Pain Medicine Problem

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I'm a 70 year old guy. I have a severe spinal problem. I have a 20+ year history of surgery, MRIs, and every scan you can think of. The pain is debilitating. I've been on narcotics because of the pain. For years, I've been on the exact same dosage from the same doctor. Yet, I keep having problems getting my RXs filled. They just happen to be out of my meds. The problem is that I cannot function without those meds. I understand there's an narcotic addiction problem, but I don't think some pharmacist, whom I've never met, nor has met me, should be person to decide if I'm an addict. And if you do go to another pharmacy, you're "shopping", so you must be in a drug cartel. Are any others bother with obtaining legitimate narcotic prescriptions?
 

Yes absolutely, my hubby had sciatica and major pain...landed him in the hospital a few nights with other issues. They prescribed pain patches. Medicaid refused to cover them. I guess some extra strength Tylenol should be enough...fortunate that he had an alternative means of getting them. Right...now they're legalizing weed but we have to go black market for meds Medicare and Medicaid won't cover...how screwed up is that?
 
Yeah, I have a prescription for generic Valium, which I use for occasional insomnia. It's the lowest dose there is. I used about 40 pills in a 14-month period....40. When I got a renewal of the prescription from my doctor, my insurance company said I needed to be evaluated for "drug dependence". 40 2-mg Valiums in a 14-month period and now I'm a drug addict? I just went ahead and filled the prescription without using my insurance and it turned out it's cheaper not to use the insurance AND the pharmacist doesn't give a damn whether I'm an addict or not. Win-win!
 

fuzzybuddy said:
I'm a 70 year old guy. I have a severe spinal problem. I have a 20+ year history of surgery, MRIs, and every scan you can think of. The pain is debilitating. I've been on narcotics because of the pain. For years, I've been on the exact same dosage from the same doctor. Yet, I keep having problems getting my RXs filled. They just happen to be out of my meds. The problem is that I cannot function without those meds. I understand there's an narcotic addiction problem, but I don't think some pharmacist, whom I've never met, nor has met me, should be person to decide if I'm an addict. And if you do go to another pharmacy, you're "shopping", so you must be in a drug cartel. Are any others bother with obtaining legitimate narcotic prescriptions?
Click to expand...

Is the problem you are having at Walgreens? I had that problem at Walgreens after my hip surgeries when I had a small complication. I went over to CVS, explained the problem, and got the scrip filled without a problem. Tell them to please call your doctor if there's a problem. Had the same problem with Walgreens trying to fill my niece's pain meds -- same solution.

I think Walgreens main office limits the number of class II and III meds it will allow a certain pharmacy to sell. Stupid.

Don't get me started on pharmacists and clerks making decisions about pain control, or about the FDA trying to stop narcotic addiction by limiting drugs available on a valid doctor's prescription to people who are in REAL pain -- it makes me so mad I could spit cotton!

Just going to another pharmacy won't show up as "shopping" as long as you aren't filling the same scrip at two different places, or filling multiple scrips. My doc showed me what comes up on his computer and it just shows what is actually filled.

If you continue to have problems, talk to your doctor and tell him about the problem and ask his help in solving it. It is unconscionable to make people with real pain not to be able to fill legitimate prescriptions.

ALSO, many of those pain meds, like percocet, roxicet, oxy, etc. are really very inexpensive, even without insurance.

I'll be interested to know how this works out for you.
 
yeah... My hubby has spinal pain too due to arthritis and he functions better on Ultram.. Which is Tramadol and a schedule IV class narcotic.. He has trouble getting docs to give him refills too.. It's insulting to be thought of as an addict or someone abusing drugs... When you take it for legitimate pain.


