Asked to sign narcotics contract...questions.

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TrueBlood1979

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Jan 8, 2009
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21
Hi,

I have been seeing pain management doctors for over 2 years for 2 slipped discs in the Lumbar region of my back. Unfortunately, my first 2 physicians left the clinic and I am now on my 3rd. I had my first consultation with him yesterday. You should be aware that I have been taking vicodin for the past 2 years as well. My new PM Dr. yesterday had me sign a Narcotics Contract. This is something my first two Dr.'s did not even bring up with me. I willingly signed as I have nothing to hide. I take my meds. as prescribed and I never request early refills (well once I did because I was going on vacation..but it was only like 3 days early). The contract mentioned that I "may" be subject to pill counts as well as random urine drug test. He told me that this is something he has all of his patients do. I do not doubt him as he seems to be a very together physician and his bed side manner and caring attitude was wonderful.

I was just wondering if anybody else out there in Blue Light land has also had experiences with the narcotic contract and if these docturs actually go through with these "pill counts" and urine tests. The Dr. told me that the only way he would call me for any of these things is if he "feels that he has reason to." I am assuming "reason" would be early refill requests, etc. I am not frightened or worried because like I mentioned, I take my medications as prescribed and I comply with all all instructions and treatment plans..i.e...spinal epidurals, physical therapy, yoga classes.

Just wanting some more information and wondering if I should expect a call any time soon to give a urine test or a "pill count."

Thanks everybody!!! :)<3
 
I have never had any experience with this, but just out of interest, why would you even care about this if you 'take your medication as directed' (and don't tell me you don't care as you wouldn't be asking if you didn't)?
 
I do not take narcotics. However, I had to sign something that seems a lot like yours when I first met my new medical practice (GP) for the two Sch IV meds I'm prescribed.

I don't think there is anything suspicious about it. Glad you have found a reputable doctor; reputable pain management doctors are in short supply.
 
Artificial Emotion said:
I have never had any experience with this, but just out of interest, why would you even care about this if you 'take your medication as directed' (and don't tell me you don't care as you wouldn't be asking if you didn't)?
Click to expand...

*sigh* The minute I posted this, I was just waiting to see how long it would take somebody to turn this into a negative "thing." You misread my post. Not once did I say that I did not "care." I do care, which is why I am asking. I have every right to "care" even IF I take my medication as prescribed. I am not, however, worried. But thanks for your concern.
 
TrueBlood1979 said:
*sigh* The minute I posted this, I was just waiting to see how long it would take somebody to turn this into a negative "thing." You misread my post. Not once did I say that I did not "care." I do care, which is why I am asking. I have every right to "care" even IF I take my medication as prescribed. I am not, however, worried. But thanks for your concern.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I'm in WD and was just looking for anyone to snap at.
 
damn thats fucked

as if going to the dr isnt stressful enuff
i got white coat syndrome
and
knowing you could be interrogated would turn me into a nervous nancy and make my blood pressure go up even higher each dr visit

would they be testing the levels in your blood
or pee pee
would your insurance be paying for the test if you gotta have a second one cuz of a false postive

i hate that mentality! if you are doing nothing wrong, what do you have to hide :p

get a call from the dr's office, uh hi this is dr rockstars office, could you please come in first thing tommorow so we can count your pills


what if you ate an everything bagel or a poppy seed bagel the day of your dr visit ?
 
The narcotics contract is generally to shield the clinic from legal liability, both from the authorities and from lawsuits. It lets them show they have policies in place to prevent diversion of prescriptions, and a contract that lets them dismiss patients who they find out to be doing something illegal without worrying about losing a malpractice suit. They're very standard, it's how they're enforced that is the issue you should be concerned with. Talk to other patients, find out if anyone has ever been tested or counted, and what circumstances led to those actions. Everyone at the PM clinic I go to had the sign the same thing, but the doc is crooked as shit and the only time they ever drug test anyone is when they're blatantly acting messed up or passed out in the lobby (because the DEA sends undercovers to look for that stuff); and nobody has ever been counted.
 
Please read whole post, I have written out in detail how my contract I signed from my pain management screwed me over** sorry for the long post.


It is Very common. I had GP who would prescribe me #30 7.5 hydrocodne as needed for my back, and we both agreed a pain management place would be a better choice for my pain. When I first went to pain management they had me sign a contract, I complied with everything. I had to take a urine test to just become eligible to be prescribed narcotics. They did not give me anything the first time I met with them, but had me sign it, and then gave me a lower lumbar nerve block.

The nerve block messed up my back so bad I couldn't go to work for 3 weeks and was confined to my bed, but since on my contract it said I had to have a urine test to give out meds, it took them 3 weeks to get the results back, and my Boss at work made me go to the ER because I had missed 2 weeks. The ER was very very confused as to why the pain management place had not treated me, and prescribed me 8 5mg hydrocodone until I could get it worked out.

