Any lawyers out there

Any lawyers out there? It should be a crime what some of these doctors are doing to people who come to them for help. Like a doctor who just cuts you off when you tell them you are dependent. They should at least be giving you enough to wean off like the drug company advices.
And who are these doctors that are perscribing suboxone for like a year! Like they don't know that is going to be a horrible addiction to quit. I am thinking the suboxone should maybe be done on an inpatient deal or daily going to the office or pharmacy to get it. It should be more controlled because it is so hard to come off of if you let yourself get addicted.
And methadone, well that just sounds plain old evil.
Isn't there some way to make these doctors responsible for some of the pain and suffering? Expenses in getting clean?

[10356]

My hubby and I were talking about this very thing I think sub should be done and over within a month but where is the money in that?? I also believe when the Dr. has you on pain meds for over a month your body is addicted they know this then when you say it out loud oh my time to cut you off good luck dealing with the after affects..Although I must say I have lucked out on my Dr. he knows I'm a addict knows my whole history all the way to being addicted to H but he supports me in being clean and he also supports me if I change my mind and cannot deal with the pain any longer.. He also works for a lg hmo so I don't know what I did to find him but i will hang on to him like a cougar. I've had my share of bad ones thats for sure...

[lady67]

I agree.  I know that I am an addict.  I also take full responsibility for my addiction, but I also think these doctors need to take some form of responsibility for what happened.  I am not taking about taking resp. for the addict who gets his pills from the street pharmacy, but the ones they prescribed the medicines for without explaining how easy it is to become addicted to these drugs.  I had never taken anything stronger than a tylenol when my doctor first prescribed narcotics.  Had he told me about the habit forming properties of the meds, it would have scared me to death and I honestly don't think I ever would have taken them.  Oh well, that is just water under the bridge now and I am just glad that part of my life is in the past where I hope it remains forever.

Susan

[Mikeinthesouth]

This is a hard one I can see both sides but I think it should all come down to the individual taking responsibility for their own actions.I cannot blame anyone but me when it comes to me abusing any drugs. I would have to say if Doctors are responsible for prescribing addictive medicine than alcohol manufacturers are so much more liable for all the drunk driving accidents and the cost for pain suffering and loss of life to alcoholics which they are not responsible in my eyes for that so I guess I lean towards it is up to us to use our common sense which I did not at all. Maybe if taken as prescribed it would not be such a big issue or if I did not have the genetics to be an addict it might be easier for me to quit. For that I cannot lay responsibility upon any medical doctor. One thing I know it is up to me to kick this and the only person who will be history if I don't is me so the end result is up to ME........

[avisg]

I definitely think if you go to your doctor and tell them you are feeling that you have become addicted to the pain meds that instead of dumping you as a patient they should help you .I totally agree with that. However you cant blame the doctor for your addiction .The doctor does not force you into taking the meds. He is going by what you are telling him and believing that you are being honest about your pain level .When ever you pick up meds at the pharmacy they give you info on the meds it says several times on that paperwork that the meds are addicting . You should never be putting any medicine into your body unless you know what it is and what it may do.The doctor  didn't get me where I am I did .

[cathy5841]

good post avis, that is so true.   we get addicted, because we like the pills....we dont need a dr. to tell us that.  our bodiy speaks loudly.

[broknbck]

Yes, i agree that we cannot blame the doctors for our addiction but they should not be able to just cut someone off without some kind of plan for weaning off. It is dangerous to some people whose level is pretty high.

Also the suboxone should be a one time thing. If if doesn't work after the 20day mark then it is done. And they should be returned to the opiate they were taking to be weaned off.

The methodone clinics just need to be better organized or just outlawed. The success rate is ridiculous and pretty much just a money maker.

This is turning into an epidemic in our country and a really big lawsuit may be able to turn things around. At least make the public more aware of the dangers of taking these perscriptions.

[avisg]

I hear ya about the weaning and the sub .I would prefer to only see sub used for short term use as well.I dont know if that will happen however.