Controlled drug substances Schedule I drugs High abuse potential, no accepted medical use in US–Acetorphine, acetyl methadol, allyprodine, α—acetylmethadol, bufotenine, dextromoramide, diethyltryptamine, dimethyltryptamine–DMT, etorphine, heroin, ibogaine, ketobemidone, LSD–N,N-diethyl-D-lysergamide or lysergic acid diethylamide, marijuana, mescaline, PCP–phencyclidine, peyote, phenadoxone, phenampromide, racomoramide, tetrahydrocannibol
Schedule II High abuse potential, potentially leading to severe psychologic or physical dependence; schedule II agents have acceptable medical uses, eg narcotics–alphaprodine, anileridine, cocaine, codeine, diphenoxylate, diprenorphine, etorphine HCl, ethymorphine, hydrocordone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxymorphone, poppy straw concentrates, powdered opium, raw opium, thebaine and non-narcotics–amphetamine, amobarbital, methaqualone, methamphetamine, methaqualone, pentobarbital, percodan, phencyclidine, phenmetrazine, secobarbital
Schedule III High abuse potential, moderate to low physical dependence, and high psychologic dependence potential, with acceptable medical uses, which may be narcotic–eg nalorphine, paregoric, or nonnarcotic–eg aprobarbital, benzphentamine, butabarbital, chlorphentermine, chlortermine, glutethimide, mazindol, methyprylon, phendimetrazine, probarbital, talbutal, thiamylal, thiopental, vinbarbital
Schedule IV Minimal abuse potential, limited physical or psychological dependence potential, nonnarcotic, eg barbital, chloral hydrate, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, chlorazepate, dextropropoxyphene, diazepam, diethylpropion, ethchlorvynol, ethinamate, fenfluramine, lorazepam, mebutamate, methobarbital, meprobamate, methohexital, oxazepam, paraldehyde, phenobarbital, phentermine, prazepam
Schedule V Very low abuse/dependence potential–eg brown mixture–opium, some codeine preparations, diphenozylate preparations–Lomotil, ethylmorphine-Cidicol, opium–Donnagel-PG, terpin hydrate, or non-narcotic, eg loperamide
 
For years, the use and purchase of pain medications have been under the microscope in many states. For example, in Florida, the pharmacies keep a data base that contains everyone's name that receives opioid pain medication. This prevents the illegal distribution of narcotics. If I was to go to my doctor and get a 30-day supply of Percocet, Oxycodone, Vicodin or Hydrocodone and ran out early and went to a different doctor and got another prescription for the same, it would not be filled. Only up until maybe 7-8 years ago, Florida also had a problem with pill mills. Me, not being a doctor, would receive large quantities of opioids and then have a doctor on my payroll to write the scripts. This all came to an end when Florida started to use the data base. Many so-called distributors also went to jail.

Also, if you are a user of opioids, you probably have noticed that you have to take more to get the same effect. This is a common complaint with many users. What pain med are you taking? Doctors have an inherent obligation to protect patients against themselves. Many opioid medications also contain Acetaminophen, the same ingredient in Tylenol. The recommend dose of this medication is for no more than 4 grams per day. Acetaminophen is known to cause liver problems. So, if you are using Hydrocodone, for example and the dose is 5/350, you would be permitted to take no more than 11 pills per day. If you are taking 10/500, you would be permitted to take 8 pills per day.

The only way around your problem is to ask the doctor to issue you a higher number of pills, which he is probably going to hesitate doing. Keep in mind, if you are using an Acetaminophen product, you will be limited to 4 grams per day. Pill companies use Acetaminophen with opioid medication because it gives the opioid being used an extra kick by getting it into the blood stream quicker. If you are using an opioid medication and have been using it for years, your body is more than likely addicted to it. This does not make you an addict or a junkie. It just means that you do have a substance abuse problem through over-use. And if you are using opioids, you are probably also experiencing issues with going to the bathroom. This is another issue by itself. New drugs have come out recently to help opioid users with this problem. Two drugs come to mind; Linzess and Movantik, but like most drugs, these pills also have some serious side effects. PLEASE talk to your doctor before diving in and taking either of these two drugs. The correct term for this problem is "OIC", which stands for "Opioid Induced Constipation."

Up until almost two years ago, I was a drug counselor certified through the state after having received my certification from Penn State. I have counseled many people of all ages that became addicted to their pain medication. I understand what you are going through. I do have some ideas that may be able to help you, but I would prefer to do it via private messaging. I wish you the best of luck. I would be interested in knowing what medication and dose you are using.
 
