Did I do something wrong?

Welcome, sorry you needed to join us, but its a great place to be with dealing with CP.

I don't think you "messed" up anything by doing what you did, some doctor offices are touchier than others in how they handle pain meds. Sounds like they simply need to write your script better, so that it lines up with how you are using them, so you won't run out before the end of the month.

I don't know of any easy answer for you at this point, unless you can get in to see your doctor sooner somehow. Is it possible to get the appointment moved up?

Good luck, there has to be an answer for this.

David

Hi there...Welcome to HW!

It could be a few reasons that they want you to come into the office. The first one is that because Drs. are getting a lot more scrutiny these days when prescribing controlled substances, it could be that the unusual way of having you fill your meds ever two weeks instead of a typical 30 day prescription.

Another issue could be that the Pharmacy, (I assume you just go to one, correct?), has concerns and has made a complaint about the unusual amount of refills every two weeks.

It doesn't make any sense that they don't just prescribe enough for you to last 30 days....did the Dr. tell you why he won't put the full amount in the prescription to last you? As in if you are going through 90 pills in 15 days then why not prescribe you 180 pills? It would be the same price...

The other reason is that some guidelines state that if someone is on a controlled substance, usually a Schedule III or II, that an actual appt. with the Dr. needs to be made when raising the dosage.

It doesn't sound like anything you are doing wrong as you say that your Dr. has been writing the prescription to only last for 15 days, not 30, so you aren't taking more than prescribed to run out early from what you write.

I would just speak to him at the appt. and make sure you are on the exact same page and are clear about everything. And either way if he raises the dosage or keeps it the same, I would try to move to a 30 day prescription to make life easier:)

As far as controlling your pain in general...if you could share more about what your pain issues are and your journey so far.

For example, I have quite a few different pain issues from Fibro, spine problems/previous surgeries, pelvic adhesions, brain tumor, etc.....So in addition to the meds that I take, I do a lot of other things to help my pain levels so that I am not relying just on medication.

I also stay at about a 5-7 on the pain scale as I want to stay on the lowest dosages possible.

The other things I do are daily exercise which includes a brisk walk with my dog 1.4 miles every night. Yoga/stretching, physical therapy, swimming/aqua therapy, massage, acupuncture, injections (both lidocaine and steroids), oral steroids when needed, use a TENS unit, biofeedback, eat mostly organic and maintain a healthy weight, get a good night's sleep, and drink lots of water!

I just believe, (as does my PM), that these are not things to try a few times but incorporate most all of them into my daily routine, (minus the injections/steroids), because each thing I use helps take the pain down a notch as there isn't just "one" thing or medication that does it all.

I also went to counseling for 6 months to deal with the emotional side of living with chronic pain. I wanted to find healthy ways to cope so that I can truly LIVE a great life in spite of this and focus on the positive of each day instead of the negative. Finding ways to laugh and do things that bring me joy as well as spend time with family/friends...these are all things that provide those natural endorphins and provide pain relief as well.

So...just sharing some things that happen to work for me...I hope things get easily straightened out for you at your Drs. appt.

Let us know how it goes..

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 4/26/2013 10:12:58 AM (GMT-6)

I apologize, I don't think I was specific enough. I get a 30 days supply every month but I need to call in for a refill because I usually see my doctor about two weeks after a get the script and I don't want to ask for a refill two weeks before I need one. (Day 1 fill meds, day 15 doctors appt and do not get a refill, day 30 call for another refill). I do take it daily but not around the clock. 120 pills will last me a month. I only use one pharmacy. I have two small children so in no way to I maintain a sedentary lifestyle. I stretch throughout the day, I use a heating pad although sometimes I will use ice, especially when I get a migraine. I get trigger point injections every month and go to physical therapy every year. I have tried meditation and use an accupressure mat. I eat healthy, however I love my coffee. It just seems like such a silly thing, I thought now that I have prescription coverage it would be easier to get 7.5s and only take 1. My primary reason for doing this was to cut down on the amount of Tylenol I take everyday.

Besides the other medications I currently take, I have also tried celebrex, ketoprofen (I think that's the name), different muscle relaxers, the lidoderm patch (which insurance will not approve so I can only afford it once or twice a year), I have no exaggeration over ten half used tubes of muscle cream, including one which they put on horses when they are injured (yes I'm that desperate for some kind of relief)

Sorry if this message is so scattered, mix some fibro fog in with ADD and I'm not sure what my brain is up to these days.

You are correct. Not asking to increase dose, just take 1 pill instead of 1.5. They were able to get me in at the end of next week, however I run out on Sunday. I explained to the office staff what and why I was requesting that and asked that it get back to the doctor (the refill request line is just a voicemail). I also asked to be put on the cancellation list.

I don't have a problem switching to a LA medication. Do you think it would be acceptable to ask to wait a few weeks before switching? I have finals coming up and dont want to try to adjust to a new medication until the semester is over.

Can you also recommend otc medication I could use to alleviate withdrawal symptoms? I have immodium and old preggo pops that are used for morning sickness to help with the nausea. I also picked up tylenol and have advil on hand although I doubt that will do too much for the pain.

Some people do not go through withdrawals when suddenly stopping immediate release pain medications and some that do only have them very mildly and they pass very quickly.

Nyquil is an "favorite" among people who do go through it though when it gets too bad as a home remedy, and I can tell you from experience that the clonodine patch mentioned does work if things get too bad for you.

In a way it is kind of strange your refill date doesn't match up with your appointment dates, but I do understand how that can happen, especially over a period of time. See the doctor and get a script on the 1st and doc says see you in a month, but the first available appt is the 3rd of the next month, and then same thing happens again, and maybe again and before you know it you are 2 weeks off between the two.

It doesn't always work and depends on the office but I have had this happen to me and when it is for an appointment that I know my doctor is going to want/need to see me before giving a refill I tell the appointment secretary that the appointment is for a medication review and refill if the date gets too far off kilter and they usually will squeeze me in either on the exact one month date or a day or two before.

In the future, if at all possible, try to save back a little medication each month for these "rainy days". Just keep it your little secret. To make sure the pills won't go bad on you swap your saved pills for ones out of your new fill each month. Having a few days to a few weeks worth of extra meds around has saved me and several others around here more than once when our refills have been late for one reason or another.

referring to your OP, Momoftwo, you simply wanted to know if you had done something wrong since you were being called out on the carpet, as it were, at your Dr.'s office. the simplest answer is that you are getting a prescription change. I realize that it is not changed in the total amount only in the manner of rxing it, from 5 mg to fewer 7.5 mg. Most physicians these days want to see the patient when they change the format of the Rx. No need to get scared, it's just a standard formality.
I noticed that this thread kept getting more and more complicated , with suggestions of ER drugs. At your low dose that would be highly unwarranted as it would involve an increase in dosage strength which, according to your OP you did not want. Just go see your Dr. and get your new format script. leave all this worrying to the professional worrywarts . . . q