No more 10ml vials?

[optionsdude]

About 3 refills ago I started getting 10 1ml vials instead of 1 10ml vial. I never thought anything about my insurance was paying. Had a change in insurance recently so now I have to pay 20% so went to pick up test prescription and again it's 10 1ml vials and my cost was $38. So I looked at the paperwork and it said that the retail cost was around $200. WTF is going on here? Hell the clinics are cheaper than that. I know I'm only paying $38 but still I'm a cheap bastard and don't like overpaying for anything. I did a quick google search and came up with some stories about pharmacies no longer wanting to distribute multi use vials due to them being unsafe. We all know that's BS. Is anyone else running into this problem? The pharmacy I use is CVS. Thanks guys

[almostgone]

I get the baby 1 ml vials as well, but I can see Westward and Pfizer 10ml vials sitting on the shelf. I know the Dr. office still gets 10ml vials for the patents that come in for their shots and some guys still get their scripts filled with 10 ml vials.

I've heard it is the way the prescription is written, but no one has ever said how it needs to be written.

[GearHeaded]

Pure pharma grade test -- 10 ampules of test, 2000mg total, and a 10 month (edit - "weeks" not months) supply of TRT, for $38 total . seems pretty reasonable to me.

[almostgone]

Pure pharma grade test -- 10 ampules of test, 2000mg total, and a 10 month supply of TRT, for $38 total . seems pretty reasonable to me.

(10) 1ml vials/10ml won't really quite over you for 10 months if you're on decent protocol.

Edit: The script generally expires after 6 months also. It can be maddening to keep up with if.you don't have enough to stock back a little bit.

[almostgone]

OP, your insurance is providing pretty good coverage. I pay a tad more than that for 3ml/month until I meet my out of pocket max.

[GearHeaded]

(10) 1ml vials/10ml won't really quite over you for 10 months if you're on decent protocol.

Edit: The script generally expires after 6 months also. It can be maddening to keep up with if.you don't have enough to stock back a little bit.

oops , I meant 10 WEEKS . assuming 1ml per week TRT dose

[almostgone]

oops , I meant 10 WEEKS . assuming 1ml per week TRT dose

Now that would be a nice TRT with pharma!! You could definitely put back a little "extra more" for later use/an apocalypse stash.

[Windex]

(10) 1ml vials/10ml won't really quite over you for 10 months if you're on decent protocol.

Edit: The script generally expires after 6 months also. It can be maddening to keep up with if.you don't have enough to stock back a little bit.

Your TRT script expires ?

[optionsdude]

Almostgone and gearheaded I know I don't pay much but I didn't use to have to pay anything. But now I have to pay 20% and I know 20% of a 10 ml vial is not $38. As far as the prescription is written it's been the same this whole time 1ml per week. I was shocked by the retail price difference between a 10 ml vial and 10 1 ml vials. The brand of mine is perrigo. When I asked the pharmacy tech about this, not the pharmacist, she said that there shouldn't be a price difference between the 2. But there clearly is a huge difference. I'm going to check walgreens and costco and see if their prices are any better and see if they dispense 10 ml vials.

[Windex]

Almostgone and gearheaded I know I don't pay much but I didn't use to have to pay anything. But now I have to pay 20% and I know 20% of a 10 ml vial is not $38. As far as the prescription is written it's been the same this whole time 1ml per week. I was shocked by the retail price difference between a 10 ml vial and 10 1 ml vials. The brand of mine is perrigo. When I asked the pharmacy tech about this, not the pharmacist, she said that there shouldn't be a price difference between the 2. But there clearly is a huge difference. I'm going to check walgreens and costco and see if their prices are any better and see if they dispense 10 ml vials.

You should be able to just have your doctor specify which Test on the script. I flip flop between Pfizer Depot-Testosterone and ******* Testosterone all the time based on whichever is cheaper as the prices change.

[almostgone]

Your TRT script expires ?

After 6 months it does. You have to go to the Dr. for a new script. It may be a US regulation? Alprazolam is the same way.

[almostgone]

Almostgone and gearheaded I know I don't pay much but I didn't use to have to pay anything. But now I have to pay 20% and I know 20% of a 10 ml vial is not $38. As far as the prescription is written it's been the same this whole time 1ml per week. I was shocked by the retail price difference between a 10 ml vial and 10 1 ml vials. The brand of mine is perrigo. When I asked the pharmacy tech about this, not the pharmacist, she said that there shouldn't be a price difference between the 2. But there clearly is a huge difference. I'm going to check walgreens and costco and see if their prices are any better and see if they dispense 10 ml vials.

