Agoraphobia Support Group

I was just reading the whats up thread and Kevin was talking about his therapist and pdoc and it got me to thinking. What is the federal law when dispensing controlled substances? (this would be our benzos) Well, I just read this whole article and it doesn't say anything about how often the patient must be seen. I always thought it was 60-90 days, but I'm pretty sure it's the doctor setting his/her own policies.

What struck me is when Kevin said , "I'm hoping he'll start only needing to see me every 2 or 3 months." The article says a doctor can prescribe one month with 5 refills, if he chooses. But at $195 an hour, of course he's going to say, "I need to see you in 30 days", and who ever has the guts to say NO! This pisses me off to no end. Greedy assholes playing god knowing how much we need those meds. Now maybe you're doc is cool and upfront but bottom line is, as long as you're hooked on those pills they need to monitor you. Monitor smonitor, they need to pay for the yacht!

So, ask for 5 refills because you're agoraphobic and see what he says. Or say, I'm paying for this myself and I can't afford once a month. You are hiring them and paying dearly for services rendered so everyone needs to speak up! Just because we have a condition doesn't mean we're stupid. Speak up!

This is the article I was reading! It's a good read!!!

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/587412

Sorry for the rant and to Kevin, it just irks me to no end!

Yeah Silver! It makes me mad too! I understand seeing you once a month in the very beginning to make sure the meds are working, but after my third visit my p doc said to see him in 3 months. I'm blessed to have medicare too, but it's not necessary to see us once a month or to change our meds when the ones we're taking are working well. I sometimes think they are just trying to screw with us!

I think my psych has been seeing me every 4 to 6 weeks because he keeps changing around my meds. I need to make it my goal to get these meds sorted out once and for all, because I think then he would be willing to let me go 3 months. I was in the waiting room and I heard him tell another patient that he would see her in 3 months.

But it is ridiculous. I understand being a psychiatrist is a very specialized field that requires years of expensive education, but $195 for ten minutes seems a little steep to me. There WAS a time when psychiatrists actually TALKED to you and acted almost like a therapist, but these days they just want to give you pills and send you on your way. I would feel a little better paying so much money if the psych had any input whatsoever as to how I can GET BETTER!

Wanted to chime in here since I went several years without health insurance, which was awful btw! I found then that when I explained that I was uninsured most docs were great to work with as far as not requiring frequent visits, expensive tests, prescribing generics etc. But I wasn't on a benzo at that point either. But what I've found now that I DO have ins. Is that they throw every test, high priced medicine, frequent visits, etc at me, I have to argue all the time about that. And have often refused a test that they couldn't really justify or refused to fill a high priced med. Sometimes they get a little frustrated with me but I hold my ground. Explain the situation and I bet the pdoc will work with you. He works for you!!

Post edited by: Myherowastom, at: 09/27/2010 07:50 AM

Yeah Kevin.. if you only go to the phyc. for meds, wouldn't a regular physician be cheaper. I get my meds from my GP. I go in every 3 months because of the meds and diabetes. Thank God it's paid for. They rarely order blood work (once a year) and do a simple blood test for my numbers in the office.

You also are getting to that age where a physical would be good every few years.. Kevion.. who only has a couple years left in Cougar Bait status!!! LOL (don't you just hate it when people remind you that your getting older!?)

BTW: Good post Silver!

I agree with Silver on this one also Kevin.

But now Silly just made a comment that your GP could prescribe these meds?

My GP refused to write me a RX for my wacko drugs!!!!

He thinks (because of my past history) that I need to be seen every 3 months by someone more qualified.

My issue is the same as kevin and they charge this high price for me to just come in there every 3 months and I'm in and out in less than 15 mins!They don't give a flying rats butt if I have any problems.

In fact my last visit turned into a three ring circus when she tells me "oh you don't need a certain drug anymore"

I had to get the head pdoc in there to make her understand what would happen if I went off this drug cold turkey!!!

He agreed with me and now will be seeing me every three months instead of the stupid PA which means more money in his pocket!!!

I'm talking to my GP and telling him what is going on and beg him to write my RX's.

This crap is all about the MD's and the Drug Companies!!!!

They (the MD's)don't know jack shit about drugs and I just proved it this last visit.

I ditched my psychiatrist and therapist months ago the expense was to great. I went back to seeing my GP every two months and she prescribes my meds and refills. She also checks my heart because of my med cocktail and orders my bloodwork every four months. The meds I am on can cause many health problems and I almost have no vitamin d in my blood. I have been on presciption super doses for three months. All and all it is so much less expensive to see my GP and I can even request refills online or through my pharmacy.

I so want my GP to write my scripts as he already has to write for 3 of them already so what's the problem with the other two I'm on???

I have blood work done every 3 months anyway for my thyroid or lack of one LOL

I think the drugs I take now are the ones that work for me and I should know right?

If they did by some chance stop working then I'd go back to dum dum PA.

Isn't my opinion better than a PA? It's all about the money!!!!!

My GP was trying to push me towards seeing another psychiatrist but I can't find a decent one on my side of the bridge. If I start having med issues again I'm sure I'll have to start looking again.