Is it illegal????

[kevinsgirl4473]

I need some help here.  I have two docs that I use.  One is for my back, and the other is for my shoulders.  I have had my shouler doc for 5 years now, and almost a year with my back doc. which I see once a month.  I recieve Lortabs and soma once a month from him, and I just recieved lortabs from my shoulder doc for the second time today.  I just went to the pharmacy to drop off my prescription, not using my insurance, since it won't go through right now because I just got 120 lortabs on the first, and took them all.  My pharmacist asked me if I use multiple doctors, and I told her the docs that I have, well on my dea report she said I have many different docs.  Well they are all from the same doctors office, I see one of 3 PAC's for my meds, and the same two docs who are partners and work together for my shoulder.  Am I committing a crime? I don't know.  Please if anyone could help.

[avisg]

I want to make sure I am reading this correctly . So I am sure what I am telling you is right .  Are you getting two different scripts from two different doctors for the same drug ?

[road2recovery]

I have never heard of a pharmacist asking That kind of quesion????  Has anyone else???
that bothers me for some reason first off....
Are u getting the scripts the same time ?  I am not understanding ?
r2r

[franco1470]

Does your doctor you see for back problems know about your other physician?  Have you told the doctor who helps you for your shoulder that you received a prescription from another doctor?
These are the red flags that could cause you trouble.  If you are honest with your doctors and let them know what you are taking and who is prescribing it you will be less likely to get in trouble. I don't know how the system in Nevada is but my doctor checks up on his patients who receive controlled meds. There is a record of everything.  My doctor knew that I had seen a certain physician 10 years ago when I had my first herniated disc, that doctor had a lenient reputation and my doctor told me that just my
having seen him 10 years ago could cause me problems because of that doctor's reputation. So definitely be careful and be honest with your physicians.

[kevinsgirl4473]

Well, yes.  One is for my back, which I just saw on the first, and recieved 120 lortabs, and went to my pharmacy.  I just got a script from my shoulder doc and got 80 lortabs with 2 refills...I will have to pay cash since I just got some on the first and it wont go through my insurance.  I took it to a different pharmacy to pay cash.  Is that wrong? I still have lortabs from the first, but am going to be out tomorrow since I took too many due to my tolerance level going up with the lortabs and my pain level, sometimes I take 2 and a few more hours later 2 more.  I go to my back doc on Sat. to try shots before he wants to do surgery on my back, I was going to tell my doc that the lortabs are not working and I am taking to many.  I am just feeling like I did something wrong...am I?

[road2recovery]

Ok are you saying u went to the same pharmacy that gave u the 120 on the first or this month??  if so, why did u drop it off knowing you could not have it filled??
ARe the two doctors giving u 2 different kind of meds?

[kevinsgirl4473]

No the docs do not know that I get meds from both because I usually don't.  I just got meds from my shoulder doc for the first time in a year because I had to have a second surgery on the shoulder he did.  I filled it with the other pharmacy I paid cash for no problem, now that I went to drop it off today from the same doc, she asked me that question...it is just weird...I am nervous...I just got a shot in my shoulder and legitametly have to have an mri on my opposite shoulder now since I am having the same problem, and I have a few lortabs left.  Does my back doc need to be informed that I got meds from my shoulder doc when I go in Sat.? I don't know...

[road2recovery]

ok, first yes you are doing something wrong...But i think u know that already, because that is why u are going to a different pharmacy and paying cash....
Please get totally honest here....WE all have been there...I have done the same things u are doing, because i am an addict......DO u think that u are addicted???  do u like the high?  or do u think u are dependent, and they pain is that bad?
In my real life i am not honest about my drug use and how i got them..BUT here i am...SO please just be honest here, no one will judge u...We are all here for the same reason.....
It depends on the state u live in i think, is this the first time you have done this?
u probably will be fine
good luck
r2r
also that is alot of pills, with alot of tylenol on your liver, we are here to help , if u want to ever get off of this poison that ruins lives....