  • Like
Reactions: imp
Policy for pain management meds is a mess, and unfair. A lot of people turn to "street" drugs because they are cheaper and easier to get. :shrug:
 
I think it is horrific and inhumane to make it so difficult for people who really NEED pain meds to get them. I do not think the FDA should get between a patient and doctor regarding whether the patient needs a certain level of pain medication over whatever period of time. Makes me mad as hell!
 
Mrs. Robinson said:
This was on the front page of our local paper this morning.....http://www.record-bee.com/general-n...ers-with-opioid-task-force?source=most_viewed
Click to expand...

That is a great article and I appreciate your posting it. I still have some friends who are Counselors and I will e-mail this to them. It's what I have been preaching here on this board many times. People begin taking pain medications, (and I'm talking about opiates), to relieve their pain. The pills do work and gives the user at least some quality of life. However, they were not meant to be used long term, which some doctors do repetitively by handing Rx's out to patients on a monthly basis. It only takes a few months of continuous use for a person's body to become addicted to the morphine, codeine, etc in these substances.

The main problem with these pills is that the longer a person takes them, the more they need to achieve the same effect because the body becomes immune to the ingredients in the pills. I have spoken with hundreds of people that have become addicted to pills and they were started by a doctor because of complaining of back aches or had surgery. I feel bad for these people when they run out of their prescription and cannot get more before their next doctor visit and have to go out onto the street to get their 'fix'. There is a lot of doctor and hospital shopping going on. Dilaudid in the E Room at the hospitals is handed out like suckers at the bank. After all, they want to control pain. I could go on and on, but most people just don't listen because "It won't happen to me." Famous last words.
 
  • Like
Reactions: imp
QuickSilver said:
yeah... My hubby has spinal pain too due to arthritis and he functions better on Ultram.. Which is Tramadol and a schedule IV class narcotic.. He has trouble getting docs to give him refills too.. It's insulting to be thought of as an addict or someone abusing drugs... When you take it for legitimate pain.


Controlled drug substances Schedule I drugs High abuse potential, no accepted medical use in US–Acetorphine, acetyl methadol, allyprodine, α—acetylmethadol, bufotenine, dextromoramide, diethyltryptamine, dimethyltryptamine–DMT, etorphine, heroin, ibogaine, ketobemidone, LSD–N,N-diethyl-D-lysergamide or lysergic acid diethylamide, marijuana, mescaline, PCP–phencyclidine, peyote, phenadoxone, phenampromide, racomoramide, tetrahydrocannibol
Schedule II High abuse potential, potentially leading to severe psychologic or physical dependence; schedule II agents have acceptable medical uses, eg narcotics–alphaprodine, anileridine, cocaine, codeine, diphenoxylate, diprenorphine, etorphine HCl, ethymorphine, hydrocordone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxymorphone, poppy straw concentrates, powdered opium, raw opium, thebaine and non-narcotics–amphetamine, amobarbital, methaqualone, methamphetamine, methaqualone, pentobarbital, percodan, phencyclidine, phenmetrazine, secobarbital
Schedule III High abuse potential, moderate to low physical dependence, and high psychologic dependence potential, with acceptable medical uses, which may be narcotic–eg nalorphine, paregoric, or nonnarcotic–eg aprobarbital, benzphentamine, butabarbital, chlorphentermine, chlortermine, glutethimide, mazindol, methyprylon, phendimetrazine, probarbital, talbutal, thiamylal, thiopental, vinbarbital
Schedule IV Minimal abuse potential, limited physical or psychological dependence potential, nonnarcotic, eg barbital, chloral hydrate, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, chlorazepate, dextropropoxyphene, diazepam, diethylpropion, ethchlorvynol, ethinamate, fenfluramine, lorazepam, mebutamate, methobarbital, meprobamate, methohexital, oxazepam, paraldehyde, phenobarbital, phentermine, prazepam
Schedule V Very low abuse/dependence potential–eg brown mixture–opium, some codeine preparations, diphenozylate preparations–Lomotil, ethylmorphine-Cidicol, opium–Donnagel-PG, terpin hydrate, or non-narcotic, eg loperamide
Click to expand...


