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How can I get emergency help for somebody in opiate withdrawals?
Sometime in the early 90's, my father developed a ruptured disc in his back. His doctor diagnosed him with degenerative disc disease and prescribed pain management. Over time, he developed several more ruptured discs, so the doctor prescribed methadone, which has a longer half-life than other pain medications, though he was still prescribed those to take as needed for breakthrough pain. As he developed even more ruptured discs, the doctor ultimately increased his methadone to 40 mg per day.
A few years ago, the doctor transferred to another pain management facility, and a new doctor was assigned to him, but he only saw him at his next two monthly appointments. From then on, all of his appointments were with a nurse. By this time, I had started accompanying him to take notes and help him stay organized.
On April 7th, my father had a monthly appointment, during which a urine analysis was performed. The nurse claimed that he had no traces of methadone in his system, which made no sense to me, since I help him keep up with his pills. My father told the nurse that it would be impossible for him stop taking 40 mg of methadone in less than a month without suffering from withdrawals, and the nurse admitted that he could tell that he wasn’t suffering from withdrawals, so he offered to conduct a test of his metabolism at his next appointment.
Less than a week before his next appointment, which was scheduled on May 3rd, my father received a certified letter from the doctor. It stated that, due to the results of the last urine analysis, he would no longer see him as a patient, except to offer emergency care for the next 30 days until he could find a new doctor. The letter also stated that my father was prescribed a 30 day supply of methadone at his appointment on April 20th, even though his last appointment was actually on April 7th.
My father began the process of getting a new doctor. On May 3rd, he visited his now former pain management facility to get his methadone refilled, but the doctor refused to see him. When he showed the staff the letter that promised him 30 days of emergency care, they relayed his message to the doctor, but his response was that he should visit the emergency room. Once he ran out of methadone and started going through withdrawals, he called all the hospitals, but they told him that they never prescribe pain medication for people in withdrawals, even if it’s a medical emergency.
His condition is getting worse, and he’s still waiting on a phone call to find out when he’ll be able to get an appointment with a new doctor. If he doesn’t get some methadone soon, he could die. I can’t just sit there and let that happen, so I’m asking for advice. What should he do now? He contacted two different methadone clinics, but one refuses to take patients on a temporary basis, and the other closed early for the day and won’t reopen until tomorrow. He might not make through the night! Considering the urgent nature of the situation, is there any kind of program available that could help him until he can see his new doctor? If not, then considering his thorough documentation of the offending doctor’s (potentially illegal) actions, is there a way to legally force him to prescribe methadone for emergency treatment, as he promised in the letter he sent?
A few years ago, the doctor transferred to another pain management facility, and a new doctor was assigned to him, but he only saw him at his next two monthly appointments. From then on, all of his appointments were with a nurse. By this time, I had started accompanying him to take notes and help him stay organized.
On April 7th, my father had a monthly appointment, during which a urine analysis was performed. The nurse claimed that he had no traces of methadone in his system, which made no sense to me, since I help him keep up with his pills. My father told the nurse that it would be impossible for him stop taking 40 mg of methadone in less than a month without suffering from withdrawals, and the nurse admitted that he could tell that he wasn’t suffering from withdrawals, so he offered to conduct a test of his metabolism at his next appointment.
Less than a week before his next appointment, which was scheduled on May 3rd, my father received a certified letter from the doctor. It stated that, due to the results of the last urine analysis, he would no longer see him as a patient, except to offer emergency care for the next 30 days until he could find a new doctor. The letter also stated that my father was prescribed a 30 day supply of methadone at his appointment on April 20th, even though his last appointment was actually on April 7th.
My father began the process of getting a new doctor. On May 3rd, he visited his now former pain management facility to get his methadone refilled, but the doctor refused to see him. When he showed the staff the letter that promised him 30 days of emergency care, they relayed his message to the doctor, but his response was that he should visit the emergency room. Once he ran out of methadone and started going through withdrawals, he called all the hospitals, but they told him that they never prescribe pain medication for people in withdrawals, even if it’s a medical emergency.
His condition is getting worse, and he’s still waiting on a phone call to find out when he’ll be able to get an appointment with a new doctor. If he doesn’t get some methadone soon, he could die. I can’t just sit there and let that happen, so I’m asking for advice. What should he do now? He contacted two different methadone clinics, but one refuses to take patients on a temporary basis, and the other closed early for the day and won’t reopen until tomorrow. He might not make through the night! Considering the urgent nature of the situation, is there any kind of program available that could help him until he can see his new doctor? If not, then considering his thorough documentation of the offending doctor’s (potentially illegal) actions, is there a way to legally force him to prescribe methadone for emergency treatment, as he promised in the letter he sent?
Thank you! He talked to the clinic, and they agreed to take him, but he's going to have to wait until Monday to start treatment. I understand opiate withdrawals aren't intrinsically dangerous, but a few years ago, he had a heart attack that caused damage to his left bundle branch. He's on blood pressure medicine that normally works perfectly, but as of right now, his blood pressure is fairly elevated. Hopefully, knowing that there's an end in sight will help keep him from getting too stressed out, so his blood pressure might come back down.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Hi.....well this happened to me also and I would up going to the methadone clinic to get the methadone my advise would keep calling clinic and dont tell them your only there temporarily coming off 40 mg is going to be ruff on the substance abuse forum we have had people jump from 120 and make it ......the only thing that is going to stop this is some sort of opiet pill like a pecasett vicadine ext the clinic uses liquid and can ween him down to a lower level I always recamend jumping from 5 because tapering below that keeps you in a constant state of withdrawal I hope this help you find a solution
.................................Gnarly................................
.................................Gnarly................................
Hello and Welcome to the forum. I have contacted a member from the addiction abuse forum that I'm a member of to come here and offer advice. Gnarly is our in house expert on coming off Methadone. My heart aches for your Father and for you watching him suffer.. We have never lost someone to withdraws unless there is underlying medical conditions If you think his life is in danger get him to the E.R they can administer fluids and such.. Please hang in there and maybe check out the abuse forum as we have many coming off methadone. You may pick up more tips on how to help relive your Fathers symptoms some what and what to expect as in symptoms. Sending Prayers for your Father.. lesa
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