[kevinsgirl4473]

No I went to a different pharmacy than my one that gave me the 120.  They said I could not fill it because I just had 120, so I went to another pharmacy and they gave it to me at a cash price so it did not have to go through insurance.  They do not know I have insurance.  The meds are the same...I know that I took too many, and I will be out tomorrow, but I want to know if it is illegal to do that? I have to tell my back doc that I just got some more and took too many of the ones he gave me? My problems are ligeite, it is that this month I happened to have to get a shot in my shoulder and have an mri on it and possible surgery like the last shoulder happend...and I go sat. to my back doc for shot treatment for my back to see if it will keep my from having back surger...

[franco1470]

I'm not a legal expert but I think that you should tell him.  I think that might protect both
yourself and the doctor from legal trouble.  But I would check with some of the experts here on the forum to see if they agree.  I would hate for you to follow my advice and have
it backfire on you.

Franco

[avisg]

If the pharmacy has said something to you ,that is NOT a good sign. You cant have two scripts for the same drug at the same time .

[kevinsgirl4473]

I am not addicted...yes, I have been on before for awhile, and got off, yes, I had questioned if I was addicted.  I went to a pain mangaement doc.  He told me I was dependant on them due to the pain...he is the one who sent me to my back doc.  I tried 2 different back docs to get to the doc I finally am at now who knows what the hell he is doing.  I do take too many...I know that...I am going to tell my doc who is going to do the shots on sat...which is the pain management doc for my back doc in the same office...that I took too many and it is not hitting the pain anymore...I know that I am being dishonest by going and paying cash, and I need to have something until I see my doc. sat.  I did nothing wrong by seeing my shoulder doc. in my opinion other than telling him that I just got lortabs, maybe I should have then I would be screwed until I saw the doc with pain...and I have 4 kids I need to take care of....I know that I am not addicted, or I would say so, but I am definitely dependant on them for the masking of the pain until they can figure out what they are going to do to finally get me out of pain.  I know the side effects, and I want to get off of lortab but they work when I take 2 sometimes, 3 if it gets bad.... I do not want anything stronger because I see the dependancy on the lortab I don't want to get addicted...do you see where my delimma is here...I will be completely honest, or I would not be sitting here asking if it is wrong...seriously

[malenurse57]

Yes it's illegal and personally I would say yes you definitely have a problem. But that is for you to decide. You need to tell these DRs. about your behavior. Good luck and God bless.

[kevinsgirl4473]

I don't have two scripts for the same drug at the same time...I just got 120 on the first from my back doc, and I just dropped off one for 80 from my other doc...I will be out of my 120 by tomorrow...I have 6 left.  I only took 1 1/2 today so far since 6am...the pharmacist said she is going to fill it...that isn't the problem...my problem is that I feel guilty like I am going to go to jail or something...I am definitely going to tell my doctor sat. that I got some from my shoulder doc and how many and i am going to tell him that they are not lasting as long for the pain since I am taking too many to deal with the pain...I just don't want to do anything wrong, and it looks like I am reading these posts.  I will not be refilling my meds by cash again knowing that I can't...I knew that was wrong, but I am just afraid of it being illegal...not morally wrong...

[1911]

You really haven't done anything illegal.  You are not a physician and you are not responsible for determining if you should/shouldn't have the same medication at greater strength due to your dual problems.  The key is you are not going to different doctors for the SAME problem.

That said, like a lot of us, you are doing your share of "doctor shopping".
and "pharmacy seeking".

I would urge you to confide in your physician.  He/she will most likely want to help you get off pills.  

Good luck with your surgery...and, hopefully your future withdrawl.

Cordially,
GEORGE




  

[kevinsgirl4473]

Thank you guys for your help and concern.. I am going to let my doc know about all this, I do think that maybe I have a problem...I didnt think I did...I thought I was taken to much and dependant, since wen I don;t have any I go through some withdrawls yes, but it only last a day or two...but now I am taking way more...thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction...have a great day...I will check on here later to see what you guys think and I will let you know what my docs said...thank you.

[kevinsgirl4473]

Thank you so much for your comment, and I will ...thank you.

[Crispy]

if your not forging scripts then no its not illegal. It might be malpractice but its not illegal on your end.