Even though Heroin is probably still the number one over abused drug, I believe the schedule II drugs to be more used and has more addicts. A deadly combination would be taking Benzodiazepines and Opiates (and maybe some alcohol to boot).
 
jujube said:
Yeah, I have a prescription for generic Valium, which I use for occasional insomnia. It's the lowest dose there is. I used about 40 pills in a 14-month period....40. When I got a renewal of the prescription from my doctor, my insurance company said I needed to be evaluated for "drug dependence". 40 2-mg Valiums in a 14-month period and now I'm a drug addict? I just went ahead and filled the prescription without using my insurance and it turned out it's cheaper not to use the insurance AND the pharmacist doesn't give a damn whether I'm an addict or not. Win-win!
Click to expand...

Just try to do it with any "precursor" material to make meth: Pseudoephedrine, the old standby decongestant, is meted out by leaving the pharmacy an arm and leg behind when you get 20 tablets OTC. I find it is the only one which really works for me, breathing easier at night. imp
 
oldman said:
That is a great article and I appreciate your posting it. I still have some friends who are Counselors and I will e-mail this to them. It's what I have been preaching here on this board many times. People begin taking pain medications, (and I'm talking about opiates), to relieve their pain. The pills do work and gives the user at least some quality of life. However, they were not meant to be used long term, which some doctors do repetitively by handing Rx's out to patients on a monthly basis. It only takes a few months of continuous use for a person's body to become addicted to the morphine, codeine, etc in these substances.

The main problem with these pills is that the longer a person takes them, the more they need to achieve the same effect because the body becomes immune to the ingredients in the pills. I have spoken with hundreds of people that have become addicted to pills and they were started by a doctor because of complaining of back aches or had surgery. I feel bad for these people when they run out of their prescription and cannot get more before their next doctor visit and have to go out onto the street to get their 'fix'. There is a lot of doctor and hospital shopping going on. Dilaudid in the E Room at the hospitals is handed out like suckers at the bank. After all, they want to control pain. I could go on and on, but most people just don't listen because "It won't happen to me." Famous last words.
Click to expand...

In the case of an older person with intractable pain that cannot be fixed (or is too dangerous to fix surgically), can you explain to me what is so awful about that person becoming "addicted," if the person is on continuing doctor's care?? Is dooming the person to live in terrible pain a better alternative than the person becoming "addicted"? I think not.
 
Butterfly said:
In the case of an older person with intractable pain that cannot be fixed (or is too dangerous to fix surgically), can you explain to me what is so awful about that person becoming "addicted," if the person is on continuing doctor's care?? Is dooming the person to live in terrible pain a better alternative than the person becoming "addicted"? I think not.
Click to expand...

No argument here, but unfortunately, everyone is lumped together into one class, regardless, if a person has regular insurance, self-pay, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. Most, if not all, states that have a data base of controlled substances only allow 'X' number of pills per 30 days. When a person runs out there is nowhere else to turn and this is why many end up in the ER or on the street looking for a supplier. It has really turned into a nightmare thanks mostly to the users that buy the drug for recreational and social use, not to mention the owners of the former pill mills.
 
It's such a common problem...when you're older and have moderate to severe pain from arthritis and bad back, the pain can sometimes get way too bad...I should know. My primary doctor won't order any pain meds at all, other than Meloxicam for me (he's nervous about the feds). In other words, I am supposed to take OTC meds or Meloxicam. My Gastro doc told me after I had intestinal problems in the past to avoid NSAIDS whenever possible, and don't take them daily ever. Quite a predicament...Meloxicam is an NSAID, so are the OTC pain stuff other than Tylenol (which you are not supposed to use often...can be bad for you if used often. My DH does get a mild controlled pain reliever from his VA doctor...he doesn't use it often at all, so one bottle lasts for about 4 to 6 months. I'm hearing other stories about the VA, however...about some patients with very severe pain being just cut off entirely on controlled pain meds. The rumors that some vets are turning to pushers are very disturbing. With that scenario, the temptation to go to the cheaper heroin would be really a bad outcome for them.
 
This is what happens when the government knows better than you, your pharmacist, or your doctor. Pharmacists and doctors are afraid to deal with pain medications, not because they don't believe in helping people, but because they could be in serious trouble for over prescribing.

No drug should be off limits.

