Talking to husband's doctor

[KitCat]

So dilemma - do I go talk to my husband's doctor and tell him the truth about his painkiller abuse or is this a really low nasty thing to do?

Summary: husband had accident, was on painkillers, didn't wean off, got sort of addicted, started taking other prescription drugs (obtained on the internet), issues in private life, work etc. I figured out what was going on, arguments ensued, somehow convinced him to go see his GP, he stopped taking oxycodone on his own, went through withdrawals, doctor prescribed him antidepressants, he's seeing psychologist...
...4 months later he's full of shit again: denial about substance abuse issues, often agitated, argumentative, work performance/social interactions are touch and go, did not tell his doctor that his breakdown was largely due to oxycodone, dishonest with his psychologist, i think he had a bit of a relapse (showing some possible comedown/withdrawal symptoms) etc. Household situation sort of fucked up right now, lots of blaming & anger.

I suggested we go see his GP together and come clean about his issues as I think honesty is integral. He's not so keen. My plan was try to convince him to go together but if that doesn't work I thought I'd go see his GP myself and make sure he knows about oxycodone thing because I think hubby might have just gotten another script last month and that set him back 4 months.

What do you think?

 

[THECATINTHEHAT]

In short, the doctor has a legal responsibility not to discuss his patients with outside parties, wifey or no.

 

[herbavore]

Unfortunately talking to your husband's doctor is not really going to do anything other than have him start getting pills somewhere else (or go from pills to heroin as some do when the pills can't be had). It will just be an obstacle but won't stop his use if he has no intention of stopping his use.

This is such a common situation--people getting hooked on opiates from legitimate use in the beginning for pain. Try to minimize anything that hints of morality and focus on problem solving without judgment. (I know from experience that is harder than it sounds.) The first thing you need to do is to ascertain whether or not he wants to stop. All your decisions will flow from that point.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

Unfortunately talking to your husband's doctor is not really going to do anything other than have him start getting pills somewhere else (or go from pills to heroin as some do when the pills can't be had). It will just be an obstacle but won't stop his use if he has no intention of stopping his use.

This is such a common situation--people getting hooked on opiates from legitimate use in the beginning for pain. Try to minimize anything that hints of morality and focus on problem solving without judgment. (I know from experience that is harder than it sounds.) The first thing you need to do is to ascertain whether or not he wants to stop. All your decisions will flow from that point.

Or some doctors just don't care.

I know someone who abuses opiate based pain-killers they're prescribed and they take more than the dosage, and combine them with alcohol at times. Their husband/care-taker has told their doctor that they do this, and not to prescribe them so many pills and the doctor could care less.

When I worked as a pharmacy tech for a chain store that has pharmacies in it, people would come in all the time with scripts from their doctor for opiate based PKs, and benzos for large amounts of them for a single month, and they were filled anyway. One pharmacist said how there's not much that pharmacists and technicians can do as the doctors write the scripts and they have to get filled.

Another tech I worked with said how there were more than a few doctors that would just basically write prescriptions for opiates and benzos to basically whoever wanted them, or who didn't care if their patients doctor shopped and got multiple prescriptions from different doctors for opiates and benzos.

You can try doing this but give how strict HIPPA laws are I doubt the doctor will talk about your husband or his meds to you even if you are his wife.

 

[aq.]

This is such a common situation--people getting hooked on opiates from legitimate use in the beginning for pain.

This is so true....

Try to minimize anything that hints of morality and focus on problem solving without judgment. (I know from experience that is harder than it sounds.) The first thing you need to do is to ascertain whether or not he wants to stop. All your decisions will flow from that point.

This is great advice. Also, I don't think your husbands doctor will discuss anything with you since HIPAA laws are in place to protect the patient and all. Without any proof from your husband, I don't believe there's much the doctor will do since to him it may just be here say.

 

[Triathloncoach]

Until he admits to having a serious problem you are banging your head against the wall. I'd be talking to him about NA.