FCEtier

I would have a lot of questions for both the prescriber and the patient. On the surface, with no details, this really smacks of diversion.

One of my chronic pain patients, “Alpha,” moved to Florida. About a year before that,  I had received notification from the pharmacy chain management where I worked that it would be prudent for me to do a bit of CYA for myself and the company. I was to speak to the prescribers for my chronic pain patients and make notes in their profiles as to their diagnosis. In other words, why are these patients taking so much pain meds? When Alpha found out about this, she accused me of calling her a drug addict and causing her doctor to question her need for the meds. [Not her Rx shown above]

About two weeks ago, I received a phone call from Alpha. She was having trouble finding a pharmacy that would fill her prescriptions in Florida. I referred her to my successor at the store where we had become acquainted. I’ve been gone from that pharmacy for two years. Her daily dose would be fatal for a patient who had not built a tolerance for such high doses. Her doctor requires regular lab tests to ensure she is taking the medication.

Yesterday, I refused to fill a prescription for a “patient” who is on a similar regimen of drugs. We’ll refer to him as “Beta.” His doctor doesn’t do blood or urine tests to confirm compliance.  His doctor requires cash payments for office visits at the time of the visit. This patient drives a new Mercedes. Yesterday, as he often does, he wanted his prescription filled a week early. He became unruly when I pointed out that the doctor himself had put on the prescription when it could be filled.

Pharmacists from around the country report similar occurrences in their practices.

10,000 Baby Boomers reach age 65 every day.

Both scenarios are commonplace now as baby boomers turn gray and average from  three to five prescriptions (not all pain meds) as daily maintenance. It’s apparent that boomers have a lot of pain. This point was driven home by two noteworthy events:

1. pain management clinics began to spring up around the country and…
2. The government made it easier and quicker for pharmacists to order schedule two controlled drugs. (Amazing, isn’t it? The government made something easier?)

Then I met Betty Lou (my favorite generic name) but to be consistent here, she will be “Gamma.” She’s been my patient now for a couple of years. When she first started doing business at my store, her doctor confirmed that she was a terminally ill cancer patient. She’s been terminal now for over two years. She takes three different narcotic pain meds, Ritalin® in the morning, and sleeping pills at night. She takes meds for nausea and constipation. She’s obese.

And this represents only three of the hundreds of patients we see on a weekly basis.

Now meet patient “Delta.” Delta comes in regularly with prescriptions for 240 Ultram®, 180 Percocet®, and 90 Dilaudid® tablets(all generics.) Every month, Delta presents that month’s prescriptions a few days early. Delta’s chief complaint is “Every time I come into this pharmacy there’s a problem.” The recurring problem is that Delta wants early refills every month. Delta’s doctor writes the date each prescription can be filled into the instructions.

Some of the patients who seem legit, take so much, I wonder. Are they really taking that many tablets?

Finally, patient, “Epsilon.”  Epsilon sees a different doctor every week. Sometimes the doctor is from out of state. I’m not aware of any pharmacy in our area of the state that will fill an out of state prescription for schedule two controlled substance.

It’s disheartening to see bona fide long term pain management patients become addicted to drugs and then watch that dependence change their behavior to the point that we cannot deal with them rationally.

Another day in the life of a pharmacist.

To be continued tomorrow, HERE.

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Acknowledgement: Free lance writer and investigative reporter, George McGinn contributed to this article.