In the past, I would see one specialist for my particular condition who would prescribe me promethazine and codeine. The most prescribed was 8 ounces with 2 refills and usually 9 times out of 10 if I would call, they would call in more with no problem. I am not always able to book an appointment at this office and its not always easy to make a trip to the office of the specialist. I take the medicine as prescribed and it last as long it should be taken, within the time for what I use it,always adds up with the listed days supply in line with the dose and amount prescribed for the particular period of time.
There are times when as I mentioned that it is just not convenient to drive to the office or an appointment is not available, and there is a close by urgent care center which I visit when I'm feeling like shit, that is a lot more accessible and less of a hassle. When I run out of meds and am in need of medical treatment that I can't get at the time being, I assumed that this was a place designed to meet these particular needs. This doctor at the urgent care center is really nice and caring, he prescribed me tussionex instead. Both of these medicines do me justice and work rather well, its just one requires more doses and is instant release being a little less potent and this one on the other hand takes less doses and is time released being a little more potent. So depending on the circumstances I would usually alternate. Lately, I've been sticking with the urgent care doctor my last few visits, considering the convenience and the compassion I've experienced. I've been going through these issues for the last year or so and its gotten rather severe.
With that being said, I never get two medications from two different doctors in the same exact time frame or even at the same time. Its always either one or the other,I will finish one, and if needed go on the other(if necessary) I take it for the directed amount of time and it equates with the prescribed dose for the listed days supply. For instance say the codeine is listed to last 7 days, on the 8th day I could still be sick and the specialist is unable to provide an appointment within my schedule, I often end up going to urgent care and that seems appropriate considering it is called "URGNET CARE" and at the time I urgently need care. Is this really wrong, I have a feeling it could be misinterpreted, but correct me if I'm wrong but when in need of quick care, this seems like a fitting scenario for a visit.
My pharmacy where I fill the codeine is one I usually stick with for most of my meds but as far as the Tussionex goes the generic brand they have is of subpar quality, horrible taste and hard to get down in comparison with a lack of efficiency aside. This leads me to Walgreens which usually have the preferred generic of my choice, not all the Walgreens have it and are often out of stock, so sometimes I have to go to several different locations depending on which ones have it available. Is this really wrong? I really have no option, I have a feeling it could look bad but the reality is, the brand needed is only available at select locations and considering I often am traveling through other towns, its not that big of an outreach or an inconvenience to make a quick run.
My dad called in my specialist once and filled them on me feeling bad and running low on my meds,in lieu of the usual they offered to call in a non-narcotic/non-addictive alternative and hinted that the medicine I'm prescribed is commonly abused and that they were wanting to switch it up. I've been in similar situations before and it usually just leads to an awkward, downhill relationship between the trust of patient and doctor once they bring in the idea of you being nothing more then a druggie. I really liked the specialist, nice guy, but I feel as if at this point its a lost cause and with that being mentioned I almost feel ashamed to see him again in person and in fear of what he may say, if this is what he may think of me.
Any thoughts from the pain management community on how all this looks from a subjective view point as a whole, I know many of us have been here before. Please no negativity or criticism, I'm in no need of any more chastising today.