California Pharmacy law re the sale of syringes

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David - 09 Oct 2005 02:42 GMT

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=04001-05000&file
=4140-4149

pay attention to section 4145 (a)

This current law provides that a pharmacist can provide syringes to
someone they do business with (The person is known to the furnisher)
who has proven a need to inject a medicine or treatment. There are
additional circumstances in which the pharmacy may provide syringes
without an Rx. Read the link for further info.

I haven't bought syringes in a long time, if memory serves me correctly,
SOME pharmacies only asked for a signature in a log book. since I've
been pumping since 1996, I don't really know what the practical result
of the laws are, as some pharmacies I've dealt with have had their own
set of restrictions that go beyond state law.

Any comments on your personal experience, particular at a California
pharmacy, with respect to the purchase of syringes and various types of
insulin.

Dave

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ted rosenerg - 09 Oct 2005 14:59 GMT

> http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=04001-05000&file
=4140-4149
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Dave

I do not have specific experience in California, but in other states,
the only time I got asked ANYTHING was at pharmacies near slums. I then
showed a bottle of Insulin, and was immediately given my syringes.

I am an elderly white man. If I were younger, black or Hispanic, I
assume I would have had a lot more trouble.

As to Insulin, despite Beav's shrill babble, Insulin Analogs are NOT
Insulin - they are supposed to require prescriptions EVERYWHERE in the
US (but not in Canada, Mexico, or most other countries), Insulin is
non-scrip in most places. I do not know of any credible report that
anyone has not been able to buy it without a prescription anywhere in
the US. I have bought it non scrip (and syringes) in many states, but
not all. I have not bought it in California.

One warning. I once was in line at my regular pharmacy, and the brand
new clerk refused to sell the person in front of me syringes without a
scrip. I stepped in and insisted that she call the pharmacist, who told
her that syringes never required a scrip, and handed the guy a box.

Pharmacy clerks are not always the most knowlegable. I have also had a
pharmacy clerk hand me over the counter a bottle of fast acting Novolog
(which should have required a scrip) when I ordered long acting Lente
Insulin. She thought like Beav seems to, "all of them look the same, I
can just substitute the stuff I have for the stuff I am out of." If I
had TAKEN 50 units of the ultrarapid analog instead of the Lente
Insulin, I wouldn't BE here today!

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Uncle Enrico - 09 Oct 2005 16:08 GMT

> Any comments on your personal experience, particular at a California
> pharmacy, with respect to the purchase of syringes and various types of
> insulin.
>
> Dave

Buying insulin and syringes at California pharmacies without an Rx can
be strange. When I was new to insulin and seeking information, the
pharmacist was wary and suggested I could only buy syringes without an
Rx if I bought insulin. I was told I could only buy R or NPH insulin
without an Rx. I think I could have bought lente if it was still available.

The first time I bought syringes from this same pharmacy without an Rx I
affected a confident, breezy manner and was given the syringes after
signing a little form. If I had "spooked" the pharmacist, I might not
have gotten the syringes. Now, they know me. I also buy insulin there.

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Uncle Enrico - 09 Oct 2005 16:20 GMT

>> Any comments on your personal experience, particular at a California
>> pharmacy, with respect to the purchase of syringes and various types
>> of insulin.
>>
>> Dave

I noticed that the law you cited uses the word "may." If a pharmacist
thinks the buyer is up to no good, he/she can apparently refuse to sell
syringes without an Rx. I don't know if R or NPH insulin can be refused.

Sadly, insulin and syringes can be misused. If you've seen "Reversal of
Fortune" you may remember that the murder suspect husband said that his
wife abused insulin to lose weight. I don't know how one can lose weight
with insulin. Most of us gain weight. Also, apparently, murders and
possibly suicide are committed with it. That "suspect" was believed to
have used insulin to kill his wife. Mary Schiavo was believed to have
been injected with insulin by her husband, though there was no proof of
this.

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David - 09 Oct 2005 19:13 GMT

>>> Any comments on your personal experience, particular at a California
>>> pharmacy, with respect to the purchase of syringes and various types
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> been injected with insulin by her husband, though there was no proof of
> this.

and don't forget Claus Von Bulow who was first convicted and then
acquitted of attempting to murder his socialite wife with insulin.

Dave

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Ma¢k - 10 Oct 2005 15:06 GMT

>>>> Any comments on your personal experience, particular at a California
>>>> pharmacy, with respect to the purchase of syringes and various types
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>> been injected with insulin by her husband, though there was no proof of
>> this.

it is a complete lie that Mary Schiavo was injected with insulin by
her husband. the so called christians who started that lie should be
horse whipped. But make no mistake, it was a lie.

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RK - 10 Oct 2005 02:18 GMT

As a life long resident of California and living
there as well when dx'd... I was told you NEED
a prescription to obtain syringes. I used to use
the walmart pharmacy or CVS... Both pharmacists
told me to bring in the prescription and they would
mark my "acct" as "IDDM" so that I wouldn't need
to bring in a script each time, unless I wanted my
insurance co to cover them. My co-pay for name
brand is $35 and B&D are $22 for a box.. cheaper
not to... but yes, I had to prove I needed them for
a medical reason and that I wasn't a junkie.

----
RK, T1/pumper/Animas IR1250

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=04001-05000&file
=4140-4149

| pay attention to section 4145 (a)
|
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
|
| Dave

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ted rosenerg - 10 Oct 2005 15:43 GMT

> As a life long resident of California and living
> there as well when dx'd... I was told you NEED
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> |
> | Dave

No, you needed the scrip so that they could put the order into the
computer - for insurance purposes

AND, they are ripping you off
The Relion Brand syringes only cost about $13, less than your "copay"

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RK - 14 Oct 2005 19:41 GMT

| > As a life long resident of California and living
| > there as well when dx'd... I was told you NEED
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
| > ----
| > RK, T1/pumper/Animas IR1250

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=04001-05000&file
=4140-4149

Did you not read what I said? I said the ONLY reason I needed a
prescription afterwards was if I wanted the insurance co to pay.

And I've tried the Relion brand, imho it's a piece of sh.t not worth the
money... I had too many bend on me.

I'd rather pay out the $$ for a quality brand.

----
RK, T1/pumper/Animas IR1250

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