Can't get a 10ml vile?

[Wolfy]

My friend was just prescribed a 10 ml vial and he wasn't able to get it? The pharmacy said since its a controlled substance he can't get more than 3ml in 80 or so days?? So they gave him 3, 1ml vials of t instead of a 10? is that allowed, is that legal??

I know when I get my script I'm going to want my 10 ml and not 3 smaller vials.

but doesn't that also mean that he wont be allowed to ever get a 10ml vial, im so confused on this? has this happened to any of you guys?

[Devlyn]

Can't get a vile? That's fowl.  <running away> 

[CursedFireDean]

I was prescribed a 10 ml vial but they only gave me 3 1ml ones and I assumed it was because the prescription was for 3 months. Too bad The 3 vials don't last 3 months, they're a little bit short, which pisses me off. But they never gave me a reason why I didn't get a 10ml, so I don't know why it was. If it was just them not giving me what I was prescribed then I'm gonna be super angry.

Was your friend's prescription written for a certain amount of time? (Mine, for example said inject [my dose] of T once a week subcutaneously for 3 months.)

[Wolfy]

His says the same thing mine says. take  of t intramusculary bi weekly

[CursedFireDean]

His says the same thing mine says. take  of t intramusculary bi weekly

Weird then. I guess it wasn't the time thing on mine that gave me 3 vials. This is super upsetting. There are better prices on the 10ml vials.

[Wolfy]

lmao i wasn't even thinking. i honestly don't really care all that much either.

[SWNID]

I have heard of it at some places, but my pharmacy has always given me the 10 ml vial.

[KamTheMan]

When I was in Colorado and first prescribed my T, (prescribed a 10ml vial) the Walgreens I went to said I could only pick up one vial at a time, and they only had 1ml vials so I had to pick it up every two weeks for $15. I recently moved to Utah and the Rite Aid I got my 10ml script called into actually ordered the 10ml vial for me so I was able to pick it up for $45. I think pharmacies forcing us to buy 1ml vials are stealing our money.

[2fish]

Same thing happened to me. It is a controlled substance #2. Basically, according to the dose, if the 10 ml bottle lasts more than 6 months then you can't have it. You can, instead be given 3 (1 ml) bottles and then pick up the next 3 (1 ml) bottles when you run out. My pharmacy only had 5 vials of 1 ml vials in stock. I decided to pick up 3 vials for now and then pick up the others in a few days. Check the prescription label it should say something like partial or pick up partial before XX/XX/XX. My doctor called the pharmacy and corporate office to complain about this. The best thing to do when getting scripts filled is to always be nice to the pharmacist and ask for an explanation calmly. If you don't understand, please tell them to explain in another way. This is what I did and the lady was more than happy to take care of me. There was another lady that was yelling and they made her wait for 30 min. I got there after she did and I not only got my stuff first, the lady took her time to explain everything to me. So, remember, it's not always that they don't want to give it to you. There is protocol for these scripts and they are doing their jobs to make sure that all the rules are followed. The lady had no issues giving me my T, she just couldn't give me the bigger bottle because it would last longer than 6 months. Yes, it is much more expensive, but they are following the rules and we too have to respect that. I've dealt with this for many years in regards to a partner that took loads of meds for psychiatric disorder and we always had an issue every month. 

[Frank]

In my state (or federal law, I don't remember), I was able to get a 10 bottle one time. It was the cheapest price available. The last time I went in though, the law had apparently changed so you can't have a supply longer than...90 days? I don't quite remember, but they won't let me have a 10 bottle anymore. I can only get the tiny 1ml bottles. Gah.

[KamTheMan]

It definitely makes sense about if you script lasts longer than a few months. I'm opening a new 10ml vial on Saturday and it should hopefully last me until the end of March based on my script. I'm a little nervous about reusing it so may times, but we'll see how it goes. If it lasts two month then I already saved money based on what I was paying for 1ml vials. They should really prescribe 5ml or 6ml vials. Like roughly 12 weeks.

[Randi]

Under new regulations you can't get more than a 90 day supply. 

They only manufacture 10 and 1 mL vials so you won't  get other sizes.

Some compounding pharmacies such as Stroheckers can provide 10 mL vials:

http://www.stroheckersrx.com/testosterone-cypionate-compound.php

[Bimmer Guy]

I started with Depo Testosterone and was given a 10ml vial (10 weeks ago).  This brand has the T suspended in cotton oil.  I had some itching and an allergic reaction so I called my doc.  I was then prescribed Testosterone Enanthate.  This is T suspended in sesame oil.  I was given only a 5 ml vial (about a month ago)

Randi, are the new regulations a federal law?  When did it occur?

