Why can’t someone invent butterscotch-flavored tic-tacs?
Day: 12/17/2014
12/8/2014, Primary Care Doctors Report Prescribing Fewer Opioids for Pain
“Our findings suggest that primary care providers have become aware of the scope of the prescription opioid crisis and are responding in ways that are important, including reducing their overreliance on these medicines,” says study leader… “The health care community has long been part of the problem, and now they appear to be part of the solution to this complex epidemic.”
Responding by “reducing their overreliance on these medicines” — and replacing them with what? Everyone agrees the medical industry isn’t equipped to treat chronic pain, unless it’s with drugs. So, how are doctors part of the solution? And why aren’t insurance companies part of the “solution” too?
Is part of the solution to leave pain patients with nothing else to look forward to except death?
Meanwhile, he says more research is needed. While there is good value in surveying physicians about their attitudes, beliefs and experiences, he says research using pharmacy data is needed to confirm the degree to which prescribers’ reliance on prescription opioids is actually decreasing.
Sure, more research is needed to confirm that the DEA and the medical industry have actually restricted access to pain medications. With all the suffering going on, you’d think these doctors’ priorities would be a little more focused on the actual problem.
Yeah, the next time one of these doctors has a root canal, I’d like to treat his or her pain with a massage or acupuncture… see how they like being tortured.
Other findings in the survey:
90% of doctors believe prescription drug abuse is a big or moderate problem in their community.
85% of doctors somewhat agree or strongly agree that opioids are overused to treat pain.
82% of doctors somewhat agree or strongly agree that patients “commonly embellish or fabricate their pain symptoms” to obtain opioids.
I guess doctors don’t read the same news reports and research studies that I read, or else it’s just like I feared — doctors have joined the anti-science team. Talk about being susceptible to propaganda…
And I can’t help it — I’m really starting to strongly dislike ALL doctors. Hypocrites, the lot of them. Who’s worse, doctors or politicians?
This, from the Mayo Clinic?
Prescription drug abuse is the use of a prescription medication in a way not intended by the prescribing doctor, such as for the feelings you get from the drug. Prescription drug abuse or problematic use includes everything from taking a friend’s prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting or injecting ground-up pills to get high. Drug abuse may become ongoing and compulsive, despite the negative consequences.
“…such as the feelings you get from the drug.” Yeah, you know, like the feeling of pain relief.
Taking one pill because your back hurts, even if it wasn’t specifically (and expensively) prescribed to you, is considered problematic or abuse? No wonder the war on drugs has been such a failure…
Drug abuse “may” become ongoing and compulsive? Isn’t that supposed to be the definition of addiction? Does drug abuse always equal drug addiction? How often does abuse become addiction? Do most people overcome addictions on their own?
If I drink 20 cups of coffee in one day, is that caffeine abuse or addiction?
It’s like the medical industry suddenly joined the anti-science team…
2/3/2014, Prescription for Pain: Patients struggling to fill medications (Nevada)
Those we’ve heard from said Walgreens and CVS in particular, are delaying or flat out denying prescriptions for pain medication, telling patients they don’t meet the criteria without further explanation.
“I extend my sympathies,” said Nevada State Senator Tick Segerblom. “The reality is there’s been tremendous abuse of these prescriptions and so there has to be a type of way to cut back on it.” Opiates were never intended for long-term pain management and Segerblom thinks the medical community needs to find a better way to treat chronic pain.
Umm… when do you think they’ll get around to doing that? What are pain patients supposed to do in the meantime? Maybe the Senator can get insurance companies to pay for daily massage therapy?
7/29/2013, Walgreens pharmacists denying some pain med clients
One customer, a man in his 30s that WTHR said was diagnosed with a combination of multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and peripheral neuropathy, had filled his prescriptions without incident for 2 years at the same Walgreens location. He said he got quite a surprise when he attempted to refill his prescriptions.
