Is this Physican Abandonment?

[mhale87]

In Missouri here.

I've been on Adderal for a little over a year. I've never made an appointment, just when it was time for my monthly refill, I'd just call up there and they would tell me to come on in, or come in the next day.

So this time, I called in 2 days before I was suppose to run out so I could get a refill of my medicine. I was told that the doctor was gone and wouldn't be back until Sept 8th. Well I ran out yesterday and September 8th is weeks away. I spoke with my pharmacist and he said it was dangerous to suddenly stop taking this medicine, and that I needed to find another physican asap. Well, I have not had any luck all week.

Most doctors don't feel comfortable prescribing this medicine because it is dangerous and so many people abuse it.

I am a computer programmer and without this medicine, I simply can not work. I can't explain it but my brain just gets lost and I can't think.

I've hardly gotten any work done at all the last two days.

I don't know what to do. Is this patient abandonment? I at least feel abandonded, because the doctors office told me there was nothing I could do but wait until September 8th.

I don't know if I can go that long without my medicine, as I'd probably lose my job

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

On a side note, I found at from the pharmacist that my doctor was suppose to do a EKG on my heart BEFORE starting the medicine, and I should have one every 3 months to monitor my heart. My doctor has never done an EKG, and never even brought it up. I knew the medicine could affect my heart but I didn't know it could result in a heart attack. BTW, I'm 22 years old male.

Regards

[lealea1005]

Originally Posted by mhale87

In Missouri here.

I've been on Adderal for a little over a year. I've never made an appointment, just when it was time for my monthly refill, I'd just call up there and they would tell me to come on in, or come in the next day.

So this time, I called in 2 days before I was suppose to run out so I could get a refill of my medicine. I was told that the doctor was gone and wouldn't be back until Sept 8th. Well I ran out yesterday and September 8th is weeks away. I spoke with my pharmacist and he said it was dangerous to suddenly stop taking this medicine, and that I needed to find another physican asap. Well, I have not had any luck all week.

Most doctors don't feel comfortable prescribing this medicine because it is dangerous and so many people abuse it.

I am a computer programmer and without this medicine, I simply can not work. I can't explain it but my brain just gets lost and I can't think.

I've hardly gotten any work done at all the last two days.

I don't know what to do. Is this patient abandonment? I at least feel abandonded, because the doctors office told me there was nothing I could do but wait until September 8th.

I don't know if I can go that long without my medicine, as I'd probably lose my job

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

On a side note, I found at from the pharmacist that my doctor was suppose to do a EKG on my heart BEFORE starting the medicine, and I should have one every 3 months to monitor my heart. My doctor has never done an EKG, and never even brought it up. I knew the medicine could affect my heart but I didn't know it could result in a heart attack. BTW, I'm 22 years old male.

Regards

Call the office and find out who is on call for your Physician while he is away. Then ask to speak with the covering Physician. The Physician on call can easily contact your Physician if there is any question about your Rx.

The Pharmacist, IMHO, is teetering on practicing outside the scope of his license by giving you medical advice.

Getting a basline EKG before starting any medication for ADHD is highly recommended, but not required, depending upon your age & medical history. The decision if left to the discretion of the treating Physician.

[ecmst12]

It's not really dangerous to stop taking this medicine.

I've been on adderall for many years and also never had an EKG because of it. If it was affecting your heart, you'd notice! It's not like coronary artery disease which doesn't cause symptoms until you have a heart attack, tachycardia is generally something obvious.

I have to say it was pretty irresponsible to wait until you only had 2 days of medicine left before calling for your new script. I call for my appointment at LEAST 2 weeks before I need one.

You're not going to find a brand new doctor to prescribe you a controlled substance before a full evaluation. Because it's a controlled substance, not because it's dangerous. But like Lea said, there should be someone on-call for your doctor that can write the script; your records should clearly show that you've been getting this medicine for some time with no evidence of abuse.

[lealea1005]

Should have added...IF you get the covering Physician to write a prescription it will most likely be for just enough to last until your regular Physician returns to the office.

[lya]

Most pharmacies would fax a refill request to the physician's office and the covering physician or RN would refill for at least the period of time of the physician's absence and the first few days after his/her return.

Heck, the darn stuff goes for $10 a pill at most high schools, slightly higher in bars. (alot of the buyers in up in the ER and in ICU, which is how I know. I can't imagine myself on speed...roadrunner, look out!)