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Can doctors check what scripts you have filled?

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opi8

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May 21, 2010
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Can doctors check to see what medications you have filled after being prescribed? My Pysch prescribed me diazepam and Zoloft the same old school, hand written pad, and I don't want the Zoloft. I am over SSRI's and SNRI's and there's now way in hell they've helped my anxiety, all they're done is turned me into a zombie that slept all day or given the mental capacity of an ant, along with all the physical side effects.

Is there any way a doctor can check to see what scripts they've written were purchased from a pharmacy?
 
^ The doctor could ask Medicare, which handles the PBS system that pays the pharmacies for the scripts you fill.

Or he could ask you which pharmacy you have gone to and check with them.

But either way I doubt he is going to do it.

Are you just going to take diazepam continuously to handle your problems? If so, then benzo WD will put you through a lot worse then a SSRI or SNRI ever did.
 
have you people never heard of the DDU? (drug dependency unit). all potentially addictive substance scripts are monitored by them, whether it be a private script or a govt authority script. too many scripts and they will be in touch with your doctors.
 
There are alot of doctors and in my area there is like 20 medical centers within 5 min drive. They could check what they have prescribed but doubt they would be able to get any info on where n what u have gotten in the past from other doctors. Medicare could look into it tho. Just be wise about it and dont be greedy if there are doc shoppers out there. They will pick u up straight away and when u really need sumfn they will have a hard time believing anything u say.
 
for govt authority scripts which require a phone call to the authority line for the script to be authorized, they will find out as soon and the person on the other end of the line speaks to them matey ;)
PS refer above about what i said about the DDU. medicare has nothing to do with it. they just fund shit.
 
Thanks for the responses.

That's interesting about the DDU, is diazepam monitored by them? I have been prescribed diazepam once by my GP, who then referred me to a psychiatrist, who has now prescribed me a higher dose. This wouldn't raise red flags, would it?

Mr Blonde said:
Are you just going to take diazepam continuously to handle your problems? If so, then benzo WD will put you through a lot worse then a SSRI or SNRI ever did.
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I am not taking diazepam exclusively for my problems, nor every day, even though my psychiatrist has prescribed me one a day. I am fully aware of benzo withdrawal; I have recently gone through another opiate detox at home via self administired naltrexone. I understand benzo withdrawals would be worse than that and potentially fatal, and I have no intention of going through that hell again.

I have been seeing a psychologist and have learned several breathing and relaxation techniques, also CBT and these work to an extent. However, they do nothing for my body's natural over reaction to perceived threats, which causes my fight or flight response to go into overdrive and turns me into a fearful, quivering mess.

I live in a country town with only 2 medical centers and a handful of pharmacies, dr shopping has never been on my mind. I am thankful that after multiple visits, seeing a psychologist for several months and finally speaking to a psychiatrist twice at $300 a visit (2/3 of which I got back from medicare) I have some medication that I know helps me.

I told my GP straight up that this works, and his response was SSRI/SNRI's. Why won't they listen when we know what works?
 
opi8 I understand your situation. I suffer from an anxiety dissorder and went down the same road as you. Antidepresants dont help and the sides are terrible. Counselling from my psychologist helps and if I feel an attack coming Ill use benzos. I dont use every day or even every week but have so much trouble getting them perscribed I actually get anxious about having to put my case to the GP. Rather than go to the doc Ive actually been buying from a local pill dealer at a hugely inflated cost. Am considering seeing a Psychiatrist but am concerned it will be a waste of money and Ill walk out with a ssri script...
 
for govt authority scripts which require a phone call to the authority line for the script to be authorized, they will find out as soon and the person on the other end of the line speaks to them matey
PS refer above about what i said about the DDU. medicare has nothing to do with it. they just fund shit.
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The OP never said he was doctor shopping or had obtained his script illegally. The DDU (in QLD and SA, different names in the other states) is mainly involved in making sure this is not happening, and yes they do handle benzodiazepines. If the OP were handing in scripts from more then one doctor, then the DDU might get involved.

