Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

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mrwiggles
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:58 am

Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by mrwiggles »

For several years I have wintered in South Texas. This is the year we were going to look for a permanent home in the Harlingen to Mission area. However, I learned today that my North Dakota Sleep Neurologist's RX is no longer acceptable in Texas. Apparently there is a new law that only Texas licensed physicians can prescribe opiates in Texas. This was verified by calling a Walmart and a Walgreens Texas pharmacy. The need to establish a new relationship with a Texas MD in the next two weeks just to get an opiate prescription looks and sounds way too tenuous to me and way to risky to even consider traveling to Texas again. My symptoms have been well controlled on low dose Methadone and Oxycodone for the last 15 years and I am unwilling to go into the depths of symptom hell just to go to Texas for a few months. As a Minnesota Resident I am limited to basically a thirty day supply which makes it difficult to prefill for a three month quantity before we travel.

Is this truly the case that I need a Texas prescription to obtain an opiate in Texas? If so, what is the best way to find a legit prescriber in only a few weeks?

Thank you RLS friends
I am not a physician nor do I pretend to be one on television. I am, however, the RLS/WED test subject used by all of my physicians to gain the experience that I wish they already had.

Rustsmith
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Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:31 pm
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by Rustsmith »

Two weeks is a very short time to find a doctor AND to get a new patient appointment. When I moved to Colorado from Houston, it took four months to get an appointment with an RLS specialist.

There are two different approaches that you can use. My first suggestion would be to call the RLS Foundation office in Austin and ask who they know who might be able to help you out. It may require driving to the San Antonio or Austin area. There is an RLS Quality Care Center in Houston, but that may be too far and getting an appointment with Dr Ondo in two weeks will require a cancellation.

The second approach will require a lot of work AND a lot of luck. You can try calling every PCP and neurologist in your area. Ask to speak with a nurse and then ask her/him if the doctor is willing to prescribe opioids for chronic conditions. If you find one who says yes, then ask for an appointment. For the appointment, take a copy of this paper with you to show the doctor that opioids are an appropriate treatment for RLS. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(17)30825-X/fulltext. Hopefully the doctor will be open minded and willing to learn from the paper. However, considering the medical/legal climate in The Valley, I wish you luck because you are going to need it.
Steve

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

mrwiggles
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:58 am

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by mrwiggles »

Thank you Steve. To clarify, I'm wasn't leaving for two weeks but my planned stay was longer. I've been trying the area clinics and have found one 60 miles away that "might" work with me. They need full medical records first. My third option is to obtain the medications in Minnesota and just take them with me. That has some challenges, but may be doable. My Sleep neurologist, Dr. Kevin Faber of Sanford Sleep Clinic in Fargo has worked with me for many years and is willing to to do a multi-month prescription. The wall I'm running into with that is a prior authorization is required from insurance. Walmart pharmacy however is reticent to fill a multi-month RX regardless of how it is written or paid. Their policy is no more than 30 days at a time.

Interesting times. Unintended consequences of rules and laws. I think we will be searching for a friendlier state to settle in ;-)
I am not a physician nor do I pretend to be one on television. I am, however, the RLS/WED test subject used by all of my physicians to gain the experience that I wish they already had.

ViewsAskew
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Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by ViewsAskew »

Heavens. Interesting times it is. In so many ways. Indiana passed some draconian rules, too, and my long ago doctor couldn't work with me any longer as I lived in Illinois - that was in 2010 or so.

I have a pharmacy that grudgingly fills my scripts. It is a 25 mile drive. Each month, I say, "You should look for a closer one."

As if.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

EdSoFlo
Posts: 34
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 4:44 am

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by EdSoFlo »

Our country has lost its mind on this issue. This is NOT ACCEPTABLE. What can be done, I don’t know, but something must be. The government, either at the local level or federal, simply does not have the right to screw with people’s health like this. The ‘opioid crisis’ is essentially a heroin (which is in fact an opiate, not opioid) overdose issue that has absolutely zero to do with properly prescribed, absolutely required medication. It’s infuriating and we mustn’t accept it, or accept the position of helpless victims simply because grandstanding politicians and a sensationalistic media are using this ‘crisis’ for their own ends.

Rustsmith
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Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:31 pm
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by Rustsmith »

I think that we can all agree with that sentiment. One thing that you can do, if you haven't already, is to participate in the Foundation's Advocacy effort. To learn more, go to https://www.rls.org/get-involved/advocacy. Their work is already starting to make a difference and the need all of the backing they can get from those of us who depend upon opioids.
Steve

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

QyX

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by QyX »

I believe opioids are the most essential medication for RLS. It is a disaster patients in the U.S. have such a huge problem accessing the most fundamental class of drugs to treat moderate to severe RLS.

I've read stories in the Washington Post and NY Times about patients (not RLS patients) who lost their access to opioids and then commited suicide because they were not able to tolerate the pain.

Rustsmith
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Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:31 pm
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by Rustsmith »

Qyx, there have also bee a few RLS suicides. At this point, the government and the media seem more concerned about reducing overdose deaths than they do about protecting the rights of legitimate patients. And a large portion of the problem has nothing to do with prescription drugs, but is tied to illegal Fentanyl that is being imported from China and used to strengthen heroin.
Steve

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

mrwiggles
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:58 am

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by mrwiggles »

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I was able to work with my insurance and Walmart to allow for a two month prescription that I carried to Texas. This only worked because my pharmacists of the last 15 years advocated for me and my physician was willing to work out a prior authorization. All in all it took way too much time and worry to accomplish the legitimate, legal, appropriate goal.
I am not a physician nor do I pretend to be one on television. I am, however, the RLS/WED test subject used by all of my physicians to gain the experience that I wish they already had.

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16570
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by ViewsAskew »

mrwiggles wrote:Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I was able to work with my insurance and Walmart to allow for a two month prescription that I carried to Texas. This only worked because my pharmacists of the last 15 years advocated for me and my physician was willing to work out a prior authorization. All in all it took way too much time and worry to accomplish the legitimate, legal, appropriate goal.


So very glad it worked out. And, so very sad that you had to go through all that. I imagine the people who do not have the ability to advocate for themselves as you were able to.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

QyX

Re: Opiates and Non-Texas Prescribers

Post by QyX »

In Germany the situation is so easy so for me.

Since I am chronic pain patient hand have a established relationship with my doctor, I get

Morphine prescription for 90 days

Hydromorphone for 100 days

and Oxycodon for approx 150 days.

Kinda funny is that the only none narcotic substance I take is Oxcarbazepin where I only get 60 day prescription atm. However the only real reason for this is that atm Oxcarbazepin is not my covered by my insurance while the opioids are 100% covered by insurance except for a small co pay of 10 EUR per 100 pills.

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