“I couldn’t believe it. They actually threatened to call the cops. I’ve been a loyal customer for a long time, and all of a sudden, I was told to leave the premises or the police would be called,” the man told WTHR.
Since the man reportedly only had a 1-day supply of the Oxycontin he uses for chronic pain, he asked for his prescriptions back so he could take it to a different pharmacy.
“[The pharmacist said] ‘I’ve already started the process and now it’s out of my hands. I am not giving it back to you,'” the man told WTHR. “I felt kind of panicked and I told him, ‘I don’t think you can do that.’ That’s when he told me to leave or he’d call the police… I had no choice but to leave them there until he was able to fill them.”
Walgreens Q & A Prepared for the New Hampshire Medical Society (2013)
Click to access proofed%20walgreens%20policy%206-5-2013.pdf
Can pharmacists ask for patient information protected under HIPAA?
Pharmacies and pharmacists are covered under HIPAA as “healthcare providers,” which includes entities who sell or “dispense a drug, device, equipment or other item in accordance with a prescription.” (45 CFR 160.103 par (3))
Is Walgreens’ policy designed to “limit” the quantity of pain medication that can be dispensed to patients?
No. A prescription for a large quantity of narcotics may draw increased scrutiny, but a physician’s prescriptions are not denied solely because of the quantity of tablets prescribed.
Similarly, Walgreens does not want to inconvenience our patients by making them go to multiple pharmacies. If one Walgreens pharmacist refuses a specific prescription for an opioid for a patient, that prescription will be refused at all Walgreen pharmacies, as it has been entered in our system as “refused.” Each patient should be given this information to avoid travelling to multiple Walgreens pharmacies in order to fill a prescription…
Nationally, wholesalers and distributors are limiting the amount of opioids, which are dispensed to all pharmacies – Walgreens as well as all other pharmacy chains and independents.
11/22/2013, A renewed war on powerful pain meds threatens to hurt patients
CVS, which has also been subjected to federal investigations, has implemented a large-scale data analytics program to identify “problem prescribers,” though a company spokesperson would not confirm whether its employees use any sort of checklist when evaluating prescriptions.
9/29/2014, Letter to the Editor: Walgreens Prescription Policy Change (FL)
http://www.villages-news.com/letter-editor-2/
We were advised by the manager/Pharmacist that since we only fill prescriptions for pain medicine (controlled substances) at Walgreens, they are refusing to fill these prescriptions for us any longer, under a Corporate change in policy. We called Corporate only to find out that the local store makes this type of policy.
Walgreens, Consumer Complaints & Reviews
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/rx/walgreen.html
on Nov. 11, 2014
I am a Government employee in Jacksonville, same job, same place for over 20 years. I have always used Walgreens and at times CVS. I read the new policy for Walgreens and pain medications, so I went to have my prescription filled, fully prepared, knowing they will need to call the doctor, etc. I was told it will take up to 2 to 3 days. A few hours later the pharmacist called and said I failed the checklist, but would not tell me why. I am in shock and I made calls and will write letters to Mr. Wasson. This is beyond unbelievable. I have been a law abiding American my entire life and this is how I’m treated when I need my prescription filled. Even criminals are told why they are arrested. I will never, ever step foot in another Walgreens.
Walgreens blackballing people on pain meds
Six pages of comments from January, 2014, on problems with Walgreens, and including wisdom from pain patients, like this from Shirina:
It’s like what a nurse told me: If you’re going to be on pain meds the rest of your life, who cares if you get addicted to them?
3/11/2014, Walgreens’ “secret checklist” reveals controversial new policy on pain pills
If a Walgreens pharmacist refuses to fill your prescription for pain medication, that denial must now be entered into your online customer profile that can be seen by pharmacy staff at more than 8300 Walgreens nationwide. According to the GFD Policy, Walgreens pharmacists will also notify the US Drug Enforcement Administration that your prescription has been refused, and the pharmacy must maintain detailed documentation to justify the reason.
All Things Chronic 