Has anyone received a letter from their MD about DEA problems lately?

I received a letter from my doctor telling me that he will only be able to prescribe controlled meds until the end of February, and that he will be closing his practice soon. He is a very old man, but I know that this is due more to troubles with the DEA than to age because it alludes to this in the letter and at my last appt. he said he would continue to practice until his health gives out.

He has led an extremely distinguished career and has been of more help to me than any other doctor I have seen in the last 15 years. I am truly saddened---but also very worried. I have a feeling this is signaling many troubles to come. I will ask him more about it at my final appt. Of course he can't give me all of the details but I will find out what I can. I have a friend that received a similar letter from his doctor a month or so ago...never in my life has this happened to anyone I know and now there's two of us in the span of 2 months.

reply to post by bangoli


What are "controlled meds?"

Or if you shouldn't answer that are you from California?

Dustytoad...
You a scorpio too?

And yeah, what are controlled meds?
Hope you're not a Xanax person.

Originally posted by resoe26
Dustytoad...
You a scorpio too?

And yeah, what are controlled meds?

Haha, you know it.

If he's closing his practice and unable to prescribe controlled substances then he more than likely has been charged with mis-doing.

He was probably prescribing opiates to people who didn't need them for money. Or something similar.

reply to post by Dustytoad

What are "controlled meds?"

Scheduled drugs. Things that are prone to abuse like opiates, stimulants, etc. They have strict prescribing standards..

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) was enacted into law by the Congress of the United States as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.[1] The CSA is the federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain substances is regulated. The Act also served as the national implementing legislation for the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

The legislation created five Schedules (classifications), with varying qualifications for a substance to be included in each. Two federal agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, determine which substances are added to or removed from the various schedules, though the statute passed by Congress created the initial listing, and Congress has sometimes scheduled other substances through legislation such as the Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Prevention Act of 2000, which placed gamma hydroxybutyrate in Schedule I. Classification decisions are required to be made on criteria including potential for abuse (an undefined term),[2][3] currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and international treaties

en.wikipedia.org...

reply to post by WaterBottle


I forgot that doctors prescribed scheduled substances. I guess I am being slow today..

Thinking about it though I see now, this is your oxycodone, hydrocodone, Aderall type stuff.. My mind went straight to medical herbs..

I wonder what the truth is in this? Surely the DEA isn't making pain killers impossible to get?

I now have to agree with a previous poster that this doctor got in trouble personally, for over subscription..

Maybe OP lives in Florida? They have a huge problem with this, and there was talk of them finally cracking down on it.

If you prescribe too many controlled substances within a period of time, you are investigated and can have your DEA # suspended. This is another reason why many physicians are hesitant to prescribe them. Another reason it is good to stay away from benzodiazepines is that they are extremely addictive, and people can die coming off of them if not done so properly.

I used to be on a benzodiazepine when I was treated for panic disorder. I was on this drug for a decade until the doctor decided it was time to end the script. It took me 8 months of hell coming off of this medication. I had to taper down from it very slowly over a long period of time. At first they tried it faster, but I had seizures and a mild heart attack. This is a risk to coming off of this drug. It is nothing to play with.

I don't think this class of drugs should be prescribed at all. Even if you don't feel it, you become physiologically addicted and the body has an extremely hard time functioning without it when taken away. I spent an entire year and a half not sleeping, as a side effect from it's removal out of my system. I suffered with occasional hand shakes and shaking in my legs uncontrollably. This went on for about a year after I was done with the taper itself.

Anyone thinking of accepting this drug as a long term prescription, please research this before doing so.

New laws being enacted to curb abuse and mis-use. You can get on average only a 30 days supply without going back to see your doctor. You can get them, and refill....but only a thirty day supply. They will be able to be refilled over the phone by pharmacy.

