Upset with Doctor

[Maddiesilver]

I feel like Doctors are drug pushers.It is hard to find a Doctor that cares. I had no idea the Meds I had been taking for years were as addicitve as they are. I am currently taking nothing. I was taking Adderal and Hydrocodone on a daily basis under the care of a Adult ADHD specialist for almost 2 years. I truly feel I was done wrong. After many attempts to get in with my doctor and was told he was "out due to a family emergency" I found another doctor and I told him the situation and would he fill my scripts, he said yes. When I try to get back in with my original Doctor I was directed to see the "new doctor" I explained I don't want to switch doctors. A week later I was dimissed from BOTH. With no guidence or instruction of how to come off the meds or who I should even talk to... I am very diappointed in how this has turned out. Is this total neglect or did i do something wrong?

[motye51]

I couldn't agree with you more!  I went to my "doctor" and told her I had been abusing opiates and I wanted OFF...she put me on suboxone of which I had read about, but I didn't know a lot.  After the fact is when I found out that it's supposed to be a short term maintenance drug and I was on it for 6 years.  Never tapering, never missing an appointment!  Spending about $1400 a month.  Granted, I NEVER asked to taper!  That is MY fault, but I had no idea that subs had opiates in them!  I feel like methadone and subs are just the gov't way of getting in the drug game so they can make money off of them as well!  Just like making pot legal, it's got nothing to do with the helping cancer patients, and blah, blah, it's b/c the gov't wants their tax dollars!  However, I AM an addict and my addiction is MY problem!  LOL  Had to add that in there before someone said something....

[Maddiesilver]

I was taking Adderall 20mg Twice a day and up to 40Mg of Hyrocodone  for TMJ pain per day. I never one requested a early refill. I have never had an issue till my doctor was out and I saw this other doctor.... I didn't hide anything I even showed him the pill bottles from the last refill.. The discharge letter was very vague, On my long term Doctor it said "upon futher review of your medical records" Dr*** feels he can not treat you any longer. And the "new Doctor just said you have been dismissed... take care and goodbye. These Doctors don't care at all.  There are no legal charges, they have just prescibed these meds and then wiped there hands clean of me since the new PMP is in place.... This was over six months ago, I never thought i would still have lasting mental effects almost cravings for the opiates this long after. I have learned to control my pain with more prevention and good ole Advil and I am better off. I am just really livid at the Doctors for even putting me here. But i agree I now know these are no joke meds... I see how this is a epidemic. Thanks for your reponse i just find myself angry today.

[nursegirl6572]

Hello and welcome, I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation.

What reason were you given for the dismissals?  Have you ever run out of your scripts early, sought early refills, or used more than one doctor for the same medications?

Unfortunately, the reality is, doctors are big time on the hook when they prescribe controlled substances, and the bottom line is, if at ANY point they become uncomfortable prescribing them, they can stop writing the scripts.  I don't always agree with that, and I think it's a shame when people aren't at least given a taper plan, but when it comes to the legalities, they are under the gun.  The abuse of Rx narcotics (opioid medications especially) is at epidemic proportion, and as a result, there are BIG crackdowns regarding the prescribing process, from the docs, to the pharmacists, and to the patients.

I also agree that many doctors don't go out of their way to educate a patient about the medications they prescribe, which is why it's VITAL for every person to educate themselves, everyone should always do their homework!  Ultimately, the onus is always on the patient to educate themselves.  The pharmacy is required to provide an educational monograph with each and every Rx filled, and I think most people just throw them away (I'm guilty myself of this at times, lol).  Also, in this age of computers and the internet, it's SO easy to find information from a reputable source about medications.  And if ever you're unsure of something, or have questions, speak up and talk to your doctor.

I'm sorry you found yourself in a bad situation.  At least one positive thing will come out of this, you NOW know that it's imperative for you to be informed and always educate yourself about any medication that is being recommended.  Never just blindly trust doctors without doing your own homework.  You need to be your own advocate.

How long ago did this happen?  Are you out of your meds?  Can you elaborate on how much you were taking?

[Maddiesilver]

I just want to add that this was over six months ago and I would have never touched either of these meds if I had known how sick they can make you. I was never informed that at the theraputic doses there are still long lasting effects of both of these meds... these doctors need to be REAL with people.