But he simply has two scripts from his doctor; one is for diazepam the other for sertraline. He simply wants to get the diazepam and not the sertraline. No flags raised or anything; the pharmacy might question him about why he isn't filling the other script but the DDU would have nothing to do with it really. He didn't obtain it illegally as far as we are aware.

Diazepam, whilst it is considered a potential drug of dependence, is very commonly prescribed. You should keep this in mind. Him handing in one script for it from a doctor is far from what raises questions with the DDU.

Also, authority script doesn't just mean that it's a highly abusable drug that has to be authorized by the authorities; many other substances are authority scripts. It means that for them to be covered under the PBS, they have to be used for certain indications and authorized for that.

See the other thread regarding ER doctors where I have already discussed this; believe me, I know how this works. Medicare can be contacted to see if they have paid for a script, and Medicare can and does sometimes pick up on doctor shopping and report it.

I didn't go into this last night as I was drunk, and I am hungover this morning so this may be all over the place. If you need anymore clarification, ask me.

ETA: Besides which, diazepam may even be a streamlined authority script, requiring no calls to Medicare to authorize it's use prior for the required indications before the script is written.

ETA II: Diazepam isn't even an authority required script unless it is being used for palliative care.
 
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You could always just fill both scripts but only take the diazepam. You'll waste $5 or so, but won't have to worry about drawing suspicion.
 
@arjans haze
My psychiatrist helped me tremendously as he has now diagnosed me me GAD and social anxiety disorder. He told me there would be no need to see him again now and that I can get my medication from my GP in the future.

Talking to my GP used to (still does) make me very anxious to the point where I can't articulate my problems, I usually just go along with whatever he says. When I did get the courage to say that diazepam has worked for me in the past, he just dismissed me and gave me anti depressants. It was only after I tried several of them that he gave me a once off script for valium and referred me to a psychiatrist.

@Mr Blonde
Thanks for the in depth response. I read the other thread and have a better idea of how it all works now.

@Crankinit
That is what I ended up doing, it cost $15 for the generic Zoloft which is now at the bottom of my office bin. If I'd had the valium before going in to the pharmacy I may have been able to tell the pharmacist that I didn't want the Zoloft, anxiety is a bitch.
 
opi8 said:
@arjans haze
My psychiatrist helped me tremendously as he has now diagnosed me me GAD and social anxiety disorder. He told me there would be no need to see him again now and that I can get my medication from my GP in the future.

Talking to my GP used to (still does) make me very anxious to the point where I can't articulate my problems, I usually just go along with whatever he says. When I did get the courage to say that diazepam has worked for me in the past, he just dismissed me and gave me anti depressants. It was only after I tried several of them that he gave me a once off script for valium and referred me to a psychiatrist.
.
Click to expand...


That wouldn't a good feeling at all, I feel for you there. (I give a spiel about myself being 'good' but you can skip past the story *if you want heh* : I'm lucky that medical staff/professionals have never fazed me, I tell them exactly how I feel especially if I feel they are f**king up something. I even got to the point of arguing and telling the obstetrician/gynecologist*s, there were 2 doctors, not sure 100% who what was what but we learnt how 'they' can like to speed up things in hospital births and do (unnecessary at the time) things like "suction", "tongs" and cesearian births literally some times just to 'speed up' the birth and not to save the baby and/or mother from harm

(We had SEVERAL (ex) hospital staff, midwives, doctors etc tell us in a 2-3 month weekly birth education thing we went to), so when it seems the doctors wanted to do a cesearian when everything seemed 'normal', I stood up to the fooks. After a slinging match, they walked out, tried to get the midwife to come in and "guilt" us into the OP, asked how would it be if Emma or the baby was hurt. I asked "tell me 100%, can the baby or Emma be hurt *NOW* if we keep trying natural" The midwife could only say, NOTHING was for certain atm as it was 'short' into the birth/labour. Well just as she finished saying this, Emma piped in to the convo "Err, feels like the baby is coming", after a SHORT moment, Emma gave birth simple + easy as. She even had NO drugs when she was for sure wanted gas "ASAP" when we were deciding what she wanted to do, even an epidural if needed, she's "crap" with pain but this was 'easy' for her :D