[lady67]

I was not by any mean saying that the doctor was responsible for my addiction, I was just saying that they (the doctors) should tell the patient, even if you ask for the pain meds, that it is highly addictive.  Some people listen to their doctor when no one else.  They are just one in a line of defense to stop addictions before they happen.  Some people who are prescribed pain meds are not accustomed to taking anything like that and if the doctor told them they were habit forming, it may go further than the piece of paper that comes from the pharmacy.

Again, it is my fault that I became addicted, I took the meds on my own and not as prescribed.  I am not trying to put this off on anyone.

[butterfly206]

i heard of addiction, but i didn't know anything about withdrawals. doctor never told me or warned me what could happen. i thought all would be ok. i took exactly what the doctor told me too and not an xtra pill. when i told him i wanted to stop, he told me exactly how to do it-1pill a week. i did exactly what he said and went thru hell. happened on weekend. had to go to hospital-got CLONIDINE-helped everything, but still hot and sweating. only been just over week took last pill. YES CRIMINAL that doctor never warned me. i feel he should have given me prescription of CLONDINE to keep just in case he couldn't be reached. certainly would have saved the terror of what happened and the horrible symptons and going to the emergency hospital. i learned from the internet that i was going thru withdrawal. at my next appointment i will certainly suggest this to him, but probably won't listen---could lose alot of patients that way. i would never touch that methadone ever. if i had known, never would have taken.

[GoingToMakeIt]

I am surprised that the topic of Tramadol didn't come up. There are still many Drs that believe Tramadol is NOT addicting. They prescribe it like candy. Should there be any responsibility placed on someone for the lack of proper information?

[avisg]

Going , I was told ultram was addicting by my first doctor. There were doctors after that did not think it was. That made it very easy for me to obtain but the entire time I new it was addicting the insert info from the pharmacy said it was. That sure did not stop me from taking it.    

This medication may cause dependence, especially if it has been used regularly for an extended time or if it has been used in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal reactions (e.g., anxiety, sweating, sleeplessness, shaking, diarrhea, rapid breathing) may occur if you suddenly stop this drug. To prevent withdrawal reactions when stopping extended, regular treatment with this drug, gradually reduce the dosage as directed.

The makers of ultram  have protected there butt by making sure the inserts tell you of the risks that's why you have not seen alot of class action law suits against them.

I dont hold anyone other then myself responsible for my addiction .I would have continued to taken it regardless . Even if the doctor had it stamped in red on his forehead.

[Decisions]

THis subject ressurects many different opinions.
If I were to be "political", then the liberal response is, "it's someone elses fault".
The conservative side would say, "I have to take responsibility".

Clearly doctors are not well versed on how to attack addiction issues.  There are several reasons which I mentioned in a previous but less "potent" post.

The main problem with addiction is that doctors know that if someone really wants their DOC, they will doctor shop, until they are successful.  

My Dr. who now will only prescribe 40 Hydros a month, checks with the DEA list to somehow verify, I am not getting them somewhere else.  He has told me I have to use only ONE pharmacy to get the drug.  And he has vowed to cut me off if I don't follow his advice.. He told me flat out, "I think  you have a problem", and "you are not taking the medicine right".  He was right AND wrong.  More right than wrong.  

We really must take responsibility.  No one puts the pills in our mouths, and we know the consequences, therefore, in this case I feel more like a Conservative, and take responsibility.  Please , no one get mad at me!!!

I have seen many many posts now, even as a new member.
The reasons for quitting are almost always the same...  "I want to quit this drug from hell".  I know I can't be on it forever.  Guilt sets in when we give in to taking a pill to "feel"better.  Thus, we try to quit, and fail, and some succeed (congrats).

We are lucky to have found a forum, to learn and then gain knowledge.  Then we all have to make "DECISIONS"......

Best wishes to you all..

[Sunnyd210]

I think we can go round and round about this subject forever lol. I agree with alot of what everyone said and i believe that there are good and bad drs out there thats for sure. I think its a crime for them to just cut people off as the answer to the problem I have been there and its awful. I have also been blessed with the best drs i couldve ever asked for too that have helped me so much to battle this. I think when this medications are prescribed for the FIRST time the drs should explain all the risks to the patient and make them feel comfortable and safe if they develop a problem to be HONEST!!! Im pretty sure if I knew I had options and wasnt afraid to tell my drs the truth I wouldve been done with these pills along time ago. i think some drs want to keep their patients hooked on pain pills so they keep them coming back!!! the same also applies to methadone clinics im sure. We are all responsible for our own addiction thats for sure but most of us didnt get here on our own.