Rick
 
GreenSky said:
This is what happens when the government knows better than you, your pharmacist, or your doctor. Pharmacists and doctors are afraid to deal with pain medications, not because they don't believe in helping people, but because they could be in serious trouble for over prescribing.

No drug should be off limits.

Rick
Click to expand...

I believe this as well.

As a result, some people end up seeking street drugs for their relief...precisely 180 degrees out from what the gov't is trying to acomplish. :shrug:
 
tnthomas said:
I believe this as well.

As a result, some people end up seeking street drugs for their relief...precisely 180 degrees out from what the gov't is trying to acomplish. :shrug:
Click to expand...

What they are trying to accomplish is to control our lives. They have been doing a great job at that.

Rick
 
GreenSky said:
This is what happens when the government knows better than you, your pharmacist, or your doctor. Pharmacists and doctors are afraid to deal with pain medications, not because they don't believe in helping people, but because they could be in serious trouble for over prescribing.

No drug should be off limits.

Rick
Click to expand...

I agree. I would be curious to know how this issue is handled in other countries.
 
GreenSky said:
What they are trying to accomplish is to control our lives. They have been doing a great job at that.

Rick
Click to expand...

It seems their goal is to reduce the amount of prescriptions being written, and they are succeeding. It gives the appearance of accomplishment, no matter how many people will have to suffer with pain unnecessarily. While there is some truth that doctors have been overprescribing in some instances, underprescribing doesn't appear to be a practical solution. But, it gives the impression the government is doing something, and they are--getting into our business!
 
Just for interest I was amused when last in the UK to find that aspirin, and the UK equivalent of Tylenol could only be bought over the counter in bottles of 16, or if the pharmacist was OK with you, at their discretion you were allowed to buy two. I laughed as I remember buying bottles of 5oo from Costco here.
 
Carla said:
It seems their goal is to reduce the amount of prescriptions being written, and they are succeeding. It gives the appearance of accomplishment, no matter how many people will have to suffer with pain unnecessarily. While there is some truth that doctors have been overprescribing in some instances, underprescribing doesn't appear to be a practical solution. But, it gives the impression the government is doing something, and they are--getting into our business!
Click to expand...

You know, they supposedly have a goal to reduce antibiotics too, yet they still seem to prescribe those at the drop of a hat. I see that as much more dangerous since it's resulting in "super bugs" that no antibiotic can knock out. Yet people with terminal or very serious pain have to worry about being in pain because doctors are afraid to prescribe the drugs. It doesn't seem right.
 
I don't have any problems in Canada at all. I was on 125 mg Fentanyl patches for about two years but my skin started reacting to the adhesive so they switched me to morphine, after another 2 years I didn't like either one and came off the morphine cold turkey on my own. I do take another med in tablet form but never have any hassle either getting the prescription of cashing it in My pain level is much higher since I came off the heavy stuff but I don't have the spacy feeling I had when I was using them . I have never had an addictive problem so coming off after several years was easy enough, uncomfortable but easy for me.
 
Thank God I don't need them Fuzzybuddy but I feel for you. I think it's a shame that you have to go through this ridiculousness. I had an aunt who was in constant pain and I felt so bad for her, especially knowing there was nothing I could do to help her. I wonder if there's a card you can carry that says you are allowed to purchase these drugs..don't they do that with people who can get medical marijuana? Just a thought. I see someone else mentioned CVS. Hopefully the replies here will be helpful to you.
 
I try to stay with Excedrin migraine during waking hours - it works fairly well to reduce pain in my rather deteriorated joints. (Undiagnosed Lyme disease ravaged them some 15 years ago). At night I use Tramadol. I can't use opiates during the day, they put me right to sleep. Weed (legal here) works quite well - not actually making the pain in the joints stop, but by making it possible to simply ignore the pain by concentrating on other things. It can make pain irrelevant.

A few times a year I take a short course of prednisone, which usually fixes the joint pain right up for a couple of weeks. Then it goes downhill again...

I ran into the prescription issue though with my vet of all things - who didn't want to prescribe pain pills to my Great Dane as they are people strength and I suppose he worried I would take or sell them. The poor dog only needed them for a few days after her operation. Made me angry.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top