[Sebryn]

The regulation change passed in September if I remember correctly and they have 60 days to toe it in with the new regulations I think. So the timing is about right. Gonna be pain from now on until someone makes different sized vials.

[LordKAT]

They do make 5 ml vials. I have gotten them at walgreens when they didn't have a 10, they did have 1 and 5.

[CursedFireDean]

This is so stupid. I can't pick up the second half of my prescription because a week after I pick it up, I'm likely going to be raising my dose. Great.

[Bimmer Guy]

This is so stupid. I can't pick up the second half of my prescription because a week after I pick it up, I'm likely going to be raising my dose. Great.

Well, you still can, you will just use the vial more quickly than you would have normally since it is a higher dose.  Or am I missing something?

[CursedFireDean]

Well, you still can, you will just use the vial more quickly than you would have normally since it is a higher dose.  Or am I missing something?

I have to pick up the refill before I get my new dose so they would be stubborn if I tried to get more early. I'd pick it up with one prescription but I would start using more before I used it all. Basically they'd think I used it too quickly if I tried to get more.

[Ayden]

Same thing happened to me. It is a controlled substance #2. Basically, according to the dose, if the 10 ml bottle lasts more than 6 months then you can't have it. You can, instead be given 3 (1 ml) bottles and then pick up the next 3 (1 ml) bottles when you run out. My pharmacy only had 5 vials of 1 ml vials in stock. I decided to pick up 3 vials for now and then pick up the others in a few days. Check the prescription label it should say something like partial or pick up partial before XX/XX/XX. My doctor called the pharmacy and corporate office to complain about this. The best thing to do when getting scripts filled is to always be nice to the pharmacist and ask for an explanation calmly. If you don't understand, please tell them to explain in another way. This is what I did and the lady was more than happy to take care of me. There was another lady that was yelling and they made her wait for 30 min. I got there after she did and I not only got my stuff first, the lady took her time to explain everything to me. So, remember, it's not always that they don't want to give it to you. There is protocol for these scripts and they are doing their jobs to make sure that all the rules are followed. The lady had no issues giving me my T, she just couldn't give me the bigger bottle because it would last longer than 6 months. Yes, it is much more expensive, but they are following the rules and we too have to respect that. I've dealt with this for many years in regards to a partner that took loads of meds for psychiatric disorder and we always had an issue every month.

I haven't been in the us for a few years, though I will be dealing with this in about 16 months. However, I wanted to up this post for one reason in particular. I was a tech 2 in a pharmacy up in Alaska and I can honestly say calm rational explanation to a pharmacist worth their salt is the key. There were many times in my two years as a pharmacy tech that the pharmacist pushed back prescriptions due to rudeness. Not to the point of harming anyone but certainly to an extra half hour wait or longer. It was always same day, but that was one thing that didn't fly. Don't abuse the techs or the pharmacist. We had a trans woman who came in every month and she was as sweet as could be. There were many times when we had to special order her drugs and we always made sure to have them next day because she was so patient and nice. I remember one time we couldn't get her meds until Monday but she was out, and since she had always been good to us, I was given leave to call the hospital pharmacist and explain the situation. She got her hormones same day. Every pharmacy in town, even a big city, talk to each other.

If you can't get an rx that will last you for 3-6 months, talk to the techs and the pharmacist.  Believe it or not, most are happy to work with you and if they are worth anything they will jump through hoops to get you your meds. If they can't, ask them calmly what is going on.

[Bimmer Guy]

I haven't been in the us for a few years, though I will be dealing with this in about 16 months. However, I wanted to up this post for one reason in particular. I was a tech 2 in a pharmacy up in Alaska and I can honestly say calm rational explanation to a pharmacist worth their salt is the key. There were many times in my two years as a pharmacy tech that the pharmacist pushed back prescriptions due to rudeness. Not to the point of harming anyone but certainly to an extra half hour wait or longer. It was always same day, but that was one thing that didn't fly. Don't abuse the techs or the pharmacist. We had a trans woman who came in every month and she was as sweet as could be. There were many times when we had to special order her drugs and we always made sure to have them next day because she was so patient and nice. I remember one time we couldn't get her meds until Monday but she was out, and since she had always been good to us, I was given leave to call the hospital pharmacist and explain the situation. She got her hormones same day. Every pharmacy in town, even a big city, talk to each other.

If you can't get an rx that will last you for 3-6 months, talk to the techs and the pharmacist.  Believe it or not, most are happy to work with you and if they are worth anything they will jump through hoops to get you your meds. If they can't, ask them calmly what is going on.

Yes, I have been fortunate too, to only have good experiences with pharmacists when I have been in a pinch.  I can't say I have ever had a bad experience with a pharmacist (felt blown off, uncared for, etc).