[GoingToMakeIt]

avisg, I was just putting it out there about Trams, as it is widely prescribed without the Dr telling you the problems. (I knew you knew better) The same goes for me.
                                         ~~~{I did it to myself and no one else.}~~~

[Decisions]

good post sunny,

I like the part where you said "we are all responsible for our own addiction but most of us didn't get here on our own".  

That is... a true statement, I think.

One thing I have learned over and over in life.  We need to be armed with knowledge when we do anything, from our health related isses, to most anything else.
If we have information at hand, and we do, with the internet...  we can make much better  choices about what or what not to do.

That is the trick, to know the consequences of our actions, and then make informed decisions.

[lady67]

That is just like Ambien and Lunesta.  Because the commercials say non-narcotic, many physicians prescribe it like crazy.  I will be the first to stand up and say THEY ARE BOTH ADDICTING TO ME!  These sweet little lullabye pills nearly ruined my life.  If I would have kept taking them I have NO doubt that I would be dead or atleast in jail.  Those things may not affect others but they definately kicked my butt.  I didn't take too many of them, I just took them when I came home from work to escape the stress and go to sleep.

[NautyOne]

I agree only on the factor that these drugs after prolonged use change brain chemistry that can take a year to recover from ---if ever---things should be explained a little better, but it is such a catch 22 because when you are in pain and they turn their back on you, you might be saying the same thing......that its unfair for them not to treat you and that is cruel.......I dunno......catch 22. Doctors know all of this.....please.  I feel for them, and I feel for the patients too.  There are good doctors and bad doctors, like any and all professions........no real place to lay the blame.  Although, it would be nice.  I understand what you are saying, though.

nauty............

[Sunnyd210]

yes it is a catch 22 i agree, but let me ask all of u a question that could probably be on its own post but - i think its fitting here -do any of u know anyone who has been on pain killers for a prolonged period of time who is NOT addicted and could just give it up in a snap??? I think most of use here got here because we all have pain problems that are going to last us forever

[LateAugust]

Does no one read the info that comes with all scripts?  I am sorry,  but it seems no one accepts responsibility for their life, nor their decisions, any more.  I wish I could  blame someone else for every mistake I make, it woud certainly make me feel much better.  I just dont think that is an option.

[ILoveLukey]

My own personal experience is that I became an addict on my own....legitimate pain reasons.  Yes I doctor shopped to get my pills, I bought them on the street for $10.00 per pill. (Chase Visa is making my life hell because I can't make payments) It was not the doctors fault. They were trying to help me with my pain. Sometimes I genuinly had pain sometimes I didn't.   When someone goes into an emergency clinic crying out in pain, they give out the meds to help. It has to be a very hard judgement call for alot of doctors as to whether our pain is legit or not. My beef is my addiction phyc.If you ask him to bump you up to 3 Subs a day (my cousin did) he says no problem and does it without any questions. IMO he is just stringing us along for the long term income. In the months that I have been going to him he never has mentioned the "taper" Always asks me if I need more.  And my cousin admitted to me that she doesn't even need that much, just wants extras...in case. I have been going to him since February. I have to pay $100.00 per visit on a monthly basis and $30.00 for the Subs.  Last week I called him and told him I could not make my appt. due to dental surgery and can I reschedule? He said no problem, just send me a check for $100.00 and I will call in your refill for the month and I will see you next month.  Didn't even want to see me...........just wanted his $. I have such mixed emotions about this. On one hand I am thankful for him. I have heard on here how difficult it is for some to get a doctor and the outrageous prices. But by the same token, I feel cheated because he does not council me at all (he is an addiction phychiatrist) and I feel I need that, like you guys have advised, to help me to ultimately be and stay clean. But  I stay with him because it is so easy to get my subs and because of the horror stories I have heard about doctors that cut people off right in the middle.  Am I doing the right thing here? Should I look for another doctor that will actually talk to me and councel me?  