There's a variety of reasons why your doc might be restricted, one could be his personal use - my old vet got a chronic pain condition and prescribed some schedule 2 stuff for personal use and got restricted.
I'm not sure about adderall, but hydrocodone isn't on schedule 2, you can get call in refills with no problem.
Oxycodone requires a triplicate form and can only be issued in a 30 day supply, non-refillable.
For those of us with chronic pain conditions, ALL doctors are reluctant to prescribe EFFECTIVE medications due to DEA scrutiny - I'd rather have my oxycodone or hydromorphone without the aspirin/tylenol instead of having to take multiple meds with alcohol to relieve my pain. But unless you see a pain management specialist or an oncologist, good luck on getting any effective relief.

ganjoa

A lot of doctors are doing this in AZ too. I have a seizure disorder and my lorazxapam was stopped, I had amajor grand mal and went to hospital my helicopter. Got a new Neuro, and back on it, but now they TOO are stopping it., due to the drug being re-classified. Also now, any drugs you take like that here in this state, they are requiring you to goto a pain center, where you have to have your pills counted, and urine tests to make sure your taking them and not selling them!! It is nuts and very degrading to someone in my situation.
It will probably kill me. I miss even a dose I have seizures, and the other seizure meds they have , I have real bad reactions too.

I agree that drug is hell to come off of, but it is needed in some cases. Before I took it I had 5 seizures a week and no life, and now I have maybe 2 a month. I also have a heart issue along with many others. I don't know what Im going to do and it really does have me scared. .. I had a b12 deficiency that went undiagnosed for years that almost killed me the permanently damaged my heart and nervous system causing the seizures. add to that the damage from gullian bare and CIDP,. These doctors do not even do a proper taper, and in my case, there is nothing to stop the seizures that works that I can take... it truly has me scared for my life.

Originally posted by Dustytoad
reply to post by bangoli

 

What are "controlled meds?"

Or if you shouldn't answer that are you from California?

edit on 1/22/2013 by Dustytoad because: (no reason given)

They are the narcotic based drugs like morphine sulfate and hydrocodone found in Lortab and Vicoden tablets. In Georgia I can only have one prescription per month filled and both the Georgia and Federal DEA require that the doctor administer a urine test periodically to prove that i am not abusing my prescription or taking other drugs.

There are other prescription drugs that also fall under the controlled substance label but the main ones are the narcotic based ones.

Originally posted by ganjoa
There's a variety of reasons why your doc might be restricted, one could be his personal use - my old vet got a chronic pain condition and prescribed some schedule 2 stuff for personal use and got restricted.
I'm not sure about adderall, but hydrocodone isn't on schedule 2, you can get call in refills with no problem.
Oxycodone requires a triplicate form and can only be issued in a 30 day supply, non-refillable.
For those of us with chronic pain conditions, ALL doctors are reluctant to prescribe EFFECTIVE medications due to DEA scrutiny - I'd rather have my oxycodone or hydromorphone without the aspirin/tylenol instead of having to take multiple meds with alcohol to relieve my pain. But unless you see a pain management specialist or an oncologist, good luck on getting any effective relief.

ganjoa

edit on 22-1-2013 by ganjoa because: misspell

Actually, I am quite lucky to be seeing a non surgical orthopedist who has no problem prescribing the meds I need for severe low back pain. But, like you, I would also prefer to have just the narcotic part of the drug without the added ingredients. I do have him prescribe the pills with the lowest dose of acetaminophen in them.

The DEA and various state medical boards are going after Doctors who prescribe pain meds in an effort to fight all the abuse of those same meds. It's unfortunate as it's making life hell for legitimate patients and making it next to impossible to find a Dr.

There are not enough pain specialists around to deal with all the patients and the few that are around are overflowing with long wait times now. Meanwhile the regulation witch hunts make even these few legit pain Doctors walk a line that's more and more impossible to comply with.

Unfortunately the prohibition system of dealing with drugs in America has lead to this and will continue to become more and more impossible to live with. It just doesn't work and results in costs that have no limit. I can think of much better uses for billions of dollars every year than fighting a war on drugs that has no end.

