I have been going to the same doctor since Sept of 1998..We have had some money problems this year like a lot of other people, and I haven't been able to pay my bill in full, however my husband and I have both talked to financing and agreed that we would pay a certain amount every month starting last month. We made the payment last month, so I thought everything was ok. I called to have a prescription refilled on Friday, and I found out that my doctor has chosen to not have me as a patient anymore. He has had me on several medications that will cause severe withdrawls if stopped abruptly. He has me on Temazepam 30mg one capsule a night, Alprazolam 1mg as needed for panic attacks, doxipen 150mg everyday, and EPI PEN if needed for bee stings, Albuerol for asthma and imetrx 100mg as needed for migraine, I am not worried about the alprazolam as I very seldom take it, but I have been on temazepam since 1984 with no stopping at all, and doxipen since 1979 with no stopping. I am starting to get scared because I have no insurance, and I am not on any kind of aid. Can my doctor just say too bad. you can't pay me like I want so see ya? What is going to happen when I run out of these medications? I can't find another doctor, so I guess I am asking do I have any recourse? He in fact has cut me off of medication I am dependent on and can die from withdrawls..What can I do?? I just found this out today.. Thanks
I would too, I haven't received a response yet..I called a few attorneys and I haven't gotten a call back either.. Please, if anyone has any idea if I have any options let me know
Wow that does not sound fair at all! I am trying to think to myself what reasons a doctor would have for avoiding a patient. All I can think of is either (1) liability issues, not wanting to get sued or (2) considers the patient an addict of some sort and legally cannot support addictions.
So I am not sure what the specific history between you and your doctor is, but I completely agree that it's messed up that you don't have access to medications which your body is dependent on.
Why are you unable to see any other doctors? Can you at least try to get your medical charts or history from your original doctor? I believe they HAVE to release that information to you, especially in this case. Any decent doctor should know the implications with abruptly stopping medications, and any withdrawal symptoms.
Worst case scenario might entail you suddenly stopping the meds and then having to go to the hospital because of what's happening to your body. Of course I don't advise this or wish it for you! Please try to be proactive before such a thing happens!
Be creative - What other details can you think of?
Ok, what you need to do with your meds is start tapering down on them immediately. Start tapering yourself off of these meds. Temazepam & Alprazolam are highly addictive and the reason you are so worried is probably because you have grown a dependency to the Temazepam (I know I am dependent on Alprazolam as I take 2 2mg bars each day at least). Temazapam is just as addictive & is in the same class as Alprazolam (Benzos) but it is used more commonly to help people sleep. I can recommend to you that you either finish the pills, or take one every other day and on opposite days start taking an OTC sleeping med, some work EXTREMELY well, I have used Unisom which is awesome, Excedrin PM's, my husband prefers Tylenol PM's (Both of these help with pain & headaches as well), Sominex is another good one. If you don't want the Excedrin or Tylenol go with Unisom or Sominex both have a different antihistamine in them. I have not tried SleepMd but it could also be another options, it was made by doctors. Also, with these, you can taper off Temazepam and after a small amount of time you will rarely need anything to help you fall asleep. I do not suggest Melatonin or any other herbal sleep aids as I have wasted money on these and they do not help whatsoever with sleep. Keep what you have left for Alprazolam which you said you rarely take just in case you have a panic attack BUT break them in half, if you rarely take them you should have a low tolerance, and a half a pill should still calm you down immediately, and if you have a really hard time falling asleep one night take a whole one. These also help with sleep. I am unsure what you should do about the Doxepin, I have many MANY antidepressants you could have such as Prozac,Paxil, & Celexa. I have a lot of each if you were interested. The Epi Pen & Albuteral you should already have at home. If you are out, you can call the doctor and leave a message asking them to call those 2 in for you as neither are addictive and they are necessary for survival. I know that I always keep my Albuteral around and never let it run out. You will not die if you taper off the medicines that I listed first. You will not have any complications if you taper off of them. No withdrawals either. You just have to be careful. Imitrex, I'm not sure how expensive that is. I know that I have a few medications for Migraines and I have extras if you would like and I also know someone very reputable who gets me name brand Topamax for migraines for very cheap as well. (Prescriptions for topamax 30 pills without insurance is 200 + dollars). You can also always apply for medicaid. I am a medical student and parent. If you have questions or need any help you can message me: p i n k f a n a t i c 8 4 @ g m a i l d o t c o m
Slimming down, thank you for your kind response, I will E Mail you tonight..Roy,My doctor and I have always had a great relationship until I ran out of insurance and I can't pay for a visit all at once, I have clearly stated on these ofrums that I am an addict, my doctor has always known that, and he had no problem with it because I never abused any medications he has given me, and he knows I have been on methadone maintenance for 20+ years, so I have never asked for opiates, because I havent needed or wanted them from him. As for the temazepam, he had no problem givieng then to me as I only used as prescribed. We had a good relationship, this is all abvout dollars and cents..He just doesn't care anymore I can't see any doctors because I don't have a job or insurance anymore, I have applied for aid several times, but have been turned down.. I am in process of trying again.
I have heard that recently this year (2009) many doctors have been under fire (under investigation by DEA, etc) for freely prescribing narcotics, addictive medication of the such. The most abused meds are painkillers, benzos, stimulants. Perhaps your former doc is playing it safe by cutting you off. Try going to several doctors to get some opinions. Apply for medicaid, if you are qualified.
Su..I don't believe you read my post correctly..My doctor NEVER FREELY prescribed me anything, and now that time has passed, I have found out he is not playing it safe, what he did is going to get him in a lot of trouble. I have put in a complaint with the AMA. and I am looking for a lawyer to sue him. I have also found a doctor who will prescribe what medications I do need. I appreciate your answer, but I wish people would get beyond the overprescribing BS, and think about UNDERPRESCRIBING and how that could have acually caused me great bodily harm. Just because I am an addict doesn't mean I abuse drugs anymore, in fact it has been more than 20+ years since I abused any drug, I believe I am a grown woman who is beyond that, 54 years old is a lot different than a 26 year old... Pat.. BTW, sorry I haven't been by lately to everyone else that answered, but this was the first notice I got that anyone had been here in months,,,,,
Slimdown..Thanks again for your help, but I really didn't want to taper off of any of the medications, and I did find a doctor B4 my refills ran out so I am ok..I am of the old school that says if it works leave it alone....Thank you so much for you post!!!
Hello Roy..The reason it was hard to find another doctor was because of the whole point of my post money..Luckily I did find a doctor who is compassionate and cares about what happens to people and I am back on my medications, in fact I found her B4 I ran out of refills. I was proactive from the startl.That is why I wrote here in the first place, to get opinions B4 making a decision..
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