[broknbck]

This is what i am getting at. The doctors that treat you once you are addicted.
There is no argument that we are all responsible for our addictions. But the doctors in most cases are not helping , they are just making it worse. I am just thinking that maybe a really huge court case that gets a lot of coverage could maybe turn things around.

Something has to be done. There are way too many people going through this. And not getting the help they need. This being thrown into cold turkey is so traumatic.
I just think it would be cool if there was a lawyer with "guts" enough to make a stand.

[ILoveLukey]

AMEN!

[mr.lucky66]

The oath says do no harm and most of them are failing that. We are responsible for our addiction not the docs, they just profit fom it. Like the docs who have you on sub forever.

[ILoveLukey]

I surely am responsible for my addiction. (although doctors helped me along with that) but I don't appreciate someone being in the medical field whom I wanted to depend on to help with my addiction....and profitting on it and taking advantage of my problem so he can get in his Cancun vacation.

[LateAugust]

Lawyers are border line human  so  having "guts" is questionable!        "I luve lucky", if a doc is giving you a narc  i.e. sub  based on a "telephone consultation", hence the $100.00 fee, it should be exactly that, a true consultation via the telephone rather than an in house visit.  If he said nothing other than send me a check, contact the state board and file a complaint.  

What amazes me, or perhaps, what I see to be a pretty basic concept is filing complaints with the AMA,  the State,  the hospital where the docs have privilages, the clinic where they practice,  also for blatant malpractice contact your local news agencies, press and television, they love these kind of stories.

Think about the education and dedication and expense it takes to be a doctor.  Look at how much they are paying for malpractice insurance , it is absolutely ridiculous.  it is so very simple to file a complaint against a doc, and it doesn't take an attorney to file the paper work.  You have people complaining they can't get enough pain meds cuz  docs are paraniod about addiction and potential abusers,  the other end of the spectrum  you have patients  saying the docs basically gave them unlimited drugs and caused their addiction.

   IMO I am responsible for what I put in my body, and to find out what the benefits or the reprocussions may be while taking the drug, if a doc can't tell me that, I would be pretty worried about his capabilities.

With Sub treatment, if you have a doc holding you hostage,  document your doc's errors and get on the phone with the authorities.  AND  last but not least  change your health care provider.   These people pay unreasonable mal prac insurance premiums,  the last thing they want is a report against them or an incident that will raise those rates,  most can barely afford the insurance as it is.......

There are alot of avenues available to you for poor medical treatment, without having to worry about the monies to hire an attorney.  For blatant malpractise, an attorney will jump all over that and not charge you a dime,   obviously just 33% of your settlement.  One of the reasons  they have the name of "ambulance chasers".  A clinic getting you addicted to Sub  or Meth  and then  cutting you off unless you pay more money, please check with the AG of your state  and I'm sure  they will give  you the name of an atty in your area that will take the case for free.  Get our your phone book and call go down the list until you find an atty that will take the case for no up front fees.   Not offering any "attorney advise"  but holding you hostage is 100% illegal.  I also would contact the federal authorities  as those docs are  acting no more or less than  your corner drug dealer.

You cant  have a "civil case" unless you sue the manufacturer  as that is the only common thread.  You cant have a class action suit against multilple states and various docs with no commonality,  so only suboxone  or whatever drug manufacturer you feel the doc has mis-prescribed would fall under class action status.

[beentrying2quit]

5 years ago I went to my doctor because both of my feet hurt/burn/sting constantly.  I had been taking ibuprofen and tylenol to help with the pain but after awhile both of those quit working.  I actually almost bled to death from taking so much ibuprofen.

The first visit to my doc he gave me 30 10/500 hyrdos and they worked GREAT!  This went on for 5-6 months which is when I began to notice that just one pill a day was no longer working.  I went back to the doc and he increased my script to 2 pills a day...you know the rest of the story from there.

My point is....the doc NEVER ONCE told me about the problems with this drug.  Now I'm not totally STOOPID but before the first visit I had never had an experience with this type of drug and thought it litteraly was like ibuprofen only stronger.

