Pain meds
 

hi, Im new here but have been reading alot of threads and find it so helpful! Iv'e had chronic pain for ten years. I have a metal rod in arm and shoulder, herniated disc's and nerv damage. Ive been on every kind of pain meds there are and due to the high cost me and my dr. decided to just have me on my breakthrough meds, oxicodone 30mg, 4-4times a day.

I know it sounds like alot but my body just got amuned to them. Since the new laws in NJ, im having a hard time filling my scripts. I found a place that filled it but wrote the wrong directions, he put 1 every 4 hrs. It cost me 400.00 for 240 and i usually pay 160.00 for the same amount. Me and my dr. decided i would go on methadone for pain.2, 10mg 2 times a day and the roxicodone for break :confused:through.

I went back to the pharmacy that wrote the wrong amount on the bottle and wanted to correct it in the system so i wouldnt have a hard time getting them when they are due. WELL, I told him what happened and he looked up my script and freaked out at the amount im suppose to take.
He called my dr., i don't care about that, but then he ran me through that computer thing, and that should just show he messed up, but he made me feel like a criminal. I was in tears and he then decided he didnt have the methadone to fill. Is anyone going through this same thing????

Hi Dallas
 

Welcome to Neuro Talk. I am sorry you had trouble with the pharmacy. Am I correct that you were taking oxicodone 30 mg. 4 pills, 4 times a day? I got a bit confused when you said your doctor then changed your script. Any time there is an error, they look at the patient first, unfortunate but true. I think there are so many folks abusing the meds, that pharmacies become frightened. Off hand, the 4 pills 4 x's a day does sound like a high dose, but it isn't up to the pharmacy to judge you. Your meds are between you and your physician. I go to walgreens, and have known them for 15 years now, and consider them friends. Seek a pharmasist, who knows your physician if you can. My guys do know who my pain specialist is, and this physicians very good reputation. I am sorry you wound up in tears over it. Also I can relate to metal in the body and the pain we get from it. ginnie

Hi Dallas, Welcome.

There's a thread about other folks' issues/problems with pharmacists/pharmacies here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread9328.html
Some of it boils down to pressures exerted by management in large chains (See Post #73 toward the end of the thread).

Chronic pain patients can have additional problems in the stigmatization we endure from a misinformed public. It looks like some of that may have been involved too.

People do have bad experiences with pharmacists, with doctors, with just about everyone. We're all human, and it happens. We like to think medical and certain other professionals are supposed to be above that sort of thing, but in the end, they're humans with all the same foibles too. Sounds like this pharmacist was either having a bad day, or he's just a bully/jerk. I'm not trying to excuse his behavior.

You could (and maybe should -- I don't really know) report the incident to his superior/employer/home office, but who knows what the outcome, if any, will be? Or you could find a different pharmacist/pharmacy and move on. This guy ruined your day; please don't let him ruin your life. He's not worth it.

You're on methadone now (correct?), so all that previous stuff shouldn't matter anymore -- it's in the past. What's important is that your pain is sufficiently controlled to reduce your suffering and improve your quality of life.

I would like to mention that while methadone is an excellent medication for chronic pain, like any other medications, it is not without some risk. You can (and should) read about any/all medications you take in the information sheets that come with them, and online, and discuss any concerns with your doctor.

Doc

Agree
 

Hi Dallas!
I am 14 and have hydrocephalus. I have been having headaches and stomach aches for a while. I also had an alergic reaction to a medication. My doctor decided that since we couldn't find anything wrong that we would try pain medications to help me live with the pain. The emergency room doctor gave us a perscription for prednisone and an epi pen. The allergic reaction was on a Sunday and I needed to take the medication by tomorrow morning. As my dad drove me home from the hospital, we looked for a walgreens to fill out the prescriptions. Later they call and say they no longer accept our insurance company, long story short my mom got it filled out the next day in time for me to take it. Also with the topomax that I am taking doesn't do anything for pain. And as far as medications go, whenever I'm at the hospital we always have to tell them my medications because they never have them on file.

Good Luck!

Ochokid14,
 

Hi Ochokid14, Welcome.

One of my best friends when I was about your age had a shunt. The technology wasn't as good then, and I remember the headaches and other problems he had well into his 20s, and ventually we lost touch. I'm glad yours is better than his was.

Do you know what condition or reason your doctors prescribed Topamax for? If it's not doing what it was prescribed for, you might talk to your doctor about getting off of it. All medications have potential benefits, but they also all have potential risks, or side effects, and why be subjected to those if there's no benefit to be gained? ;)

Hospitals always ask about medications, even when they do have them on file. They have no way of telling if there may be any errors/mistakes, or if there have been any changes that have been missed or haven't caught up with the system. It may seem like a nuisance, but it's a safety measure intended to reduce mistakes.

Doc

Dear Dr. Smith,
The reason I got Hydrocephalus is because I had a craniopharyngioma tumor, so I also have Endocrine issues, and the Topomax helps with my appetite.

Hi Dallas,

I'm sorry that you had that experience

Yeah that does suck sometimes people just don't understand what all this is like if they've never been through pain management themselves. I try not to let it get to me as I've had many of these experiences myself. Not everyone is understanding, some people just don't have enough intelligence to be. No worries, just move on.

Hi Dallas!!!!! Most of us here have experienced some sort of mix up with the meds, eventually. Tell me, are you seeing a pain doc or is your primary doc writing your script for the meds? The reason I ask is because you are on Methadone.......a good pain reliever for intense chronic pain and I have been on it before myself.

The only real problem with Methadone is making certain that the doc who is writing the script is really experienced with it. It has a much longer half life than most opiates. Most pain docs try to find the correct dosage, titrating up slowly and once they get there, they avoid "breakthroughs". That long half life usually eliminates the need for breakthroughs. Of course, there are no absolutes in dealing with pain. I am just a bit concerned if you are frequently bumping the methadone with BTs. That can actually get dangerous.

Take care and come back with any questions or you just need to chat. We pretty good at both. :hug:

"Do you know what condition or reason your doctors prescribed Topamax for?"

I'm 59 and have hydrocephalus and a unexplained pain in my head dating back to March of 1996. The neurosurgeon's, the who have operated on me and the ones who have seen me to see if they could do anything for me, and 5 other neurosurgery groups who after reading my medical history refused to see me as a patient.
I can give you a very good guess why they Ochokid14 Topamax.
While it does have a mild appetite suppressant side effect it's real use is for pain relief.
I take 2, 100 mg tabs a day of Topamax. Helps cut down on the need for taking oxycodone.