quincy
Board Addict
Reged: 11/07/02
Posts: 333
Loc: pacific northwest
|
|
Ok, I visited my doc yesterday, I was having really bad fibro flares and she wrote me a script for hydrocodone 5mg and flexeril. They are both on the same script. She was concerned about all of the APAP so she told me to tell the pharmacist that and if he had any questions to call her. Well, I visited 5 places and nobody had it, and some said they didn't even make hydor without APAP. So I called her and asked for some Norco instead. So she called it in for me and I have it. But I also have the script. I am really tempted to go and have it filled, but pay cash and use a new pharmacy. But I don't know if I am breaking the law by doing this. Unethical yes, but I want to have the other medication filled too. Its flexeril and its on the same script. Should I try and fill it or should I just toss it and tell the doctor to call in the flexeril for me. Im so tempted, but I don't want to screw up or get arrested. Maybe I should hold onto it for awhile and then try to get it filled, I don't know. What would you guys do? Honestly please, we are all tempted with things like this from time to time and Its an ethical dilemma, not to mention I would lose a good doc if she caught me. Help Please??!!
Sarah
|
bhamdave
Threadhead
Reged: 01/11/02
Posts: 949
Loc: U.S.A.
|
|
If you try to get it (script) filled and at a new pharmacy, there is a chance of the pharmacist calling you doctor.
You could take your chances but there is always that risk.
--------------------
AIDS
It's not YOUR problem (I hope that)
It's not MY problem (I know that)
But it is still OUR problem and WE know that!
|
oldnavy170
Board Addict
Reged: 05/12/03
Posts: 357
Loc: New York
|
|
You don't want to pay cash for your flexeril either, do you? Why pay for it when you got insurance to cover it! if your doctor is willing to give you Norco then I say throw out your script and have your doctor call in your flexeril.
Good Luck
|
JethroBodine
Journeyman
Reged: 06/20/03
Posts: 90
Loc: Ozark Mountains
|
|
I seriously doubt it's illegal, but I wouldn't want to take a chance of angering my doc. He might think I was a recreational drug user and not ever prescribe anything except antibiotics in the future.
Here in missouri, they have a new law, whereby they have to give back your old bottle when you get a refill. I wonder how many people take the old bottle to another pharmacy to try to get an extra refill. This is weird.
--------------------
Happy trails to you.......
|
prettyday
Threadhead
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 914
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
|
|
Sarah, do yourself an eternal favor and burn that script. Call the doctor--have them call in the flexeril. Do NOT burn your bridges in town. I think the pharmacies are knuckling under to DEA pressure and chain competition as well--it is so tempting to know you will have that cushion, I know boy do I know---but in-town pharmacies have always had someone from Law Enforcement who comes around and checks the signatures and scripts.
Alexander King wrote about this really eloquently in two books back in the mid ???50s early 60s.
"May This House Be Safe From Tigers"
"Mine Enemy Grows Older"
He was a wonderful artist/writer/rascal who suffered terribly from kidney stones. One day, when he was in particular agony, an intern taught him the trick of dissolving his morphine and shooting it up, so it would work faster. Unfortunately, it really did, and he became a 'shopper' and had multiple scrips all over town, and knew all the 'scrip' doctors.
He gives many funny/sad stories of waiting as unnoticeably as possible for his order to be filled while pretending it was just one of many things he had come in to the drugstore to get.
As a result, his flat was filled with packages of things he never used, including feminine products, in hopes the pharmacists would see him as a man with a busy life and a wife.
Well, I have never forgotten his accounts of when the Narcotics agents would catch up with him occasionally; eventually his signature would show up at enough places around say a hundred mile radius that it would stick out and so they would arrest him. Yes, this story is true. This was a wonderful man. He 'kicked' voluntarily and involuntarily many times; I forget what his ending was.
Certainly today more options would be open to him.
Anyway, I don't want to freak anyone out, including myself. But just going to a mom and pop pharmacy may not be safe in this instance and I certainly would not take it to a chain.
Call your doc, or better yet, write a short, to the point note, walk away from it for 20 minutes, and review it. If you feel it states your case properly, staple it to a 99 cent Thank You card and leave it at the office on a day you know the doc is there.
I really understand this temptation and wish I could tell you differently. 
P.S. Does everyone know that when you register online for the big chains for refills of whatever, that is a fairly large database?
Look at the bottom of the registration for say, Rite-Aid. Online they work thru Drugstore.com.
Just fighting the useless fight with the database monster. 