[avisg]

sunny is right it is illegal and some states like mine have a database and every time you get a narcotic they put your name in that database .This is to crack down on doctor shopping in my state.

[Sajonna]

I had a similar situation last year.  I was getting Norco's prescribed to me by my RA doctor for my pain.  Then I had to go to an Oral Surgeon for a dental procedure.  After the procedure he was getting ready to write a script for pain meds and asked me if I had any preferences or allergies.  I told him I already had a bunch of Norco's and asked if he thought those were strong enough for this also.  He said yes.  And also asked how many I had left.  I had enough of them as I was taking 6 a day at that point.  He told me, if I ran out or needed anything to just phone the office because he knew this procedure was painful during the healing process.

I am always honest with all my docs on what meds I take.  I only got the Norco's from one doctor and always used the same pharmacy because I wanted them to know what meds I was on and if they would interact in a dangerous way.  

I can see why you think you might have done something wrong or illegal here.   It's not illegal or wrong, but I wonder why you just didn't tell the second doctor that you already had a script for the same meds?  Pain is pain and taking more of the same drug is not going to make each part of your body feel better.

Just my 2 cents.  Good luck on your pain management.

[faith_hope_love]

Your pain meds. that you are taking (lortab & soma) for your back kinda remind me of myself.  I hurt my back around 7 yrs. ago, found out that I have dengenerative disc disease in cervical, thorasic & lumbar and arthritis (no wonder I felt so bad..haha)

Anyhow, I went to see an orthopedic dr. and he prescribed lortab and soma.  I don't really remember the beginning dosage years back, probably like 60 lortabs and 30 somas but it didn't take long at all, maybe 2 years and my dependency on them grew and the dr. prescribed me 100 lortabs every 16 days and 100 somas every 25 days and that dosage went right on up until I got off of them a week ago today.  But of course, taking those pills for so long, my 100 lortabs got to where they didn't last and it just got to be a vicious cycle.

I never had more than one dr. in all those years.  I am a chicken and I would have been to scared to go to two of them.  But, then again, your 2 drs. are for different issues.

I don't have any advice legally because I really don't know, I just wanted to comment and say please be careful because it doesn't take no time for those stupid pills to rule your life.  I know you have pain though and that makes it hard.

For me, straight tylenol or maybe ibupropen will be my drug of choice. ~smile~

Best of luck with everything and please tell your dr., you will feel better and not be stressing on it.  Lyn

[CATUF]

Nevada Revised Statute 453.391

Unlawful taking or obtaining of controlled substance or prescription. A person shall not:

1. Unlawfully take, obtain or attempt to take or obtain a controlled substance or a prescription for a controlled substance from a manufacturer, wholesaler, pharmacist, physician, physician assistant, dentist, advanced practitioner of nursing, veterinarian or any other person authorized to administer, dispense or possess controlled substances.

2. While undergoing treatment and being supplied with any controlled substance or a prescription for any controlled substance from one practitioner, knowingly obtain any controlled substance or a prescription for a controlled substance from another practitioner without disclosing this fact to the second practitioner.
====================================

it seems that since 1977 there has been a "secret database that records every time a controlled substance is prescribed in Nevada."  see http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Mar-30-Thu-2000/news/13266349.html

just make sure you tell your docs what the other docs are doing.  this is not going to be a strict-liability offense, they are looking for folks who are "shopping" with the actual intent of getting drugs for non-medical reasons.

CATUF

[tommm70]

Hey, please don't take what I am about to post the wrong way. But I have a couple of tough questions for you.
If you are worried you are committing a crime, would you not call your doctor right way and say "hey, I am getting the same script from another doctor, is this OK?" Better yet, why did you not tell him when you were there. In Illinois this is illegal. It is against the law to get a script from a second doctor and not tell him you already have one.

Or is part of you afraid he might stop prescribing it? It is a legit question, and I am not trying to pick on you.

I think you know the answer to that.

Addiction is way of life when it has consumed you. We will, lie, cheat, manipulate every way we can to get the drug of choice. Many of us have done bad things to get what we want. I know I have. I lied and manipulated to get more pills. I am not ashamed to admit it. Just remember it will have to stop at some point.