4 days after the ER visit and a phone call begging the pain management place to help me, and telling them I went to the ER. The pain management place called me saying my UA's were clean and to come in and they could talk about prescribing meds. I was honest and told them everything, and even showed them that I couldn't stand up straight, hardly walk, had massive swelling and tension at the injection site all because of the nerve block, and showed them proof I called their nurses complaining about pain 8 times over 21 days.

The doctor found out I got 8 hydrcodone from the ER and said I violated my contract with them and they would not dispense meds to me, but would give me shots in my back.

there was no reason to suspect I do drugs, I DONT. I HAPPILY gave a clean urine screen, and had nothing to hide. Im a college student trying to make a living working, going to school, and their negligence and CONTRACT ROYALLLY screwed me over. The pain clinic is supposedly the most prestigious in my area, and they made my life a LIVING HELL.

So yes, contracts can be bad. I have had 2 hearniated discs since I was 15, they partially ruptured 2 years ago, and I was diagnoised with DDD. I had recent MRI's showing the damage and have been living in pain for 8 years. After doing PM, I decided its not worth my time, and I do everything I can to naturally help my back, which does not include me taking pain meds.

hope this was of some help.
 
"why would you even care about this if you 'take your medication as directed' ..." This kind of attitude makes me sad and pessimistic about the future of the US. It's like saying you should allow the police in your house if you have nothing to hide. Or why object to having your phone tapped? I'd raise hell. I'd get a new doctor right away and complain to the medical board in my area just to let them know you, for one, don't like this kind of intrusion. In the US it's almost a given that patients on narcotics are going to be punished for the medicines they need. You're being treated, if not as a criminal, as a lesser human being. Good pain specialists are as disgusted with this kind of thing as I am.
 
This is all the sad and unfortunate effect of a law enforcement agency (the DEA) meddling in the medical affairs between people and their doctors. Hopefully the human race will see the light in the not-too-distant future and dismantle this posse of drug cowboys and begin to reverse the damage they have done to the American spirit in the last 40-odd years. :\
 
If you guys think you've got it bad in the US, you have NO IDEA how bad it is elsewhere in Europe. You virtually have to be a cancer patient on your deathbed in the UK to get anything remotely effective. In most circumstances, you'd be lucky to get a script for codeine and APAP.
 
^ But the flip side of this is that you can get lots of helpful medicine over the counter at the pharmacy without having to see a doctor or paying high drug company prices.
 
^What OTC medicine (apart from (dihydro)codeine-containing products) were you thinking of that you can get in the UK but not the US when you said that?
 
I take Imitrex (sumatriptan) for migraines, about one pill every 3 weeks on average. It's a miracle drug for me; nothing else works. Until this past year, it was brand-name only in the U.S. Each pill cost $30 USD, so I had my health insurance pay for it. But guess what happened when I applied for an individual health plan after our group insurance terminated? I was denied coverage because I take sumatriptan for migraines, and if they had accepted me, I would have been "rated up" 50% to 100%, i.e. my premiums would have doubled just because of this. Now we have a generic available here, but it doesn't work quite as well and it's still prescription.

Contrast that with the UK, where my understanding is that sumatriptan is available over the counter for $8 (or maybe 8 euros)(and whatever the sterling equivalent is). So anyone with a migraine can buy it without having to see a doctor or go through insurance.

Other than that, I'm not familiar with what is and is not available OTC in the U.K. But from the time I've spent in France, Spain, and Italy, I got the impression that many drugs such as antibiotics are available from a pharmacy without having to see a doctor first. Is that true?
 
^ They have one antibiotic eye drop medication available OTC that I am aware of and a plethora of antifungal medications for thrush, athletes foot etc. Diclofenac, naproxen etc. are also available.
 
Hi TrueBlood1979, I see a pain management for my lung issues. I have chronic pain in my lungs from having so many lung surgeries. I've a history of collapse lungs. I had to sign a contract as well with my pain management, they count my pills every time I go. I've only had one urine test in 10 months with them. I guess they are prettystrict with younger people because I am only 20 years old. They have me on 15mg of morphine twice a day and 5mg of oxycodone twice a day for break through pain.

My experience with my pain management has been pretty good so far. I don't mind the pill counts at all because they just don't bother me. The only issue I've had is the doctor beingreluctant at upping the dose but he did in the end.
 
my dr knows my history, and is a psychiatrist....he scripts me my fent patches

he sometimes makes me bring in my boxes and show him that i have X many patches remaining and i have taken 2 drug tests in the last 6-8 months


so YES!
 
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