CVS has the 10 ml vials, but my pharmacist said it was supposed to be coded different to get the 10ml vials. She did mention they are discouraged from the multi-use vials, but she think like me. I'm not scripted 200mg/week, only 150mg, so by definition, the 1ml vial is a multi-use vial.
Anyway, she is going to call my Dr. and see if it can be rewritten.
I get a flavor of the day from CVS as far as test brands....Perrigo, WestWard, Sun Pharmaceutical, and if I'm lucky...Pfizer.

I want to say Kel deals with Costco, but I may be way off base?

[almostgone]

OP, I don't know if helps, but maybe read here:
https://www.excelmale.com/community/...en-bruce.7548/

It reads as if insurance companies have some input as well?

[Windex]

After 6 months it does. You have to go to the Dr. for a new script. It may be a US regulation? Alprazolam is the same way.

Yuck - my scripts are pseudo-infinite

[optionsdude]

Thanks Almostgone. The puzzling part is I was getting 10 ml vials up until earlier this year. More than anything else I was shocked by the price difference for the same amount of product. It just seems to me that the pharmacy is trying to get more money.

[-Ender-]

Makes zero sense if someone is dosing less that 200mg. Which is pretty common.

[kelkel]

I want to say Kel deals with Costco, but I may be way off base?

Nope. Rite Aid. All is well with 10 ml vials, HCG, anything. I do recommend Costco for guys paying retail.

[Fred40]

My script is for 10ml vials and that's what I get. Rite-Aid and I pay 100%. Still relatively cheap when you factor in how long it lasts.

[Youthful55guy]

After 6 months it does. You have to go to the Dr. for a new script. It may be a US regulation? Alprazolam is the same way.

Not a US regulation. My doc prescribes 3 vials of 10 mL T at each of my annual appointments (current + 2 refills). Many docs only prescribe 6 months so that you have to comeback for labs and another office visit charge. They have you by the preverbal balls and are going to milk every penny they can from you.

[almostgone]

Not a US regulation. My doc prescribes 3 vials of 10 mL T at each of my annual appointments (current + 2 refills). Many docs only prescribe 6 months so that you have to comeback for labs and another office visit charge. They have you by the preverbal balls and are going to milk every penny they can from you.

It's very weird, because I am written plenty to cover me for a year, but CVS says the script expires in 6 months. I even questioned them about it and they pulled up a page that stated Class 3, Class 4, or Class 5 scripts can't be filled past 6 months of the date it was written or refilled more than 5 times.
I literally stood there and read the information.
It really irked me too because by the prescription I had plenty of refills.

[almostgone]

...and then when I look online, I get this, which is the information CVS presented.

https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/p...act/section5.h

Schedule III and IV controlled substances may be refilled if authorized on the prescription. However, the prescription may only be refilled up to five times within six months after the date on which the prescription was issued. After five refills or after six months, whichever occurs first, a new prescription is required.





Extremely aggravating.

[almostgone]

Your TRT script expires ?

Yes, unfortunately it does. See my post above, Windex.

[Youthful55guy]

...and then when I look online, I get this, which is the information CVS presented.

https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/p...act/section5.h

Schedule III and IV controlled substances may be refilled if authorized on the prescription. However, the prescription may only be refilled up to five times within six months after the date on which the prescription was issued. After five refills or after six months, whichever occurs first, a new prescription is required.





Extremely aggravating.

That explains a recent experience that had me perplexed. I had my rx refilled on 3/12/2018 and the script said I had 2 refills left. I tried to refill it on 8/18/2018, but the pharmacy said the script had expired. I was confused, because when I looked at the box, it said the expiration was 3/20. I assumed that the pharmacy mistook 3/20 as March 20, which is only 8 days after I filled it. They said they would call it in and the doc authorized another refill and all is well. Bottom line, it looks like I need to fill/refill the script at least 3 times when within the 6 month window that it is sent to the pharmacy. I'll have to program that into my calendar next time.

Interesting though, I thought HCG was regulated the same as T. They seem to have no problem filling my multiple HCG script refills over the past year. I just got my 4th refill since November 2017.

[almostgone]

That explains a recent experience that had me perplexed. I had my rx refilled on 3/12/2018 and the script said I had 2 refills left. I tried to refill it on 8/18/2018, but the pharmacy said the script had expired. I was confused, because when I looked at the box, it said the expiration was 3/20. I assumed that the pharmacy mistook 3/20 as March 20, which is only 8 days after I filled it. They said they would call it in and the doc authorized another refill and all is well. Bottom line, it looks like I need to fill/refill the script at least 3 times when within the 6 month window that it is sent to the pharmacy. I'll have to program that into my calendar next time.

Interesting though, I thought HCG was regulated the same as T. They seem to have no problem filling my multiple HCG script refills over the past year. I just got my 4th refill since November 2017.