So, in short, I like to stand up and not take shit, LOL. Not as easy as for some. Personally, I'd recommend before going to see a/the GP: you get anxiety from, try writing down how you feel, questions (possible answers?) you'd think that should come up and present the paper and/or talk then with the paper in your possession or the doctors. It may help you get stuff you wanted 'discussed' with the GP a lot easier? Or if you don't want to go this far, if you haven't, use this paper writing as practice on what you want to say.. If you weren't looking for help at all with the GP stuff, disregard the advice I gave in here =D Wishing you well with it all no matter what :)
 
Medicare CAN report the scripts you have filled to your doctor but ONLY with your signed permission. The reason I say this is because in order to get extra privileges with my methadone, my prescriber got me to sign a release where by he could apply for my last years worth of activity. The report was sent to me and I gave it to him. It included every doctor I had been to, every script I had filled and every "pathology" type request (bloods, ecgs etc.) It was definitely Medicare who we applied to for this info.

The only way I see your doctor finding out is if the two scripts are on the same page and the pharmacist thinks it's suss that you only want the diazepam and takes it upon themself to call the doctor. Some pharmacists can be like that but at the same time they are very busy so you are probably fine. If the doc says anything just say you can't handle the side effects of antidepressants. That's what I say anytime my doctor tried to offer me them cos it's the truth.
 
@wazza
You did the right thing. A similar thing happened when my other half was having our baby, they wanted to rush the whole process. Thankfully our baby came out naturally as well. I wouldn't have been able to speak my mind to them though, in fact I nearly fainted when our little one was born. It's quite an experience.

Thanks for the advice, I have tried taking in notes to my GP before, but didn't feel comfortable pulling them out as I thought to myself that he may think I'd made these things up which is why I couldn't remember them... Forgetfulness comes when I'm anxious as well.

It's all good now, thanks for the replies again.
 
^ Try and be honest with the doctor about how anxious you are even seeing him, and he is someone you are trusting your healthcare to. That might make him see how serious your anxiety problem is.

Remember though, diazepam is not a longer term solution for anxiety. There is a reason that doctors are cautious with it, and it's not just due to abuse. Depending on the level you are functioning at, it may be that a physical dependency on benzodiazepines would cause you more harm in the long run then your anxiety. They have to balance that out when making decisions.

Medicare CAN report the scripts you have filled to your doctor but ONLY with your signed permission
Click to expand...

Unless, of course, they are handling the scripts and notice that AuraLee has been getting morphine from Doctor X, Doctor Y and Doctor Z. ;)
 
Find a different doctor, or ask for a different SSRI....
Correct medication= chemical imbalance in brain corrected = no more anxiety!!
Sorry, I know some can be up themselves pricks, but most docs, & psych's actually want to help solve the problem (SSRI or whatever) not just give you a bandaid (diaz) and send you on your way. If CBT, relaxation etc don't work to the point you need benzo's, you need something else!!
 
@Mr Blonde
I believe I have mentioned to my GP that even calling to make an appointment is an ordeal for me, as well as my obvious body language when I'm speaking to him. I think he understands, more than any other GP that I have seen at least, where I'm coming from. General Practitioners aren't pschologists/psychiatrists though, and I mentioned earlier in the thread, there isn't much choice for GP's in my area.

@i8urpie
Every SSRI/SNRI I have tried has given me terrible side effects. I am struggling financially and I have a family to feed. I cannot afford to spend weeks trying to adjust to medication and get over side effects, especially when I'm not sure that the side effects ever will stop. I know diaz works, so if I need to go out and get life done, I know it will work.

A friend of mine recently gave me some Seroquel Extended Release. I will see if this helps with my anxiety as (apparently) it isn't addictive and has an off label use for anxiety (not exactly sure). Maybe I will alternate my use of diaz with it. Thanks for your advice though.
 
