Waiting for meds

Hi, I am new to this site and I am needing some support. I am a US Army Vet and do all of my medical treatment through the VA due to the cost of Insurance. I have spinal problems is my neck and lower back and right shoulder. I have had several injections that only work for a short time and am lucky that my regular care doctor gives my low dose pain meds (with the normal mumbo jumbo about getting addicted to them). I can not work without these pain meds. For several months I have been on Amitriptiline (I can't spell it) for the nerve pain and it really helps reduce the pain and helps me sleep. But recently I ordered my med renewal and it has taken almost a week and it still isn't here!!!! The VA said it was sent last Wednesday! Where the hell is it? Anyway, as you can tell, I am very antsy and hurting like hell and trying to sleep on rocks with nails sticking out of them. Even my pain meds don't work! I just want it to stop! I can tell you one thing, I will never wait too long and risk the chance of running out again. I don't know what to do to make this feeling stop! Does anyone have any ideas?

Have you discussed replacing the amitripline with another med and/or increasing your pain meds until you receive the order ?

Amitrypt isn't controlled so I would ask the Dr to call a few to hold over at a regular pharmacy,they're older generation drug and on the $4 list at most pharmacies. If that's not possible you can go to an urgent care or fast track at ER and the attending may write a few as well but make sure you take your last bottle with you. It can be dangerous to stop this med cold turkey due to the other label uses as with all anti-Ds and anxiety meds.

You can go to the anxiety forum here and ask their advice as to how they deal with this,they may have some suggestions we wouldn't have since its off label uses for us and not a widespread med.

Good luck

Thanks everyone for their post. I called the pharmacy phone line yesterday and they were shipped last Wednesday. If they aren't here today, I'm going to try tracking them. I haven't have withdraw too bad but my pain level has really been hiked up. You don't know how well something is working until you don't have it. Plus my mood has been really edgy. I just want the thank you guys for listening and trying to help. I didn't know how much it helps just to have someone who has been there and done that. I will keep everyone posted and again, thanks for listening.

Check the website of the company that is suppose to deliver the meds. Some have notification email & texts. Fed Ex & UPS let you know as soon as they deliver it and where it is in the shipping process like what city it is in. The post office also lets you know when they deliver it and what city it is in, but their delivery time frame isn't as exact as the other two.

I did not get the meds today so I called the VA and they were processed Wednesday but did not get mailed until SUNDAY!!!! Sometimes I just can't figure out how they think it's ok to just leave a persons meds setting there four days while they suffer needlessly. Believe this, my doctor will hear about this and I hope this never happens again.

When I found this site, I was amazed how knowledgeable everyone was and how caring. I will definitely keep in contact and maybe I will be of help to someone someday. I can't wait until the mail comes and hopefully I will get some relief tonight. I know that it will take a few days to build back up in my system, but anything will help. Thanks for listening.

ArmyVet experience is how we learn & that is the beauty of Healing Well, there is a wealth of information here. Any time you get in the mood to read check out CP101 above, there is a lot of valuable info there.

You will find you are not alone by hanging out here. I hope the medication shows up today. My husband gets all of his medication through the VA too. We have experienced some situations similar to yours in the past.

Take care.

Thanks again for everyone's help. I DID NOT get them yesterday and had a good breakdown. I left work early and went home and went to bed! I did call the doctor's nurse and let her know what happened and she would talk to the doctor. I am beginning to think that they must have shorted me pills last month and that's why they are late. I did not take more than I was suppose to. If they ever get here, I am going to count them to make sure that they sent enough. I do not want to go through this again! Now I know how Fibro people feel. I am aching all through my shoulders and upper back and feel like crap! I know even if they get here today, it will take several days for them to build up in my system and really start to work. I don't look forward to the wait! I was planning on going to my grandson's wrestling tournament tomorrow but I don't know if I can sit there all day so that will be a let down too. It just keeps on piling up. It just sucks!

I don't think it will take long to build up in your system. I could be wrong, but when I've had w/ds for whatever reason, they've always gone away when I take even small doses of my meds.

I just wish for you that it all gets straightened out, it's no fun to be sick.

Amitriptyline is one of the hardest medications to wean off of (I know) and having to stop as you did can cause some serious side effects. The first time I ever missed a dose, and I'm on a low dose, it gave me a migraine with aura, something I had never experienced before. Every time I've tried to go down on the dosage, I get headaches. I've been on it for close to fifteen years now, but need to go off because of a heart condition.

It may depend on how long you've been without as to whether you get those initial side effects again. I'm thinking it won't be as bad though.

Hi everyone. My meds came in yesterday and I was soooo happy! I counted just to make sure none were missing. I took one early, I usually take them both at night, just to get them started and then took the last on before bed. I slept great! I can't sleep on my back or stomach and I flip from side to side and my right shoulder is my favorite, but it's the one I hurt during the service, so it can get sore during the night. Without the pills, it was on fire, with the pills, I didn't notice it very much. I really want to thank everyone for all their concern and wonderful friendship. I will keep in touch and maybe I can be of help someday. Thanks Di

Great News, so happy you got your meds! Don't be a stranger, come back anytime!!