--------------------
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
Edited by prettyday (07/11/03 09:53 PM)
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
As Jack McCoy (Sam Waterson) said on LAW & ORDER: "lawyers, trying to turn infinite shades of gray into black and white." In other words, despite our concepts of the rule of law, what really happens is a matter of some lawyer/judge's opinion. What may be illegal in Atlanta is legal San Francisco -- in Federal Court, forget different state laws. Take a class in Business Law at your local community college - you'll be shocked at how the system really works. Nothing that you believe about truth or justice applies. I worked for over ten years in the criminal injustice system and I had to get out -- it's too insane for the average person to stomach, so we all pretend it's like LAW & ORDER on TV. Believe me it's not.
|
dsack
Veteran
Reged: 01/20/02
Posts: 523
Loc: midwest
|
|
I wouldn't risk it, Quincy. Just call your doc and ask for the flexeril. A few extra meds in your cabinet could get you in the kind of trouble you definitly don't want to be in.JMO
|
TLT
Board Addict
Reged: 10/21/02
Posts: 358
Loc: loc. usa
|
|
Very interesting post prettyday, also some good advise.
Quincy, I finally found a real good Dr that is willing to treat my chronic pain with a regimen of narcotic pain meds, I would not do anything to jeapordize my relationship with him, especially being dishonest with him.
legal or illegal? Who knows? Does your state have the data-base yet, some only check for scheduled 11 meds, my state checks for all scheduled meds.
Have a good day
Terri
--------------------
"RUDENESS IS THE WEAK MANS IMITATION OF STRENGTH"
|
Jeremiah
Agape GrandParent
Reged: 07/14/02
Posts: 705
Loc: U.S.A.
|
|
Hi Quincy
While I certainly understand the temptation, personally I wouldn't risk it. Sounds as if your Doc is trying to help you with pain management,and believe me these are few and far between. I wouldn't chance losing that Doc over a script that can't be filled. I wonder if she meant 5mg Oxy instead?
Hope you make the responsible decision,sweetie.
J.
--------------------
I can't see me lovin nobody but you,for all my life
|
IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 868
Loc: usa
|
|
The pharmacy WILL call your Dr when they fill the script....so she will be aware of it...I would only do this if your willing to lose her as a source of future narcotic prescriptions in the future....DON"T DO IT!
|
quincy
Board Addict
Reged: 11/07/02
Posts: 333
Loc: pacific northwest
|
|
Ok- I did the right thing and took the script back to the doctors office. She was like totally surprised that I did that. I don't even think she considered the fact that I still had a script in hand. So, she just called in the flexeril and now I know she trusts me. But I must say it was tempting to take it somewhere out of the way where I am not known and pay cash. I know better than to use insurance. And IMSUSCOT I have never had a pharmacist call the doctor on a script. I have sat right there when I have had narcotics filled and they do it like in 5 minutes no problem. Not at Walgreens though. They will call, probably Rite-Aid too. No, I work in healthcare and had a close family member who became a pharmacy tech just to get her fix, so I know how it is. I know all the tricks to that. Yes you could probably get away with it, but I don't want to mess up a good thing. I go to PM on Friday, and I hope he gives me long-lasting.
Oh- one more question. In case he drug tests me, should I stop taking the valium I got from an OP? He is a private practice doctor so maybe he won't, but you never can tell. I just hope he gives me something long-lasting. I can now take 3 norco for a dose and thats too much in my opinion. Id rather go back to the long acting meds. Thats why I wanted to fill that extra, just in case although they are only 5/500's and won't last a week!!
Sarah 
|
shotzie
Newbie
Reged: 06/21/03
Posts: 46
Loc: western USA
|
|
The valium won't be out of your system by friday.
|
quincy
Board Addict
Reged: 11/07/02
Posts: 333
Loc: pacific northwest
|
|
Best if kept off the board, whats the half-life? Well, I could always say I had some left over from the dentist, who did give me some about 6 months ago.
Sarah
|
fluffyfeller
Old Hand
Reged: 08/25/02
Posts: 415
Loc: Lone Star State
|
|
This isn't real scientific but I just did a quick search on half-life:
USC.EDU
Per this site (and I've read similar things) "Valium's half-life-the amount of time it takes for half of the drug to be removed from a person's bloodstream-in a young person is typically about 24 hours, says Lipson. In a frail 80-year-old man, that half-life can be extended to 80 hours, and if an overweight person is taking Tagamet and drinking alcohol, the half-life of Valium is extended to a whopping 210 hours."