I used to shop 1mg xanax in sydney. I had 2 docs writing up benzo's. I was on MMT and then went to bupe then codeine. Last time i wanted Panadene forte or T3's this lad checked medicare and i was shitting myself thinking.... i'm fucking gone now, I'm on the doc shoppers list!!!! But she spoke to some dude in medicare and he gave her the all clear to write the script. I nearly had an orgasm. Then she was embarassed for checking up on me. SWIM has writen a few scripts myself and got away with it. Oxy 20 mg. for "back pain" SWIM holds back and says ouch etc. Once you get caught you're done. It's hard to get docs to prescibe benzos opiates now days etc, I can't see any more , eyes to dialated ,can't see damn it
 
To the OP. You have nothing to worry about in terms of getting into trouble for getting these valium scripts. You are using them for legit reasons, and are not abusing them, nor doctor shopping.

I had anxiety/depression up until a few months ago. I going to start tapering off zoloft next month.

I have found that if you do take zoloft for an extended period of time, it will lighten the anxiety you feel. and it works very well for depression. the first two months may mess with your head a bit though in terms of suicidal thoughts, and increased anxiety.

The best thing you can do is keep up with seeing your psychologist and psychiatrist, be honest with them and say that in the past SSRIs have not worked for you. honesty is by far the best with doctors, and don't be afraid to ask plenty of questions and let them know exactly what your problems are. You are paying for their services, so take up as much of their time as necessary.

One tip I did find to work well with anxiety is to just remember 'I am overanalysing this situation. it is not a disaster, and nothing bad will happen'. Also maybe take up meditation. exercise is also extremely good for mental illness (particularly depression). Also avoid drugs, these include coffee, and alcohol. You might of noticed after a bad hangover your anxiety is extreme.

Also, get support from your friends, family and partner. talk them regularly and let them know about your problems. this really helps, and when you get really panicky they can help you put things into perspective.

If you would like some more advice PM. anxiety is a bitch, but for most people they get over it eventually and can go back to living a normal life.

All the best.
 
@OP.... Ahh you don't want to take a medication, be it an SSRI or other anti depressant , that a doctor has prescribed, but you'll take an anti psychotic that your friend gave you?? Seriously??

If you just get one item from a script filled, no one cares, no one checks, its one script!! If you really want to do something about your anxiety problem, take psytaco's advice and seek help that doesn't come from a benzo, or what ever other medications your mates have at the time.

Anxiety is a bitch... but it can get better, but it might not be as easy as popping a few tablets.
 
Thanks psytaco, reasononing with myself is often the hardest. I can't smoke pot because of the uncontrollable paranoia it brings, even though I KNOW it's just the drug.

@18urpie
This friend is a VERY close one of mine who knows more about me than a lot of people. She gave me 6 pills to see if they worked or not. They are an extended release form of seroquel. You don't want to hear my life story, but it goes a long way back and is hard to fix with CBT, positive attitude, relaxation etc.

If you're interested in the slightests, here is what Wikipedia says about the drug, my symptoms are bolded.

It is sometimes used off-label, often as an augmentation agent, to treat conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, restless legs syndrome, autism, alcoholism, depression, Tourette syndrome, and has been used by physicians as a sedative for those with sleep disorders or anxiety disorders.

Doctors repeatedly giving me scripts for shit that I TELL THEM DOESN"T WORK, and a close friend who knows ME gives me a few tablets that work for her, to see if they help my anxiety so I don't need to rely on benzo's. These are pills that AREN'T addictive, just because they've been labelled as 'anti-psychotic' (my good friend is not psychotic, by the way). Now, I understand you're trying to get a point across, but I trust my friends who have been through similar things as me a LOT more than my doctors who don't seem listen to me.

I imagine you have had a life changing event with SSRI/SNRI's, and I am happy for you. I don't believe, personally, that is for everyone. I am sorry if I offended you in this post because it did make me emotional.
 
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