Multiple Scripts, Multiple Docs

Use this section to discuss your experiences with prescription drugs, iron injections, and other medical interventions that involve the introduction of a drug or medicine into the body. Discuss side effects, successes, failures, published research, information about drug trials, and information about new medications being developed.

Important: Posts and information in this section are based on personal experiences and recommendations; they should not be considered a substitute for the advice of a healthcare provider.
Post Reply
ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16566
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Multiple Scripts, Multiple Docs

Post by ViewsAskew »

In another topic, Mia asked us what we thought about taking two different opioids at the same time. As Mia said, she was already prescribed these by her doctor and the pharmacist dispensed them, so they already knew. I might think the same thing at first blush. But, maybe not.

So, when do we talk to a doctor about two different scripts?

Should our primary doc always know what he or she has given us or do we need to remind them?

What do we do when another doctor, or a third or fourth doctor, is involved?

How much can we expect our pharmacy to inform us about?
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.

Aiken
Posts: 880
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:53 am

Post by Aiken »

Most doctors spend SO little time reviewing our charts that it is never a good idea to assume they know anything at all about us.

I always make sure every doctor knows what I'm taking and what's wrong with me, and make doubly-certain when they tell me they're prescribing something new. It's distressing how often they say, "Oh, right. In that case, I better switch it to thisothermedication."

This is one of the reasons why I've consolidated my rls and pain meds with my sleep/neuro/psych guy. He's more clueful than my other doctors to start with, and that way he's always got all my data at hand. My wife's done the same for all but one of her meds and one of her doctors, and she's actually in the process of changing the last one over this week.
Disclaimer: I often talk about what I do and what works for me, but these are specific to me and you should always consult a healthcare professional before trying these things yourself, lest you endanger your health or life.

SquirmingSusan
Posts: 3028
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:08 am
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Post by SquirmingSusan »

Mine always goes through the list with me, and always has me update it with new meds from other doctors. But that doesn't keep me from checking out my medications on my own, and from using the drug interaction checker on Drugs.com.

We're always saying that we need to be our own advocates.
Susan

Neco
Posts: 2297
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:18 am
Location: Somewhere in the midwest
Contact:

Post by Neco »

Every time I go to a doctors appt, when the nurse sees me back and takes my vitals they always ask about my medications. If I'm still on x medication, if that's the only one, etc.

So I guess my doc is a little better about it than most.

HeatherB
Posts: 116
Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:00 am

Post by HeatherB »

Same here as Zack. Besides that I only see one doctor, and I have typed up a list of.........
A---what meds, how much & when,
B---my medical conditions, when I was diagnosed with them,
C---med allergies,
D---hospitalizations, why and when.

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16566
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Post by ViewsAskew »

I have a new doc, so not sure what she'll do when the time comes. In the meantime, I only take one thing and she prescribes it, so I'll hope she remembers.

If she doesn't, I will remind her. It's my life, not hers, and I want to be safe.

If I go to another doc, while I don't like doing it, I will tell them what I take. I don't want them to make assumptions that are wrong. And, in the case of Mia, after thinking about this, I'm much more likely to actually ask what I should do before I leave.

I'm glad this came up. Not sure I would have thought it all out. I'm usually pretty healthy and make few visits to the doc, so wouldn't have necessarily thought of all of this.
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.

sardsy75
Posts: 862
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:56 am
Location: Queensland, Australia

Post by sardsy75 »

Heya

I've just started with a new GateKeeper as well.

Before my first appointment I did up an excel spreadsheet showing everything on one page.

The first was a chart outlining what medications I take, the dosage, and when. Then I listed the medications belows the chart, including non-prescription medications (vitamins, supplements, etc). Beside each prescription medication I noted who first prescribed the medication and when. I also have a list of diagnosed illnesses and operations, who diagnosed/who operated. And just to finish off, I list my most recent GateKeeper details, my current specialist details, and also other specialists i've seen.

It made it very easy for my new GK. He was very appreciative of the trouble i'd gone to.

Now, even though i've only seen him three times, I take in a list of what medications i'm currently taking, what dosages and when, and how much of each (incl. repeat scripts) i've got left. I've gone back to using a 7-day pill pack which makes it easy for me to keep a track of when I'm running out of particular medications and if I do/dont have a repeat script I can use.
Nadia

My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!

