Tried to go back to original med's after Exalgo failed-And was told to make new appt.

I've been using my PM doc for 4+yr's and have a great relationship with everybody in the office, Last month 1 week after my monthly appt. my doctor called and told me she had my insurance approve the Exalgo ER (dilaudid extended release)for the next year.($2396 a month) We have been going back and forth about me changing my long term opiate to something else Because of the tolerance I have to methadone. I agreed to try the Exalgo and regular dilaudid for breakthru pain. I was told to come to the office and pick up the new scripts and if I had any problems to call and they would switch it back to my original meds. I called for a new script and I was told I needed to make a new appt to change back to my original meds even though I've been having a horrible time with the new meds. The methadone worked much better than the new med's even though I've been on it for 5+yr's Now I have to wait a week to be switched back to my original med's..I hope everything goes OK. It just seems really strange for this office to change things. When I was told that if I needed to switch back there would be no problem and now instead of just stopping by for a new script I need an a appointment to switch back. But when they wanted me on the new meds it was OK to stop by for a new script..I just hope there is no problem...

Because Drs. are so closely watched with opiate prescriptions they really do have cover their bases. Allowing one change already without an appt. was probably ok but not changing back so quickly.

They may also require you to bring in any unused meds (if you have any) so that they can verify this.

Again, it's nothing you have done, it's just needed because of these type of medications.