Originally posted by happykat39

Originally posted by Dustytoad
reply to post by bangoli

 

What are "controlled meds?"

Or if you shouldn't answer that are you from California?

edit on 1/22/2013 by Dustytoad because: (no reason given)

They are the narcotic based drugs like morphine sulfate and hydrocodone found in Lortab and Vicoden tablets. In Georgia I can only have one prescription per month filled and both the Georgia and Federal DEA require that the doctor administer a urine test periodically to prove that i am not abusing my prescription or taking other drugs.

There are other prescription drugs that also fall under the controlled substance label but the main ones are the narcotic based ones.

edit on 22-1-2013 by happykat39 because: added info

It makes sense though.. My opinions about helpful drugs withstanding, t&c, I have personal experience..

After surgery after the Army (I am missing bone in my head), I was in a LOT of pain.

I got addicted to pain meds.Legally... It was too easy for me to call the doctor, and even just the hospital to get more and get stronger pills.. This only lasted about a month, and it only barely covered the pain, but I was still in pain most of the time..

I don't truly know where I stand on this.. I couldn't even function, move at all in that pain, but I also couldn't function on a 30 milligram Oxycodone.. Not being someone who does anything illegal, I suffered through withdrawal.. My doctor didn't warn me.. I asked the doctor, should I follow the exact dosage instructions or should I try to modify to my situation, but he wouldn't answer...

Glad that only lasted a month on the reality changing prescribed drugs. Glad withdrawal was only about 10 days..

Why is relieving pain so addictive? That's half kidding and half serious.. I don't want an answer, but it's good to think about.
Be careful guys.

reply to post by Dustytoad


I feel fortunate that I don't seem to be able to become addicted to drugs. I never have, and never will, use illegal and/or street drugs. But I have been on some pretty serious narcotic pain relievers for medical purposes. I was rear ended back in the early 60s and had some heavy damage to by back.

They had me on so many narcotic pain relievers and muscle relaxers for about three weeks in the hospital that I couldn't see straight. I was warned that much of what I was taking was highly addictive. But when I was taken off of them I was never so relieved in my life as I was to not be taking them any longer.

Some drugs don't even have an effect on me. My doctor wanted to try to switch me to morphine sulfate from Vicodin but even though they are supposed to be stronger, it was like I was taking Tic Tacs. I had to dump the morphine pills and go back on the vicodin. I guess my brain is missing some of the receptors for certain drugs.

Sorry it has taken so long to reply--family emergency. Controlled meds? Just about anything these days.
I didn't know they were rescheduling benzodiazapenes....that sucks. I don't abuse meds or sell them.I do not use illegal drugs. I cannot tolerate alcohol AT ALL. It makes me feel very sick the next day. Sometimes I wish I could so that there will be something to calm my nerves when TSHTF and all scheduled meds must be filled out in triplicate. I know it sounds like whining, but imagine going through 15 years of complete psychological hell, and every doctor will prescribe every medication EXCEPT for the ones that work. The side effects alone made me want to die in my sleep every day. I tried everything-meds,herbs,vitamins,exercise,meditation..on and on.


I've been seeing this same doctor for over three years now. He has never had a malpractice suit brought against him or anything like that and as I said no prior problems with DEA, and he has been practicing for a looooooooooong time. Adding that to the letter received by my friend about their doctor.....it just seems like something fishy is going on. The prospect of finding a new doctor is very daunting. How do you even do that these days without looking as though you are "doctor shoppping?" To be honest I guess that's exactly what it is, but over the years I have seen so much incompetence and downright dereliction of duty....why in the hell should I have to suffer for years on end before I find another one even half as helpful? I am rambling now--sorry-- just very upset about this. I was just wondering if anyone else experienced something similar lately. After my last appt. I will give an update as I said. Thanks everyone.

sounds to me like he's getting out while the getting is good. with bamacare just around the corner i think a lot of doctors are opting out of the merry go round coming their way.