Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 693332

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Drug Cornucopia......???

Posted by ronaldo on October 9, 2006, at 13:11:06

I am a newbie who has been watching this board for the past twelve days. One thing that surprises me is the supply of drugs that can be swopped and changed and replaced and introduced and discarded seemingly at will. I am assuming that this is mostly in the United States. How does this work then? Can you buy these drugs over the counter? Via the internet? Are they paid for privately? Can you specify how many you want? Do you ever need a prescription? Most people it seems are self-medicating. Is this correct?

I have a lot of questions I know... I would gratefully welcome some answers. I live in the UK and changing your medication here, via your NHS pdoc, is a process that can take 3 months. I see Rx medicines advertised on the internet. Are these reliable sources? I suppose anyone can go down the self-medication route if you have the sources and the sauce to pay for it.

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » ronaldo

Posted by ed_uk on October 9, 2006, at 13:47:59

In reply to Drug Cornucopia......???, posted by ronaldo on October 9, 2006, at 13:11:06

Hi R

Getting your medication changed in the UK is certainly a very slow process. NHS psychiatry is not at all speedy.

Ed

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......???

Posted by notfred on October 9, 2006, at 14:08:27

In reply to Drug Cornucopia......???, posted by ronaldo on October 9, 2006, at 13:11:06

My impression is that there are a few people here who do not get their meds via a doc and script. By far the majority do.

In the states lots of people see a psychiatrist and it seems a greater range of meds are used here in the US than the UK. There seems better access to a psychiatrist in the US vs UK. This opinion is based on what I hear people from the UK saying, I have no first hand knowledge of the NHS.

People here tend to have significant problems so
since this is a med board, there are going to be more drugs tried and discussed.

I do not have to wait till the next pdoc appointment to change meds. If something is not working out, I call and my doc calls me back and generally a new med is decided on and I either pick up samples or a script is called to my pharmacy.

Many people are on a work offered health insurance program, often a HMO. You pay ~ $25 to see a doc
and ~ $5-$35 for meds, some meds are higher. It is common for health insurance to offer better benefits for psychiatrists and less for talk therapies. Thus, HMO's emphases a medical treatment for MI, ie meds. Some people do not have as full coverage, ie does not pay for meds, and some have no coverage.

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » notfred

Posted by tensor on October 9, 2006, at 14:24:53

In reply to Re: Drug Cornucopia......???, posted by notfred on October 9, 2006, at 14:08:27

>I do not have to wait till the next pdoc appointment to change meds. If something is not working out, I call and my doc calls me back and generally a new med is decided on and I either pick up samples or a script is called to my pharmacy.

That's exactly how it works for me too, and i think for most of us who been on meds for a long time. The last years i've decided which med(s) i want to try and the pdoc agrees to prescribe it.

/Mattias

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......???

Posted by notfred on October 9, 2006, at 15:18:57

In reply to Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » notfred, posted by tensor on October 9, 2006, at 14:24:53

> That's exactly how it works for me too, and i think for most of us who been on meds for a long time. The last years i've decided which med(s) i want to try and the pdoc agrees to prescribe it.
>
> /Mattias

I have found docs open to letting we take what works based on my input. At the very least I can lead the doc toward the meds I want to take and say yes when he brings it up.

I now pay out of pocket for a really good psycopharmacologist and we have worked out a list of things to try if I need a change. He is very open to suggestions.

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » notfred

Posted by Phillipa on October 9, 2006, at 21:23:38

In reply to Re: Drug Cornucopia......???, posted by notfred on October 9, 2006, at 15:18:57

Mine too but I hate her asking me what I want to try next. She's the one who went to medical school doesn't she have suggestions too? Love Phillipa

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » ronaldo

Posted by JahL on October 9, 2006, at 22:16:30

In reply to Drug Cornucopia......???, posted by ronaldo on October 9, 2006, at 13:11:06

> I live in the UK and changing your medication here, via your NHS pdoc, is a process that can take 3 months.

You have my condolences. Seriously.

Most of the meds I take were researched on the Net, purchased on the Net, and then finally approved (in *most* cases; not the Methadone for example, but then I obviously don't source that over the Net) by indifferent, ignorant and begrudging psychiatrists who ultimately could not refute the clear improvements in my condition.

So I am a self-medicator. It's obviously not to be officially recommended, but then I had no alternative. It was that or intra-cranial bullet therapy :-(

I've found this place to be of great assistance. It goes without saying you can't rely upon everything you read here but still...

Best of luck though,

Jah (also UK).

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » ronaldo

Posted by willyee on October 9, 2006, at 23:37:19

In reply to Drug Cornucopia......???, posted by ronaldo on October 9, 2006, at 13:11:06

> I am a newbie who has been watching this board for the past twelve days. One thing that surprises me is the supply of drugs that can be swopped and changed and replaced and introduced and discarded seemingly at will. I am assuming that this is mostly in the United States. How does this work then? Can you buy these drugs over the counter? Via the internet? Are they paid for privately? Can you specify how many you want? Do you ever need a prescription? Most people it seems are self-medicating. Is this correct?
>
> I have a lot of questions I know... I would gratefully welcome some answers. I live in the UK and changing your medication here, via your NHS pdoc, is a process that can take 3 months. I see Rx medicines advertised on the internet. Are these reliable sources? I suppose anyone can go down the self-medication route if you have the sources and the sauce to pay for it.

