Doctor no longer allowed to prescribe combo of certain drugs?

These guidelines from the CDC, FDA & DEA recommended this back in 2016. There isn't a rule, it's guidelines & drs have implemented it. Add in the prescription monitoring program, meaning a database that tracks all prescriptions written by drs, this is how drs are tracked across the country.

Drs do not want to be audited over prescribing medications. Back in 2016 patients were often told, if you want both medications pick one of the two, for benzos consult with a psychiatrist. It sounds like your dr may have received a letter about him prescribing both medications to his patients, this is how it starts.

I can't understand your pharmacist not being honest with you, he knows the rules.

Cathy, do some research going back to 2016 with the DEA getting involved. As I said in my prior post, pharmacies are now all linked in on a prescription portal that shows all scripts written by drs. Even my blood pressure medications are on this portal, along with the name of any pharmacy I have filled scripts at.

I see a pain mgt dr & every month he gets a letter reminding him of the guidelines. When this started back in 2016 a lot of pain mgt drs closed their practices down, they did not want to be told how to practice medicine, or drs stopped prescribing pain medication to a lot of their patients. Cathy, these were patients not on benzos.

Do not count on a new dr prescribing, I'm not trying to be negative, it's just a reality.

Thanks Susie and Glen. I agree, it seems like a strange/unacceptable way of controlling the opioid epidemic. They are being unfair to those of us who are very responsible with these 2 types of meds. I use such tiny doses of these 2 meds (Tramadol and alpraxolam), and only that small dose a only a couple days a week. I can't take NSAIDS at all. I don't want to try to substitute anything else, 'cause I doubt it will work. Maybe my doc WAS prescribing these drugs much too often. But it's unfortunate that the "rule" wasn't able to check each patient's history more. There had to be a better way to handle this without hurting the responsible patients.
There are so many funky things going on these days..........that it makes the book "1984" look pretty mild........

This is not law. It is still up to each doctor what they prescribe. Although the vast majority of doctors are no longer prescribing benzodiazepams and opiates or Tramadol. Some doctors are ok with a patient seeing a psychiatrist or other doctor for the benzodiazepams.

I do not believe your doctor is retiring from the practice of medicine. Usually doctors leave private practice and teach at medical schools, go to work in emergency rooms or other settings. Some move out of town for reason that have nothing to do with the medications they prescribe. I understand doctors not wanted to tell their patients information about their personal lives. I wish they would either not say anything or give a different reason.

My rheumatologist (fibromyalgia/lupus/sjogrens) is still prescribing

-- Xanax 0.25 (smallest dose available) for anxiety and
-- Norco 5/325 (smallest dose available) for pain.

I've been using these same dosages on an "as needed" basis for years without change or incident. This week at the pharmacy they had to make a big deal out of it at the checkout counter, using the loudspeaker to quite PUBLICLY summon a pharmacist to lecture me about making sure to use these 6 hours apart.

I guess I'm glad I get my Trazodone (huge dose) for sleep from mail order, or I'm certain the pharmacists lecture would have been louder and even more public.

Yes, I know I could take lots of pills together with a disastrous outcome, but isn't that the case with everything?? I could drown in water, too!

I would love to know how much of these meds REALLY induces an interaction. I suspect it's a much higher dosage, but I haven't been able to find that information anywhere. There are nights my insomnia is strong, my pain is high, and my anxiety has me bouncing off the walls!!

I can tolerate my circumstances (so far) but really feel poorly for those who can't.

To add: My wife has been taking both an opioid medication and diazepam for several years.
She will not take a benzodiazpine until several hours since she took her opioid medication.
I rarely take a benzodiazpine but have once in a while even with my buprenorphine. I've never had a bad effect. I don't recommend it but heck I've taken large amount of opiates for years and my body has adjusted.
I'm at a maximum dose of buprenorphine at 32mg a day so I understand that doctor's will not prescribe any more so I accept that.
Thing is that thankfully still works.

Thank goodness doctor's will more readily prescribe buprenorphine.
Sad part is most doctor's will just assume I'm an addict because buprenorphine is used that way.

Glen

Thank you for the information. I've been on my medication since I participated in a clinical trial of buprenorphine for pain patients in 2008
I took a year off to get to a baseline of my pain but returned when the pain got too bad.
I know a lot about the medication. It's semi-synthetic derivative of thibane which is the leaf of the poppy flower. It was marketed as a injection for pain but was discovered to be an excellent option for opioid withdrawal and maintenance.
In lower doses and as a patch it's used in opiate naive people but in long term opiate user's a larger dose is required.
Of course there's going to be warning about cross use with benzodiazpine drugs but I'd bet it's not a user who takes a five milligram Valium along with his buprenorphine but rather an abuser looking to boost one's high.
Just my view.
In any case I'm very well informed

Glen

Yes doctor's had leeway now?
Forgot about it!
I'd almost call them cowards who do not fulfill their oath but understand the pressure

Glen

My wife and I have the same pain doctor and he is wonderful. They know she was getting Valium from a psychiatrist and didn't mind. They suggested a time lapse of a few hours.
Her problem is her psychiatrist died. She battled pancreatic cancer for a couple of years.
Now my wife is struggling to find another psychiatrist to prescribe. Thank God she was able to save up a few months worth as she didn't take them daily.
Hopefully here in NYC there's a doctor out there.

Glen

Good to hear. I am worried about my wife. She has plenty for now as she was very frugal about taking them but that is not going to last more than a few months.

She plans of seeking a new psych doctor every month. With her anxiety, it's a bit of a chore.

Glen

Thank you. We may take some time but hopefully will get a doctor to prescribe

Glen