Had he told me that within 30 days not only my body but my mind would be dependent I can honestly say I would have rejected the pills.  One night I was driving home..approx 3am..and was very tired and my feet were also hurting.  I thought "I'll take a pill and at least the pain will go away."  After taking the pill I had more energy than I knew what to do with...I could have driven all the way to Las Vegas I felt so good.  That was the worst thing that could have happened to me.

Over the past 4 years I have seen over 10 doctors for several different problems..all pain related and all legit.  Not one doctor EVER mentioned the dangers of these pain meds but all of them gladly gave me a script.  

The other side to the story is I am very glad that these things exist.  3 years ago I had 3 very serious surgeries (colon rescetion, gall bladder removed and had 2 ulcurs closed ) and without the pain pills I would not have made it after the procedures.  I do take full responsibility for my problem now as i rely on them to get me through the day.  

Both side need to take responsibility.  Can you imagine how many stories doctors hear each and every day from addicts?

[ILoveLukey]

Maybe I was misunderstood. I never mentioned trying to get my doctor in trouble or filing a lawsuit. I was just saying that I surely wish he would give me the counseling that I need and not be so anxious to "up" my dose as opposed to "downing" it by now. I will tell him next month when I see him that I want to start a taper (I have been doing it on my own anyway).  As I said after hearing the horror stories on here about how hard it is for some to find a sub doctor (let alone an affordable one) i do count my blessings that I can get mine without problems  and I don't want to lose that,  but yet I do wish for the true counceling that I am supposed to be getting from him. I plan to outright ask for it my next appointment now. That is part of what I am paying him for and why I chose him in the first place.

[LateAugust]

No, I'm sorry, I understood that you were concerned about the lack of counceling that your doc was providing. Justifiably so, you should require more of him than just cashing your check, and to support you in your goal to be drug free.  

  The bulk of my respoce(s) was in regards to the main theme, or beginnig of the post, that docs hold a huge responsibility for addiction.  My intent was only to offer some suggestions on how to confront your MD's that are causing more harm than good and to ensure they don't continue to harm other patients.

I think it is important for people to know what avenues are available if you feeltyou have been misguided, or taken advantage of, especially by a medical doctor, when you are in a vulnerable frame of mind.

[Mikeinthesouth]

I seem to remember something about a class action lawsuit regarding Oxycontin a year or two ago. My opinion is that all those frivolous lawsuits out there being brought against this one and that one for ridiculous reasons are only hurting all of us not the major corporations being sued. Example is Wal-Mart payes out tons in lawsuits brought against them from people tripping in their stores, bumping their elbows on the carts etcetera just plain outright idiotic reasons. Well I know for a fact they don't just eat it we pay for it in increase in prices. Lets sue all the doctors and close their practices then when our children need medical help there will be no doctors to help or the doctors available will have so many hoops to jump through it will be next to impossible to get care for our children, family or ourselves. All those people suing for whiplash or whatever other trauma they can invent and falsify just to gain a couple thousand dollars is increasing our insurance cost so high to reimburse the insurance companies. When are we going to take responsiblity for our actions and not blame others for our mistakes. I don't know about you but as for me I am not so ignorant to the fact that opiates are addictive and when I began taking them I chose to over take the medicine rather than as prescribed. We complain about doctors who take the hipocratic oath to do no harm and continue to go to that particular doctor. There is no law that says if you are unhappy with the doctor you see that we have to continue to see them we are very much able to see another doctor if we choose........................... Just my opinion on the lawsuit issue............  

[NautyOne]

That is insane!!!!   to ask for a fee without a in person visit........That is so disgusting and I would think Illegal !!!  

nauty........

[leeisgettingclean]

i cant believe docs can "prescribe"  things without meeting you...i knoe there is a VERY fine line between legal and illegal when doing this.....i never ordered from internet even at my worse....he!! i dont even download music..even if it says free--legal--blah blah blah...i guess i am just a chicken : )

[leeisgettingclean]

okay sorry i misread that whole post...it had nothing to do with ordering online.....but i still think its crazy that people do it