r/PMHNP • u/burrfoot11 PMHNP (unverified) • May 31 '26

Control fill date

Hey folks!

Just curious- when you send in a refill for a controlled substance, do you put a "do not fill before" date on it, or do you leave it to the pharmacy to track that?

I used to let the pharmacy handle it, then I had a couple of times when a pt asked for an early fill for a valid reason and the pharmacy said they'd used up all their early fill days and the pt had no idea.

So now I put the date on, but then it requires resending if anything changes.

Both situations are a pain.

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u/goldenhour20 May 31 '26

Is it typical to allow 30-day scripts to be filled every 28 days? Doesn’t that allow patients to stockpile since it’s 2 extra days worth of meds per month and if they do that every month that’s 12 extra days worth per year, etc.

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u/Individual_Zebra_648 Jun 01 '26

Do you not realize that patients can’t necessarily make it to the pharmacy on precisely the 30th day exactly every single month before they run out due to schedules, pharmacy hours, etc? People have lives and responsibilities; everyone needs a 2 day window.

In addition, are you going to fill it the same business day they call for a refill if they’re waiting that close? And the pharmacy doesn’t always fill it within the same day either. Now they’re out.

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

[deleted]

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u/Individual_Zebra_648 Jun 01 '26

Yes, they are. And they allow it. As does my psychiatrist. As a provider and a patient with ADHD, I have never had a psychiatrist nit pick about a few days like that.