How easy is it to make this RX mistake?

[Rebelmom67]

He didn't give you 100 Vicodin. He wrote you a prescription for fifty, with 1 refill. Pretty standard practice. If you don't want to take all the Vicodin, don't! If you don't want a refill, don't refill it. Pretty darn simple, nothing to make such a case about.

 

[arminnie]

Got the prescription filled and it is for 50 Vicodin ES. With 1 refill of 50 more.

I sincerely hope you have very little pain and don't need it.

I had a lap gall bladder removal in 2001 - and was in AGONIZING pain afterwards for more than 90 days. The bile duct was having spasms just like I was in the middle of an attack. The doctor would give me pills for a week thinking it would be over. I would then end up in excruciating pain during the time it took for him to be contacted, call me back, have someone pick up the prescription and then get it filled.

I would not wish that on my worst enemy. I'd had some other surgery (esophagus) about 30 days earlier so that may have impacted my recovery. Your c-section may have made yours possibly more complicated.

When I had my appendix out with full open surgery a few years later I was at Epcot less than 48 hours later with no pain. But believe me I have always made sure since then that I have pain relief if there is the slightest chance I might have any.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

He has probably had to deal with this scenario too many times: post
surgical pt runs out of pain med and is in pain (of course this would
happen after office hours or on the weekend) Tries to call dr--someone
else is on call and doesn't want to call in pain meds for unknown pt or
the pain med is not allowed to be called in over phone) The pt's only
option then is to go to an emergency room or go to an aftercare clinic
to try to get a written prescription--very hard to do or stressful for a pt in pain. He probably goes ahead and makes sure the pt has enough, even if it's a little extra so that you would not have to go through this

 

[Chuck S]

Everyone reacts differently to pain, and has a different pain tolerance. I don't think 100 pills is over prescribing.

 

[pyrxtc]

I don't know about over-prescribing but obviously he did not pay attention to what you took while in the hospital so he could figure out how much you may need at home.

When I ahd my last child, I took no pain meds at all through my 3 day hospital stay and only had a thigh shot for delivery (was too late for anything else), but when I was discharged he wrote me a scrip for 100 tylenol wiht codeine. Geez !! Those go for a lot per pill too, but I didn't take a single one.

First, they make me jittery and feel worse not better. Second, my brother used them cuz he was still ahvign a lot of pain from his car accident and no insurance and the car insurance wouldn't pay for those pills anymore after 8 months but rehab for his drop-foot was hard.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I don't know about over-prescribing but obviously he did not pay attention to what you took while in the hospital so he could figure out how much you may need at home.

When I ahd my last child, I took no pain meds at all through my 3 day hospital stay and only had a thigh shot for delivery (was too late for anything else), but when I was discharged he wrote me a scrip for 100 tylenol wiht codeine. Geez !! Those go for a lot per pill too, but I didn't take a single one.

First, they make me jittery and feel worse not better. Second, my brother used them cuz he was still ahvign a lot of pain from his car accident and no insurance and the car insurance wouldn't pay for those pills anymore after 8 months but rehab for his drop-foot was hard.

So you gave your prescription meds to your brother?

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Yikes, our drs are not nearly that generous, as that could be dangerous in the wrong hands !?!? I was scribed 20 Percocet pills (with no refills) when I had my gallbladder out 2 yrs ago, however, thankfully I didn't need any! Best wishes on your recovery!

Same here. 20 Percocet, no refills.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Gee... makes me wonder how people get addicted.

Anyone else see the irony of this post with a picture of Michael Jackson in it?!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Anyone else see the irony of this post with a picture of Michael Jackson in it?!

why yes, yes I do!





(she also posts in the thread about him being "murdered")

 

[Piglet4Ever]

People have different pain thresholds, I guess. Maybe he was just making sure you had enough?

I had brain surgery in 2003, with the scalp, muscles and skull cut through--the scar is 8 inches long! They were giving me morphine when I was in recovery and would not let me decline. Once I was in my own room, I made them take the pump away and bring me ibuprofen. It worked for me! Once I as home, I had a scrip for Dilaudid and 3 refills. I took exactly 1/2 of one Dilaudid and was done. It's true that I didn't fell any pain when I took it, because I was floating on the ceiling, and unable to function.

