Pharmacies So slloowwww

[BudGuy]

I know, this is just me transitioning from that "omg legal MC!!!!! I'm so honoured and lucky" into the highly entitled "paying customer" that we all eventually become....

... and I know that I'm still in the early stages and it will take some more changes to get to the size of prescription to match my needs so I don't run out before refill day...

... and I know that my symptoms returning and being out of medicine is making time grind by at snail's pace...

... but I have to say that Curaleaf's dispensing process seems quite slow and doesn't really help the situation. I feel like I need an extra 10 g on my prescription JUST to cover the variance in their dispensing and shipping times, because it seems like each step in the process can take up to 1 day, and since that involves a 6 stage process of getting a script approved, sending paper copies to the pharmacy, pharmacy putting it on the system, me ordering, them shipping, and it arriving, it adds up to almost a full week for the process to complete.

Because my script seems too small, I ran out and was very eager to refill asap, so the MINUTE my "request more" button became available 2 weeks ago, I hit it, so that the pharmacy would receive my script well in advance of it being dispensable, which they did. And within 5 minutes of midnight on the day I was able to purchase it, I'd done it. Thinking that I'd be helping the process along as much as possible and getting as far to the front of the queue as possible by doing everything as early as possible. And yet Curaleaf did not dispense today, so they'll probably dispense tomorrow, so what I was hoping to be a Wed delivery is now a Thu/Fri delivery, and I'm usually quite late on the delivery list so realistically won't be back to proper medicated until Saturday. That just seems a bit much to me. Can't lie, symptoms are very much on right now, so I'm quite irritable, but I do feel like the pharmacy process is leaving me high and dry with no real need for the delay. Surely they don't have a full day's worth of dispensing to do ahead of me when I put request more 2 weeks in advance and make my payment at midnight?

I now feel like a bit of an idiot for all those times I moaned about having to wait 40 minutes in a pharmacy for some cocodamol or whatever. I'd take a 40 minute in-person wait any day over this "could be a day could be nearly a week" system, even if it does include the convenience of delivery. MC is orders of magnitude more delayed than any other medicine I've ever encountered.

Anyway, questions:

1) Any clinics with a much faster and more reliable dispensing and shipping time?
2) The way my scripts are going, my script issue date seems to land on a Tuesday, which means I seem confined to waiting to the end of the week for my delivery. What's the easiest way of changing it so I land on a Sunday or a Monday instead, so there's a better chance I at least get my medication by mid-week? Having to do a Mon-Thu without meds is much more challenging than say a Fri-Sun.
3) Is it worth writing to them to see if they'll increase my script by 10 g to cover these difficulties, even just temporarily until I have a small surplus instead of deficit, and the general issue of my script being slightly too small without having a consultation? Or is it just always going to be the case that increase in script size needs a consultation, which is not due until May?

 

[Muiredach]

1) Any clinics with a much faster and more reliable dispensing and shipping time?

I've personally been having the exact same problem as you this month. I used four pharmacies across my entire script, it's taken 8 days for two pharmacies to dispatch, of the other two: one hopes to invoice me in the next day or so; the other hasn't even acknowledged my script landed. My personal opinion is that IPS are the best for reliability of deliveries (not used myself this month.)

2) The way my scripts are going, my script issue date seems to land on a Tuesday, which means I seem confined to waiting to the end of the week for my delivery. What's the easiest way of changing it so I land on a Sunday or a Monday instead, so there's a better chance I at least get my medication by mid-week? Having to do a Mon-Thu without meds is much more challenging than say a Fri-Sun.

Honestly, I don't think you can depend on medication dispensing on a reliable schedule like this at all a lot of the time. Unless you're ordering from a pharmacy that definitely holds shelf stock of your entire script, you'll be left waiting on distributors to get meds to them which is a mixed bag of reliability in general.

Theoretically when choosing a main partner pharmacy they should be super quick, for example I ordered Upstate/Craft from Montu, Green Karat and CannFX from Cedarwood, and two Clearleaf® vape carts from Mamedica® - all should theoretically be able to dispatch the same-day script is received if the invoice is paid early enough, but that hasn't been my experience at all lately.

3) Is it worth writing to them to see if they'll increase my script by 10 g to cover these difficulties, even just temporarily until I have a small surplus instead of deficit, and the general issue of my script being slightly too small without having a consultation? Or is it just always going to be the case that increase in script size needs a consultation, which is not due until May?

I feel so yes, and my own clinic has a similar understanding with me. My usage is understood as generally about 80g per month, but my allowance is 100g (and at one point it was 120g because stock issues were so bad). I feedback to my doctor how much I have left. You'll almost always need a consultation for changes in your prescription amount.

Curaleaf are generally known for being a little stricter, and I'm not sure how they may react to such a proposal - you'll likely be speaking to customer service or a prescribing pharmacist there, as opposed to your specialist doctor directly. I feel they'll inform you that you have to discuss changes next consultation.

