to do..other than chalk it up to experience and move on... please help

[dsteury]

The problem got today is that they are being closly watched themselves. My Sister-in-Law owns the largest Hospice Pharmacy in St. Louis,. This place has a direct terminal to the local drug distributor. She can have any CII or CIII drug by courier in less 2 hours or the distributor will if it is an emergency situation if it's quicker they will send there own courier. About two years ago the DEA hit her Pharmacy counted every CII med.pill by pill same thing for the CIII Meds. It was mandatory that CCD cameras be installed every that medicine was handled. They even had to install Web Cams in the delivery trucks. The first week the cameras catch one of the girls that has been working there for years coping 20 Oxy 80 she lost her job but they didn't charge her with anything. Now the DEA is there every 3 months plus random visits Now every script is matched with the pill count in the bottle. Anything more than 5-8% loss you better know a good story.

[ddj]

thank you for your advice. I appreciate it. I have emailed the service also just to see if they could offer recommendations and they told me to call the doctor and see what they could recommend or using a company called Health Smart.. I guess they are independently owned pharmacies.. I dont know if this makes a difference but there is one a few miles from my house so I guess I will try there too.. it's just so humiliating to have them tell you they won't fill it.. but I guess that is the price we have to pay now for any help. The whole system is frustrating! Thanks again

[ddj]

Just my two cents on the F2F consult services.. I did find a small independent pharmacy and was a nervous wreck walking to the counter. I handed her the scripts and asked her if I could get those filled please.. and she took them and said sure, no problem. And it wasn't! A very nice older lady rang me out and I was out the door in about 20 minutes. I think I will transfer all my scripts there they were so nice. The pharmacy I was using (big chain) is nasty when I'm just dropping off blood pressure meds so it was really nice to have someone friendly. So all in all, the experience for me was nerve racking and stressful (but I tend to stress over all the what if's about everything!) but I feel it was a good option for me and I am glad I did make that step. I can't really advise anyone to do it or not do it but I can say for me, it was worth the stress and expense in the beginning. I hope this helps someone out there who might have been in the same boat as me.

[Pi3r0]

Excellent service and the doctors are very professional and compassionate! I have used them in the past and have only good things to say!