Seems that generally if a script is written for a certain number of pills per day, even AS NEEDED, if you go over that amount, they won't refill more than a couple of days early. Some meds just say "every 4 hrs as needed" or something like that as opposed to "4 times/day"... the difference being that 4 times/day would allow for only 120 pills in a month, every 4 hrs as needed could go much higher. Insurance is a big part of the limits... they won't pay for more than a month's prescription at a time. Also, though, as I found out when I went thru a recent difficult time and took too many xanax's and ran out, I have never had ANY sort of withdrawal until then. My doctor was soooo understanding, and safely prescribed me a way to handle it. I have to watch myself, I tend to want to take too much.