Posted by Dr. Bob on December 17, 2003, at 8:33:55
In reply to Re: Med seeking, legal issues. » jbs, posted by scott-d-o on December 17, 2003, at 3:30:52
> > Fact: benzos are a drug of abuse in the street; they have a street value.
>
> Yes, but my argument is that the only reason they have this street value is *because* of this myth. If doctors were just as tight on SSRI prescriptions as they are on benzodiazepines then I'm sure they would have a street value as well.
>
> > Fact: every doctor has been had by a savy benzo abuser (that sticks in their memory).
>
> So their belief is others should suffer because of this fact?
>
> > Fact: Doctors who are found to have prescription patterns for benzos which are markedly different then their peers, will generally be investigated by the DEA
>
> Exactly my point, why do you think the DEA singles out these meds?
>
> And for that matter, why should a doctor even be worried if he honestly feels the patient needs the med. What can the govt do to a doctor to punish him if there is no way he could have known that the patient was lying about not abusing the med? How can they accuse a doctor of not knowing that a patient was lying to them? They are doctors, not polygraph machines. These companies that have SSRI's on patent obviously have an extraordinary amount of pull in the govt to get these obsurd policies instituted in the first place.
>
> > Fact: some states make benzo writing an unwelcoming prospect for a doctor (eg NY state triplicate prescriptions with no refills.)
>
> Again, why? Political influence. Besides, at a rate of $200 for an hour of their time you figure taking the time to fill out one of these prescriptions is not too much to ask, assuming it is the med that will be most beneficial. I don't understand how the refill thing has any effect; don't they want their patients to come back once a month anyhow?
>
> > These are the things that discourage pdocs from prescribing benzos more frequently; coming into their office, refusing to try anything but the benzo, isn't gonna come off well, even if it's right!
>
> You would hope that a doctor would have some integrity and prescribe what he thinks is best for the patient. I don't think suggesting a med to a doctor should automatically be grounds to get you thrown out.
>
> If the doctor can justify the reason why he thinks I don't need the med or why he thinks something else would work better, then I would have be satisfied. Instead, the doctor I saw f*cked with my head by merely raising the dosage of the same drugs that were ineffective for me in the past and diagnosed me with OCD even though I never even complained of one obsession or compulsion. When I told him I disagreed with his diagnosis of me and asked how he came to that conclusion he got very defensive and acted like he couldn't believe I would have the audacity to ask him this. He proceeded to toy with me further, "well, what do you think I should prescribe for you?" Well, I was thinking that maybe this guy is alright after all and I replied that I was considering Klonopin or Provigil. He immediately snapped back at me "Well, I disagree" and nothing more. Then he told me my time was up and told me to leave! Needless to say, I didn't appreciate this at all after pouring out all my problems to this asshole for an hour. This is the third time I have felt this way after an appointment out of four appointments with different pdocs.
>
> Part of my problem with social anxiety is that people think I am lying even if I'm telling the truth because I am not assertive and don't make good eye contact. My condition in itself is the reason I and people who need certain meds cannot get them and the only people who *are* still fooling the doctors are the people who don't have a disorder and are selling them on the street. Something has to give. The very condition I am trying to get prescribed for is exactly what is making them think I am lying to them!
>
> All that has resulted from all of this is that dealers on the black market can make more money off benzo's now since the price has gone up as a result of increased demand, *not* a decrease in supply. So in effect the only people benefiting from these anti-benzo policies are drug dealers and pharmaceutical companies that hold SSRI patents. And if these pharmaceutical companies are happy, so are politicians, and the cycle continues...
>
> scott
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:290875
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031217/msgs/290875.html