Aiken
Posts: 880
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:53 am

Post by Aiken »

Zach wrote:Every time I go to a doctors appt, when the nurse sees me back and takes my vitals they always ask about my medications. If I'm still on x medication, if that's the only one, etc.

You guys sort of misunderstood me. All of my doctors' offices do this. Yet, when the doctor himself comes in the room, he often seems to be oblivious to what the nurse has gathered, skimming over it quickly before asking me what's up.

Thus, I always make sure to have them review the list if they give me something new, because I don't think for a moment that they've taken enough time up-front to look at my list and consider all interactions.
Disclaimer: I often talk about what I do and what works for me, but these are specific to me and you should always consult a healthcare professional before trying these things yourself, lest you endanger your health or life.

sardsy75
Posts: 862
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:56 am
Location: Queensland, Australia

Post by sardsy75 »

Interactions is the topic at the top of my "to discuss at length" list when I next see my Sleep Doc. Particularly since some medication dosages have changed.

I'm most worried about the Thyroxine (for Hypothyroidism) as it has a hell of a list of things that it interacts with, including most of the stuff i'm on for RLS.

Whenever I'm prescribed a new medication or even a medication for a short term thing (e.g. my current middle ear infection) I ALWAYS check out the Consumer Medical Information for that particular medication before I take the first dose.
Nadia

My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16566
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Post by ViewsAskew »

Nadia, I'm betting a lot of us DON'T check anything! We assume our docs know what they are doing, but like Aiken, while the nurse might ask everything, that doesn't mean my doc paid attention. I've had various docs ask questions that show me they aren't always remembering the new info, but rather the old.

We don't talk about this much, but it's really important because no one is a better advocate for ourselves than ourselves. We're the one who has to live with the consequences...we'd better be careful about what we do or don't do.
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.

Neco
Posts: 2297
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:18 am
Location: Somewhere in the midwest
Contact:

Post by Neco »

I suppose I've had instances like that too but not to the point where its common and gives me a bad opinion of them.

sardsy75
Posts: 862
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:56 am
Location: Queensland, Australia

Post by sardsy75 »

I guess for me it all boils down to having being sick for one reason or another for my whole life and having medications jabbed into my caboose or into a drip without anyone saying what it is.

I got really angry when I had pneumonia back in 2005 and my GP FORCED me to have erythromycin ... which i'm allergic to. Sure enuff, less than 15 minutes later, there were nurses all over the place. But what smurfed me off the most is that he didn't switch to a different "family" of medications, but instead, tried EVERYTHING in the erythromycin chain BEFORE he finally listened to me.

When my Hashimoto's was diagnosed in 2007, it was a case of ... "hey, there's a piece of paper in the box with all the stuff, betta have a gander ... Oh Crap!!" ... next morning I was down to the pharmacist with said piece of paper, and we went through everything i'm on.

Doctors/Medical Centres have hundreds, sometimes thousands of patients and we cant seriously expect our GP or Specialist to remember everything about us exclusively, which is why WE have to be on the ball about what we're taking, prescribed or not.

I AM worried about everything i'm on at the moment (the prescribed stuff), because everything changed a few months ago when my thyroid went off doin its own thing again, and my Thyroxin dose was increased, my Amit-yada dose increased, and i'm having to take extra codeine and clonazepam during the day for breakthrough symptoms.
Nadia

My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!

Neco
Posts: 2297
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:18 am
Location: Somewhere in the midwest
Contact:

Post by Neco »

Don't they have patients rights in Australia? If a doctor did that to me I would have sued his **** silly

Aiken
Posts: 880
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:53 am

Post by Aiken »

Patients' rights start getting sketchy when the government runs the health care system, just like with anything else the government runs.
Disclaimer: I often talk about what I do and what works for me, but these are specific to me and you should always consult a healthcare professional before trying these things yourself, lest you endanger your health or life.

sardsy75
Posts: 862
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:56 am
Location: Queensland, Australia

Post by sardsy75 »

You got that right Aiken :roll:

Private Health Insurance counts for nix when it comes down to the nitty gritty.
Nadia

My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!

Post Reply