So I think you're okay after a couple of days with no Valium.
Again, it might not be fact. I'm older and wondering the same thing.
Anyone else have any pertinent info?
--------------------
"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none."
|
IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 868
Loc: usa
|
|
Quincy....... I didn't say they make you wait while they call the doc to verify the script....usually it's done by fax, (it would be stupid to verify scripts one at a time....usually they send a fax at the end of the day, every other day, or once a week) but if it's a small pharmacy, they may do it manually..But they DO verify narcotic scripts...pt name, doc name, med name, quantity written for & dosing instructions..I can't tell you how many people don't realize they do this and alter scripts, because they've had them filled before and "noticed" just as you did, that they didn't call while you were there...but hey...makes no difference to me....alter one...see if your doc doesn't find out....
On the Valium...don't have my PDR w/me....but I think Friday is pushing the limit....I wouldn't feel comfortable takine a peepee test on Friday, call any pharmacy...ask the pharmacist...they'll look it up for you...I'd start drinking lots of water today....BUT on the day of the appointment...don't overload with fluids...specific gravity indicates a person's hydration status...it's a dead give away on urine testing so drink lots up until 24 hrs before the test...then drink as you normally would.
Edited by IMSUSCOT1 (07/14/03 09:04 PM)
|
quincy
Board Addict
Reged: 11/07/02
Posts: 333
Loc: pacific northwest
|
|
No I didn't alter a script. I just was going to fill it when the doctor had called it in. I would never even think of altering a prescription.
Besides I have worked in doctors offices for years and they don't send faxes for every script written, even narcotics. I worked in places where people called in there own and forged scripts. Now I don't want to lose my licence over some pills, so I never indulged, but in my state, they are not that stringent. Its up to the pharmacist and insurance whether or not to report to the doctor.
Sarah
|
toe
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/02
Posts: 1422
Loc: MidWest USA
|
|
I'd just like to point out here, for the record, that cyclobenzaprine is not a federally controlled substance and thus, for the most part, pharmacies won't bat an eye at a flexeril script.
Just FYI.
--------------------
"It's the end of the World as We Know it. . ."
-REM "and I'm seeking asylum in Canada"-toe
|
IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 868
Loc: usa
|
|
not sure what state your in....someone mentioned on another thread that Washington is quite "lax"...but in most states narcotics are verified...some states require it...almost all chain pharmacies have a policy of verifying all narcotic scripts...IMHO it's just not worth risking it on the outside chance they don't verify narc scripts...but everyone is welcome to believe as they wish....
|
cypress434
Old Hand
Reged: 04/14/02
Posts: 422
Loc: The Deep Southern US
|
|
This reminds me of something that happened to someone who
used to be a member of a pain group I was in at one time.
A prescription for a pain med (I want to say Tylenol #3) was in the console of their car and their fast food drink dripped on it and got it damp. She didn't think it would be a problem, and brought it in. The pharmacist was suspicious so called the lady's doctor, and apparently her doctor didn't keep adequate records - the doc didn't even write down that she'd given the woman refills (which she had in the past). Rather than make herself look bad, the doctor lied - and the woman, who was in her fifties, ended up doing hard time in prison for altering a scrip - even though she *didn't*. I thought her doctor was about as lowlife as you can get, to choose to have her patient put in prison before she'd ever admit in a court of law that she kept screwy records (or she could have cleared the whole thing up in that one phone call.)
Moral? If your scrip EVER gets wet in any kind of way, return it to the doctor and ask for another one. Never
trust that the pharmacist will ever be understanding at all.
Oh, and don't trust that your doctor keeps accurate records either. I called my doctor for 30 more (he would usually give me 90 per month, but for some reason wrote only 60 at the previous visit) - and the nurse called me back and said my records didn't show that I had received ANY hydro at all that visit. Guess it was a good thing that my drugstore didn't call the doctor, because then they might have tried to accuse me of forging a prescription. I'm actually surprised that it didn't happen, now that I look back. In this country, you never know WHAT will happen.
--------------------
Cypress434
Character is what you do when no one is watching.
|
Dizzmo54
Stranger
Reged: 08/19/02
Posts: 9
|
|
A very general guideline is 6 half lives will usually be long enough to be undetectable with the less expensive ua s .
I work for an organization that represents employees unjustly accused of drug abuse via ua results so I have some general knowledge of the limitations/abilities of the commonly employed drug tests.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
