SAN ANTONIO – It is now more difficult to refill prescriptions for the most popular painkillers because of tighter federal restrictions on products with hydrocodone.
New rules by the Drug Enforcement Administration kicked in Monday, moving hydrocodone products, including Vicodini, Lortab and Norco, into a stricter drug class designated for the most dangerous and addictive drugs.
The changes mean no refills without a new prescription written by the doctor. Physicians may no longer phone it in to the pharmacy.
"They do have to come in person," said Ernesto Garza-Gongora, pharmacist with Stone Oak Pharmacy. "It's no longer available by faxing or by e-scripting."
Patients can expect more frequent visits to the doctor and pharmacy.
Prescription are now limited to a 30-day supply, although doctors may post-date and write up to three separate 30-day prescriptions.
The rule applies to more than five dozen medications that contain hydrocodone. Some cough syrups will also fall under the restrictions.
The government says the rules are to curb abuse of the highly addictive painkillers.
"It's not going to be as accessible," Garza-Gongora said. "The good thing about that is it will minimize the amount of divergence we typically see with those meds and hopefully decrease the amount we see on the streets, which is basically selling them illegally."
Critics have expressed concern about a more dangerous black market and the patients who legitimately need the hydocodone for pain facing too much hassle.
The rules do allow for prescriptions written before Monday to be refilled before April 8; however, pharmacies may decline.