 

[Craig Mac]

I've personally been having the exact same problem as you this month. I used four pharmacies across my entire script, it's taken 8 days for two pharmacies to dispatch, of the other two: one hopes to invoice me in the next day or so; the other hasn't even acknowledged my script landed. My personal opinion is that IPS are the best for reliability of deliveries (not used myself this month.)


Honestly, I don't think you can depend on medication dispensing on a reliable schedule like this at all a lot of the time. Unless you're ordering from a pharmacy that definitely holds shelf stock of your entire script, you'll be left waiting on distributors to get meds to them which is a mixed bag of reliability in general.

Theoretically when choosing a main partner pharmacy they should be super quick, for example I ordered Upstate/Craft from Montu, Green Karat and CannFX from Cedarwood, and two Clearleaf® vape carts from Mamedica® - all should theoretically be able to dispatch the same-day script is received if the invoice is paid early enough, but that hasn't been my experience at all lately.


I feel so yes, and my own clinic has a similar understanding with me. My usage is understood as generally about 80g per month, but my allowance is 100g (and at one point it was 120g because stock issues were so bad). I feedback to my doctor how much I have left. You'll almost always need a consultation for changes in your prescription amount.

Curaleaf are generally known for being a little stricter, and I'm not sure how they may react to such a proposal - you'll likely be speaking to customer service or a prescribing pharmacist there, as opposed to your specialist doctor directly. I feel they'll inform you that you have to discuss changes next consultation.

 

[Craig Mac]

Sorry to jump into this thread. Can I ask has anyone's account from Mamedica® been hacked. It also seems on here I can only post on current threads as will not allow me to post new thread. Iv been getting emails today from a blank email from Mamedica saying iv to pay £75 to confirm my consultation in two weeks and if I don't pay my script will be cancelled. Then I get another email tonight saying iv got to pay for another appointment in June. I spent an hour on hold today and I gave up. I'm meant to pay my script for the month tomorrow but I feel something is not right as I'm on the access scheme and don't want to be paying incase iv been hacked. I had this before on a Netflix account where an customer service agent was selling peoples details and I hope this is not the case again. My concern is iv been calling Mamedica 4/5 times in the past 4 months and they answered without being put on hold. Any help would be appreciated. And sorry to jump into this thread.

 

[GrownHealth]

Evening @Craig Mac and whilst not being able to comment on whether you been hacked I'll say that the spacing in consultations is consistent with how they work with 3 months between also it looks to me like they want you booked in for your appointment so they can release your prescription as your follow up will be booked but I would suggest you speak whether by e-mail or phone .
Obviously if you are on the access scheme you should not be paying these fees but I cant recall if you are on the access scheme or not.

 

[JR52]

The phone menu is off at Mamedica® this morning it just rings

 

[Craig Mac]

Evening @Craig Mac and whilst not being able to comment on whether you been hacked I'll say that the spacing in consultations is consistent with how they work with 3 months between also it looks to me like they want you booked in for your appointment so they can release your prescription as your follow up will be booked but I would suggest you speak whether by e-mail or phone .
Obviously if you are on the access scheme you should not be paying these fees but I cant recall if you are on the access scheme or not.

@GrownHealth yes I'm on the access scheme. Everything is sorted now as I called bang on 9am and spoke to someone about my concerns and all sorted now. There's a problem with the system at the moment so hopefully it will get sorted soon as it was stressful for me yesterday and not being able to talk to anyone.

 

[JR52]

Just got through now. There is a problem with the menu or something.
They will have it fixed in the hour

 

[Craig Mac]

The phone menu is off at Mamedica® this morning it just rings

@JR52 yes I noticed this myself when I called at 9am it just went straight on to ringer then someone answered and as you say there was no menu option.

 

[GrownHealth]

@GrownHealth yes I'm on the access scheme. Everything is sorted now as I called bang on 9am and spoke to someone about my concerns and all sorted now. There's a problem with the system at the moment so hopefully it will get sorted soon as it was stressful for me yesterday and not being able to talk to anyone.

Glad its sorted and as I wrote it last night I realised you may not have to pay but not knowing and not being able to contact is not good for us and hope they sort it soon

 

[Craig Mac]

Glad its sorted and as I wrote it last night I realised you may not have to pay but not knowing and not being able to contact is not good for us and hope they sort it soon

@GrownHealth The person I spoke with earlier said just to ignore the emails I received yesterday as there is some sort of glitch in the system and hopefully gets sorted soon.

 

[GrownHealth]

@GrownHealth The person I spoke with earlier said just to ignore the emails I received yesterday as there is some sort of glitch in the system and hopefully gets sorted soon.

That's good to know for others reading this and will pass the message on to anyone who has the same concerns you did , cheers for keeping us updated

 

[Craig Mac]

That's good to know for others reading this and will pass the message on to anyone who has the same concerns you did , cheers for keeping us updated

@GrownHealth No worries mate. I just hope my delivery comes out tomorrow as iv just paid for it this morning once my mind was put at ease.