That is weird because HCG is schedule 3 as well. I finally gave up fighting with my insurance company and have been buying HCG via alternate means. Start a new job soon and hope the insurance is more customer oriented.

I've run into the 6 month expiration on T several times and it is a.royal pain.

[Youthful55guy]

That is weird because HCG is schedule 3 as well. I finally gave up fighting with my insurance company and have been buying HCG via alternate means. Start a new job soon and hope the insurance is more customer oriented.

I've run into the 6 month expiration on T several times and it is a.royal pain.

It's not an insurance issue for me since I pay out of pocket. T and HCG is simply not that expensive in the gamut of drug prices, so I don't even bother submitting it. I'm guessing that my pharmacy does not understand that HCG is schedule 3. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and if they ever catch on, I'll simply have them call it into the doc with each refill.


I much prefer to have a domestic script for several reasons: 1) I like the idea on being legal, 2) I got screwed once by an overseas supplier on HCG, 3) there's no control of temperature during delivery, and 4) I don't like messing with breaking open ampules. In the USA, the only approved version (that I know of) is lyophilized in a sealed injection vial. You simply inject the correct amount of diluent into the vial and draw up what you need. Much easier than ampules!

[Couchlockd]

It's not an insurance issue for me since I pay out of pocket. T and HCG is simply not that expensive in the gamut of drug prices, so I don't even bother submitting it. I'm guessing that my pharmacy does not understand that HCG is schedule 3. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and if they ever catch on, I'll simply have them call it into the doc with each refill.


I much prefer to have a domestic script for several reasons: 1) I like the idea on being legal, 2) I got screwed once by an overseas supplier on HCG, 3) there's no control of temperature during delivery, and 4) I don't like messing with breaking open ampules. In the USA, the only approved version (that I know of) is lyophilized in a sealed injection vial. You simply inject the correct amount of diluent into the vial and draw up what you need. Much easier than ampules!

Hcg is scheduled?

OMG. ...smh

[almostgone]

Hcg is scheduled?

OMG. ...smh

Yes sir. Schedule 3 just like test.

[optionsdude]

Thanks for all of the input guys. Kel I think there's a right aid in my new area I went to CVS because that's what I used before I moved. More than anything else I was shocked by the difference in price between individual vials and a multiuse vial. I went by costco but my insurance isn't accepted there.

[JdFlex]

My script is 200mgs every 2 weeks (standard but my Dr said to actually inject 100mgs - 0.5ml weekly). My pharmacy fills that as a one month supply, thus two 1ml amps of 200mgs/ml. My script expires every 6 months also but I just call it in and the Dr refills it. I used to get 10ml vials but the pharmacist said since its a controlled substance, and 10ml is a 20 week supply, they should not be refilling (even though the RX has refills left) until close to the 20 weeks. So now they give me 1ml vials. My Dr shook his head at that and said there's some pharmacies over the internet that will send the 10ml. I have to follow up with him on how to proceed with that. The 1mls are annoying b/c I use a 1" needle and there is always 0.10ml left inside the needle. That means I can't inject 2 full 0.5ml doses with a 1ml amp b/c each draw should be 0.5 + 0.1 = 0.6.

[Couchlockd]

My script is 200mgs every 2 weeks (standard but my Dr said to actually inject 100mgs - 0.5ml weekly). My pharmacy fills that as a one month supply, thus two 1ml amps of 200mgs/ml. My script expires every 6 months also but I just call it in and the Dr refills it. I used to get 10ml vials but the pharmacist said since its a controlled substance, and 10ml is a 20 week supply, they should not be refilling (even though the RX has refills left) until close to the 20 weeks. So now they give me 1ml vials. My Dr shook his head at that and said there's some pharmacies over the internet that will send the 10ml. I have to follow up with him on how to proceed with that. The 1mls are annoying b/c I use a 1" needle and there is always 0.10ml left inside the needle. That means I can't inject 2 full 0.5ml doses with a 1ml amp b/c each draw should be 0.5 + 0.1 = 0.6.

Airlock it

[JdFlex]

Airlock it

Thanks!! Never heard of this but sounds like could also reduce the post injection pain I've been getting, 2 for 1!

[Quester]

Almostgone and gearheaded I know I don't pay much but I didn't use to have to pay anything. But now I have to pay 20% and I know 20% of a 10 ml vial is not $38. As far as the prescription is written it's been the same this whole time 1ml per week. I was shocked by the retail price difference between a 10 ml vial and 10 1 ml vials. The brand of mine is perrigo. When I asked the pharmacy tech about this, not the pharmacist, she said that there shouldn't be a price difference between the 2. But there clearly is a huge difference. I'm going to check walgreens and costco and see if their prices are any better and see if they dispense 10 ml vials.

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