It has been talked about for years. Some thought the topic was like Chicken Little crying that the sky was falling. To all such individuals I've got news for you — the sky has fallen and Chicken Little was right. Many, like me, always believed the rescheduling of hydrocodone combination products to Schedule II was inevitable, though sadly the least effective way to deal with the growing opioid overdosing epidemic.

Anyway — in case you haven't heard— the DEA publicly declared that beginning Oct. 6, all hydrocodone combination products will move from Schedule III to Schedule II controlled substances, thereby adding significant limitations and restrictions to the prescribing and distribution of these prescription analgesics. New York state made the switch already, implementing the scheduling change on Feb. 23, 2013. The rest of the country will now follow suit.

There's probably been enough talk about whether rescheduling hydrocodone combos will have any noticeable impact on reducing drug diversion or overdose. I've listened to both sides of the issue, and I'm skeptical that this move will make any significant dent in the big-picture drug problem we have as a country. It may shift the battle lines, but I don't think it will substantially change the war.

What will change are some of the front-line challenges experienced in retail pharmacy as a result of the rescheduling. Here are five of them:

1. Storage challenges

Although federal law doesn't require that Schedule II substances be stored in a safe or locked cabinet, for practical purposes most retail pharmacies insist on doing so for security and accountability purposes. As a pharmacy manager who is charged with the responsibility of securing access to controlled substances, I would insist on having them locked up.

But this could create a huge storage challenge for hydrocodone combinations that are traditionally stored on the shelves with other drugs in most pharmacies. How many bottles of hydrocodone combinations are on your shelves? 5? 10? 20 or more maybe? For most busy pharmacies this will require — at the least — another few locked drawers to be available. Where will you put them?

2. Record-keeping challenges

Schedule II controlled substances often require that a perpetual inventory of such drugs be maintained (this is not a federal, but sometimes a state requirement). While this is an effective way to account for these drugs, it is also an added burden on the pharmacy and pharmacist.

Additionally, these perpetual inventories must be regularly audited by the pharmacist. In Massachusetts, for example, the perpetual inventory must be reviewed and checked by a pharmacist at least once every 10 days (which usually amounts to checking it every week, typically on a weekend).

3. Efficiency challenges

One of the most significant challenges that pharmacies will face is just the overall slowdown that will be encountered as hydrocodone combination products move into Schedule II. Since they cannot be refilled, each prescription will be entered as a "new" prescription into the filling software — which takes longer than a simple refill.

Also, such prescriptions must generally only be "handled" by a pharmacist either due to state law or pharmacy policy (some states may allow technicians or certified techs to be involved). Such prescriptions often must be signed and cancelled by the filling pharmacist as well.

4. Patient counseling challenges

Pharmacists and pharmacies will have to begin counseling patients about this change and explaining the implications of this law. For some patients, it may mean counseling them about a new medication for their pain, as the prescriber may choose to use a non-Schedule II substance like acetaminophen with codeine (Schedule III) instead.

While studies exist to demonstrate these products are equally effective for acute pain, we know that such a switch is likely to cause significant patient dissatisfaction and complaints. Pharmacists will have to spend time educating patients on their options in such cases.

5. Profitability challenges

Overall, prescriptions for hydrocodone combination products will probably go down. That, of course, is one of the goals of the new legislation. I'm not saying whether that is good or bad, but just pointing out from a pharmacy operations perspective it may have some financial impact.

Many patients may be switched to other prescription drugs. But bean counters in corporate offices may notice some decline in weekly prescriptions and get anxious — putting more pressure on pharmacists and pharmacies.

Yes, all these challenges (and probably several more) will be encountered by the average retail pharmacy as a result of the rescheduling of hydrocodone combination products. None are too big to overcome, but it's time to get ready and prepare.

Hopefully, before long, we'll all hardly remember what life was like before the sky fell.