 

[JR52]

They have told me to ignore the invoices as I am on the access scheme and don't have to pay for appointments

 

[JR52]

@GrownHealth No worries mate. I just hope my delivery comes out tomorrow as iv just paid for it this morning once my mind was put at ease.

If you ask them they might get your medication for you for tomorrow if they are not too busy

 

[BudGuy]

I've personally been having the exact same problem as you this month. I used four pharmacies across my entire script, it's taken 8 days for two pharmacies to dispatch, of the other two: one hopes to invoice me in the next day or so; the other hasn't even acknowledged my script landed. My personal opinion is that IPS are the best for reliability of deliveries (not used myself this month.

Fair enough, seems like I've had a false impression of how reliable shipping/dispensing is from reports online and just have to adjust my script to compensate for the fact that it could be anything up to a week or more sometimes for shipping.

Not sure why though in this case. I'm going Curaleaf clinic to curaleaf pharmacy, done everything early as possible on my end, it's only 2 strains which are both showing as available and they're common strains that they seem to always keep shelf stock of and it doesn't strike me as a particularly busy time of year - actually the service seemed quicker in January when I suspected there'd be a Christmas backlog.

Still not dispensed as of yet, so yeah, maybe even my hopes of getting it any-time this week will be dashed entirely.

I wonder, actually, if the packaging change they announced is something to do with it. I made a post about it previously - new packaging from Curaleaf from the 10th onwards, and I was going to be maybe one of the first to get it since my script lands on the 11th. Perhaps the new packaging is causing delays.

 

[Lank72]

1) Any clinics with a much faster and more reliable dispensing and shipping time?

I put my order in with Mamedica® about a week and a half to 2 weeks before the due date and for the past maybe 5 months I've had my meds on that day, or on the next working day (depending on when the day lands, e.g. if the due date is on a Monday it's getting sent out Monday and I get it Tuesday)

It was a bit bumpy at the start with them, on this topic and on a few other fronts, but with that lead time on making my request I've been very happy to get the meds so reliably as this is probably one of the most common causes of anxiety I've seen for MC patients

3) Is it worth writing to them to see if they'll increase my script by 10 g to cover these difficulties, even just temporarily until I have a small surplus instead of deficit, and the general issue of my script being slightly too small without having a consultation? Or is it just always going to be the case that increase in script size needs a consultation, which is not due until May?

Personally I wouldn't cite this as the reason, especially given what @Muiredach said. I'd just say I've been running out so need a 10g extra limit.

What I was told by my Dr is that it can be seen as an upper limit, and doesn't mean I have to order that much each month

 

[BudGuy]

I put my order in with Mamedica® about a week and a half to 2 weeks before the due date and for the past maybe 5 months I've had my meds on that day, or on the next working day (depending on when the day lands, e.g. if the due date is on a Monday it's getting sent out Monday and I get it Tuesday)

It was a bit bumpy at the start with them, on this topic and on a few other fronts, but with that lead time on making my request I've been very happy to get the meds so reliably as this is probably one of the most common causes of anxiety I've seen for MC patients



Personally I wouldn't cite this as the reason, especially given what @Muiredach said. I'd just say I've been running out so need a 10g extra limit.

What I was told by my Dr is that it can be seen as an upper limit, and doesn't mean I have to order that much each month

Thanks for info about Mamedica. Curaleaf don't even let you buy it before the script becomes live, so interesting that other clinics will let you purchase it a few weeks before it's even available. It doesn't really make sense, you can request a new script 2 weeks in advance, and it can land at the clinic just a few days later, but you can't buy it until midnight on the issue date. What's the point in the 2 week lead time on the script if it doesn't actually result in paying for or getting anything any sooner?

Yeah I probably only realistically need another 5 g to fill my gap in times when their delivery is prompt, but might need the full extra 10 g in weeks when its a longer process like this week.

 

[Lank72]

I think Mamedica® officially do 10-day lead time ahead of the due date, and the whole point is to get all that admin done in time so the due date can be when the meds arrive.

So the usual order of things as far as I can tell is:

10 days out, I choose the meds
9 - 8 days, prescription written and passed on to Mamedica's pharmacy
8 - 6 days, I get the invoice to pay (and tend to pay it immediately so as not to slow things up)
1 - 0 days, dispatched

 

[williemed]

I had this problem initially; luckily for me fairly easily solved by contacting my clinic. They moved my follow up forward so I didn’t run out, and in that appointment doubled my flower allowance so I wouldn’t have a problem going forward. I must say I have been really impressed with Alternaleaf and am grateful for the level of service and care I have received from them.

I would recommend to any new patients reading this - don’t be shy to ask for more than you need so you don’t run out. If you think you use 20g a month from the black market, ask for 30 or 40. They have no stigma, are non judging and want to help you. I was nervous about asking for a 2nd pot of candy store so I wouldn’t risk running out, but the response? “Sure I’ve put 2 pots of candy store on there for you, anything else?”. They totally understand and don’t want you to run out anymore than you do