I can see how that would seem.However for me and im sure others,you go through a process of so...


You wait in agony for a appointment.


Your doc finaly opens the door,in my case ALWAYS late.


The clock is now on,every minute counts.


The doc will want to bullsh- a few mintues ask you how you are etc.

Keep in mind you are getting 15 min,20 for the lucky ones.


Give 4 min to BS,you now have a little over TEN minutes to explain A what has been going on.

B Begin to discuss POSSABLE drug routes.


C come to agreement on a drug,have the doc write it.


Lets not forget the time the doc will take to find you in his/her system,some use a computer,some havent advanced that far and still will flip through a folder.


All this is done in a matter of minutes,and your off with a drug,not to be heard from again till a few more weeks.


THIS for me is not a way that can logicaly work,and i having behaved through it suffered a long time.


I do self medicate,however i do more research than any doc will,and honestly they seem to be counter productive at times.


If someone is willing to put the time in to read,and learn,its not much more than a doc can do,and i cant imagine anyone not having the desire to help themselves when they are suffering.Its human nature.


Like scott has said,its just too bad the legal options we have are so,and we look like a bunch of druggies,well i apply that to me,sorry,i dont want to offend anyone.


If a doc was willing to see me for a hour,id JUMP,HOP SKIP AT THE CHANCE to,but all i get is a few minutes,and simply put,thats not enough,no how,no way.


P.S this post kinda is general,all caps are just to show a strong view,please dont mistake it as anger directed towards you,i can definatly understand how it must seem to someone comming to this board for the first time,but first impressions are often misguided.

The goal is to offer people information,or direct them to it,and keep as many people safe as possable,stick around,might get more of a benifit then u expect

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » willyee

Posted by ronaldo on October 10, 2006, at 4:26:11

In reply to Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » ronaldo, posted by willyee on October 9, 2006, at 23:37:19

Willyee are you in the UK or in the USA?

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......???

Posted by yxibow on October 10, 2006, at 4:56:04

In reply to Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » willyee, posted by ronaldo on October 10, 2006, at 4:26:11

> Willyee are you in the UK or in the USA?

US. 30 day prescriptions by [anonymous PPO] at private pharmacy. [anonymous PPO] is crappy sometimes and will charge 2 copays for instance for 120mg of Cymbalta because they don't believe that more than 60 mg is necessary. No matter how much Seroquel is prescribed it is still $100 give or take. Generics are generally loved as all insurance companies. Psycotherapy and psychopharmacology is private pay and origin of prescriptions.

Prescriptions in [state] must be written on tamper proof script pads (no receipt side). Law introduced and use of triplicates are eliminated for C-II. C-IV can be phoned in, I believe a paper copy has to be eventually made. 6 refills for most category prescriptions and 6 months.

Prescriptions can be transferred to pharmacies across state lines with whatever red tape each state has. I doubt C-II can be transferred without a written or faxed prescription.

Prescriptions can be written for use or for any medically justified off label by any MD. Some states allow non-category (not C-V, etc.) prescriptions to be written by psychiatric RNs (psychiatric nurses).

-- tidings

Jay

 

Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » yxibow

Posted by ronaldo on October 10, 2006, at 8:53:53

In reply to Re: Drug Cornucopia......???, posted by yxibow on October 10, 2006, at 4:56:04

> > Willyee are you in the UK or in the USA?
>
> US. 30 day prescriptions by [anonymous PPO] at private pharmacy. [anonymous PPO] is crappy sometimes and will charge 2 copays for instance for 120mg of Cymbalta because they don't believe that more than 60 mg is necessary.

Hello Jay,

What is a PPO? What do the letters stand for?

Thanks

...Alan

 

PPO » ronaldo

Posted by pseudoname on October 10, 2006, at 13:26:35

In reply to Re: Drug Cornucopia......??? » yxibow, posted by ronaldo on October 10, 2006, at 8:53:53

Hi, Alan.

> What is a PPO? What do the letters stand for?

I'm not Jay, but I'm just switching to a PPO, so I can't resist answering. It means Preferred Provider Organization (or Participating Provider…). It means you buy health insurance but then you can only go to certain –participating– doctors & hospitals, instead of being free to go to ANY doctor or hospital. It's not as restrictive as an HMO in that you don't need prior approval from an assigned primary doctor to see a specialist, bureaucrats don't decide what course of treatment you can or can't pursue, and you can choose any doctors you want within the provider list. All of the listed providers have agreed in advance to a certain fee structure.

For me, I would be paying $210 a month for unrestricted (non-directive, I think it's called) insurance, but if I take the PPO option and agree only to see doctors that are on the list, my premium will only be $130 a month. The thing is, ALL the doctors & hospitals I would consider seeing are on the PPO list, anyway, so I'm not losing much.

 

Thanks (nm) » pseudoname

Posted by ronaldo on October 10, 2006, at 14:25:24

In reply to PPO » ronaldo, posted by pseudoname on October 10, 2006, at 13:26:35


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