I hope this helps you ask for help.

[kittykat58]

not malpractice -- malpractice is when a doc practices poor medicine and does harm to a patient. a pt can't commit malpractice (unless they are a doc!).  :)

I think the laws vary from state to state on doubling up your meds. you could call a pharmacy anonymously (any pharmacy) in your area from a blocked phone and ask them if it is illegal to get 2 'scripts for the same drug.

apart from legalities, I think you know that you are being dishonest -- most importantly with your doctors. I think you know that your back doc would not think much of you getting more of the same dope from a different doc for your shoulder, and visa versa, without telling either one of them. I think you know they would probably cut you off, or require you to see one doc for your problems, or at the very least, be honest with all your docs about what you are doing.

taking 120 pills in 24 hours (if I read your post right) sounds like a problem to me. what do you think?

[hopsing94]

This is very simple, you are doctor shopping. This is against the law. Using two doctors and getting scripts for pain meds especially of the same type will get you in trouble,

[LONESOME]

Sorry don't take it in a bad way but to me you are doctor shopping, and yes you can get in trouble by now the pharmacy already (probably) has an eye on how many scripts from what doctors and stuff. Please be careful also sorry again but why would you get the script the same day if you say you don't have a problem with pills? you already had 120 pills the way you take them that should have lasted you all month.
My opinion sorry just consider getting help ok.

[J_friend]

With the situation you described, I doubt there would be much of a stink raised.  True "doctor shoppers" knowingly use MANY different doctors and different pharmacies. In your situation, I can't see anyone wasting their time on it.  However, it may be wise for you to simply tell the doctor who prescribed you 120, and tell him what's up.  In addition, if your doctor thinks it's necessary, perhaps you can get a script for MORE, such as 150, next time.

Now, with all that said, you may want to REALLY ask yourself if you're becoming addicted to these pills.  I mean, let's face it - you're on a substance abuse message board for starters, right?

[kevinsgirl4473]

Okay...I see all of your postings and I appreciate all of your advice and concerns...I am taking them to heart.  I did talk to my pharmacist yesterday and told her about what was going on.  I did get my meds, and she will refill the next two.  She told me that I need to stay at one pharmacy and pay with insurance, because that is wrong...well I knew that, morally but did not legally...so I will be letting my doc know this sat. about what is going on...I am dependant on the lortabs and just don't want to go on something stronger! And no, I did not take 120 in 24 hours....I took the pills 120 the last yesterday...so that is what is up.  
I am aware that this is doing harm to my body, and I don't want to do this anymore, and I do not want to become addicted...I do not lie, steal or cheat to get the lortabs, also, I would never do anything illegal to obtain lortabs...I am not consumed with them, when I have taken too much in the past, I dealt with it until my next appointment and got more, yes, I went through withdrawls, but I dealt with it...so now I am going to come clean with my doc, tell him my concerns, and see what he says....thank you for all of your advice and keep me in your prayers please...I will write you when I get back from getting the epidural injections on Sat.  Thank you!
MM

[hopsing94]

Good for you. I think that is a very smart thing to do. I worked with a girl who was using lortabs and doctor shopping. The DEA was watching her for 6 months. They came to work one day and went to the managers office. They had him call her to the office and when she came in they made the manager leave and arrested her right there. They put her in a car right in front of the dealership for all to see and hauled her off. The last I heard she got two years. Like I said they were following her for six months. They had her on video at two different pharmacies picking up scripts. Just be careful.

[road2recovery]

you are making a very wise choice....Being honest is the best way..By being honest with the pharmacy is hugh!!!  And they will respect you for this...So will your doctor..
You may not be addicted, but sometimes being dependent on them is just as bad..Then addiction comes out from no where....The obsessing for them consumes our minds all day, and nite....You don't want that to happen...
i am glad you took all of our opinons and made a decision without thinking we were judging you...Because honestly we are not...I know i am not...I have done what u did and worst...Shoot the DEA may knock on my door tommorrow....But guess what, i cannot think of the past, only the future..
Good luck to you
r2r