Marsha

I know what you mean about the Dilaudid I was given it for recent Kidney stone problems and whoo boy. The first couple times I took it the pain went away just fine, but I was passed out sleeping it off all day. I eventually got to where I didn't need to sleep for a few hrs after I took it, but if was walking anwhere it felt like I was flying and the quality of my speaking and comprehension skills left a lot to be desired . I was super glad to stop taking that. On the up side, I finally had the stone removed a few wks ago and feel back to normal now.

 

[teacups]

why yes, yes I do!





(she also posts in the thread about him being "murdered")

I know you have had a problem with me GP. Sorry. I am glad I do not force you to read my posts.

 

[teacups]

Anyone else see the irony of this post with a picture of Michael Jackson in it?!

Why? Apparantly he was addicted by doctor, and that is who I was referring to in my post. Sorry you didnt "get it" I hoped most would.

 

[teacups]

OP I came back to this old thread to ask if you found that you did or did not need those meds for your amount of pain? I was just curious. Needless to say, I wish I hadnt opened it.

 

[WDWBarb]

why yes, yes I do!





(she also posts in the thread about him being "murdered")

Unnecessary.

 

[Piecey]

OP I came back to this old thread to ask if you found that you did or did not need those meds for your amount of pain? I was just curious. Needless to say, I wish I hadnt opened it.

When I went for my follow-up I saw his nurse. She said I didn't have to come back and see him if I didn't want to, so I didn't.

I never got the refill and still have most of the original 50. It was overkill for me. I still have Vicodin left from my c-section, too.

 

[ma2jr]

Might be a smaller dosage ie mg.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I know you have had a problem with me GP. Sorry. I am glad I do not force you to read my posts.

I have no problem with you at all, I was agreeing with the poster that said it was ironic that you posted about overdoses. please, no personal attacks on me because of my opinion.

Why? Apparantly he was addicted by doctor, and that is who I was referring to in my post. Sorry you didnt "get it" I hoped most would.

so far, the "story" is that he had a series of doctors that would give him what he wanted, if they didn't, he would get a new doctor. The story has not yet ended.

Unnecessary.

not really, but thats is your opinion, just like my reply was my opinion,. please, no personal attacks on me because of my opinion.

Again, does that make someone's response less valid???


Totally unnecessary.

I agree, does that make my respose less valid? if you read it, I was agreeing with someone else. Please, don't attack me personally or take this thread off topic simply because My opinion is that he is responsible for his own death.

The OP was talking about medication for a tooth extraction, which I, and others have undergone, someone pointed out an ironic situation, and I agreed. no need to gang up and try to go off topic or get others points because you don't agree with other opinions.

 

[vettechick99]

My OB gave me ibuprofen 800 for my c-section, my surgeon gave me Percocet for my gall bladder removal, and my ENT gave me Lortab for my tonsillectomy. I still have a half bottle of Lortab in my cabinet and I used it for a week straight. It's true, some doctors just give you more, others are stingy. But you are right - 100 does seem excessive for that surgery. It was the easiest of all the ones I've been through!

 

[dejr_8]

I have to ask why you are at all concerned about having too many pills prescribed.

1) you are not forced to take them

2) you do not need to refill it

3) As people have stated, everyone has different levels of pain tolerance.

I believe you posted the script for was 1-2 pills every 3 to 4 hours. So let's say you took the max because of low pain tolerance: 2 pills every 3 hours equals 16 pills per day. So 50 pills would only be 3 days of pain meds. Does that sound unreasonable to you?

4) you should be happy to have a Dr that didn't want you to needlessly suffer in pain so he prescribed enough that you wouldn't run out if you needed it.

I hope you feel better.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Likely no mistake.

From the manufacturer's website:

The ususal adult dosage is one to two tablets as needed every four to six hours as needed for pain. The total daily dosage should not exceed 8 tablets.

http://www.rxabbott.com/pdf/vicodin.pdf

So if taking the max dosage, that would only cover 6 days.

My friend had the same surgery as you last month and was in severe pain for well beyond a week.

Everyone's different.

There are some people who take their pain medication at max dosing, some who don't take it at all, and most who fall somewhere in the middle.

As a pp mentioned, the refill is probably a built in for those who may need it so they don't have to encounter difficulty in getting a refill. (You may be surprised how often this happens.)

Two last thoughts since mentioned: electronics are the way of the future in all aspects of medical care (hence the HIPPA put into place a few years back). I haven't seen a handwritten prescription in a very long time in either the hospital or in my personal care.

And if the prescription was out of the normal range, the pharmacist would have called the doctor to check it.

I'm glad that you're not having a lot of pain after your surgery.