Doctors Who Prescribe Methadone (Page 5)

I am addicted to strong pain meds and I am tired of having to come off of them, the withdrawal is awful. I went to a urgent care doc and was prescribed suboxone. I take anxiety meds too but he wants me to stop. I really need the anxiety meds but he wants me off them. How do I get him to change it from suboxone to methadone so I can take my anxiety meds?

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Ya know...One of the ways I started to realize that your medication history could be followed, was when I gathered together all of mine thru my pharmacy, so I could bring it in with me when I went in to see a new doctor. All I did, was ask my pharmacist if they would print out a list of all my medications filled over the last 10 years so I could bring it in to my doctor and they complied within 10 minutes. It included every doctor who wrote any type of scripts for me too. Including any anti-biotics I had needed. And each doctor's location. So if all of this information was on this list, I kind of figured it was easy to follow any activities a patient had.

I brought it in with me when I went to the new doctor and they greatly appreciated it. Told me they wished more patients would do this.
I'm in the state of New Jersey, so I'm not sure what other states run like this.

And just because I want to.... I wish all mothers out there, a Very Happy Mother's Day !!

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Wondering if anyone can help me in Central Alabama,I have ms,2 bulging disk in my neck and 4 in upper back,3 lower back and sphyatic nerve is crushed,been on methadone for at least 8 years my dr. left and now I can't find a dr. to write my pain medicine,been looking forever,please if anyone can help tell me..

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The information about a pharmacy being able to print out a med history is not new nor is it a revelation to most of those seeking PMDR for relief of pain. I've been seeing pain specialists since 2000 and know a heckuva lot more now than I did then. When I began going to the one I'm seeing right now, I went to my pharmacy (a MUST for being treated means signing a drug contract and going to ONE and only one pharmacy to prescribe your pain meds).

When I went to mine (a very large grocery chain which happens to have a terrific pharmacy, and NOT WALMART), all I needed to do was fill out a form, show them my driver's license and they printed out my prescriptions FROM THAT STORE ONLY for the last 12 months.

Now I have had to visit another branch once of the same store to get my prescription for Methadone, as the pharmacist told me at my usual store, he had sold out his remaining Methadone that morning. He called the other store and it was in stock. Any meds I have filled in any other store EXCEPT my primary will not show up on any printout. I would need to go through the same process as I did at my primary pharmacy. They do not share information with each other.

I did do some checking on National Drug Monitoring Database, and they are beginning to pop up all over the U.S. It was easy enough for me to find and my state does have this database. Dr's. can access it to determine whether or not people are Dr. shopping, etc., but also looks out for the consumer in the event they follow correct prescription protocol for patients. But the best think anyone can do when going to a new pain specialist is to bring them MRI/X-Rays/CAT scans, ANY recent results of tests, including the med list. The more ammo one can bring into a new PMDR setting the better you chances are for them to help you.

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Jo, I read your reply and will do the same. Can you tell me where you go to the doctor? I live in NJ as well and my husband and I are at our wits end. We are in our 60's and methadone is the only thing that works {edited for privacy}
Thank you

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@Tessa.
Believe me, I feel for U both. But I cannot give U names of a doctor to go to. I can recommend a way to find one, however. Call or go to your local hospital to find out if they run a pain management clinic. Explain your situation to them and ask for an application. Ask for it, even if they insist they only treat cancer patients, or they are full right now. Send it in as soon as U can. If they run a pain management clinic, it may be possible for U to get into it. BUT....your going to wait. I had to get on mine's waiting list B-4 they would even see me for a consult. So I hope U and your husband have enuff meds to hold U over because it's kind of dangerous to stop taking Methadone, cold turkey. If possible, while your waiting, try to cut down your dose to stretch what U have left until U can get a new script. It might help to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Or something worse. That's what I was told to do until I was seen again.( The time I waited in between was a nightmare coz I ran out of meds.)

Once U contact them, they will tell U what to bring in with U. Bring more !! Everything and anything U have to prove yourself should be brought in with U, copied and mailed to them or faxed to them. Whatever they ask for and all U can think of besides.
If U can get a recommendation from the doctor U saw previously, that will also help.
The next step would be for them to notify U if they may be able to take U in and once they do, they'll give U the next instructions for what to do. But be sure to do your own follow up to make sure they received all of your papers. Mine had gotten either lost or mis-delivered and I had to wait extra long to re-submit them.

I'm sorry that I can't give U a doctor's name, directly. It isn't a good idea. I hope U can understand why.
Where I go to for help is a Hospital. Their clinic has several pain doctors in it. So if they were to accept U, they could assign anyone to U. U really don't get to choose who you'll see anyway.
I don't know exactly what county your living in, but I could suggest some area hospitals to try calling. As U must have noticed, I am from Central New Jersey, but Central N.J. is pretty big. A few I can think of w/o going to a phonebook, are....J.F.K. hospital, St. Peter's, Robt. Wood Johnson, Muhlenberg, and there's another in the Elizabeth/Newark area, but I'm not too sure of the correct name. It begins with a "T", I think.
It's possible that some of them may be full, but you'll just have to try. If you explain your dire situation to them, maybe they'll make an exception for U. I couldn't say for sure.
It's become very tough to get a script for Methadone, even tho U are in severe intractable pain. At least in this state it's been.

I pray to God that PMDRs don't quit prescribing like most of the ones I came across in my search had. I don't know what people in this type of pain will ever do.
I don't like being used like a guinea pig, or having myself cut open and letting them attach things to my spine. I don't know about U, but that scares the bajeebers out of me. it isn't my spine that's in need of treatment, anyway. Even tho I know they can sometimes control other types of pain by going thru the spine somehow.

I hope anything I've said will help U in some way.
When I needed it, I couldn't find it. Tho my primary doctors' nurse was trying very hard to locate someone for me. I wound up finding one myself,1st. But I never want to go thru that again. It's horrible !!
I hope something works out for U soon. I know the fear U must be feeling.

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Jo,
I cried when I read what you wrote. I can't thank you enough for your understanding of our situation. We have enough meds for 3 months and will try to stretch it out as much as we can. I know it will take a long time, and needles to say, I am scared to death. I don't know how a doctor can take you off of a med that is working and is inexpensive. We are not teenagers looking to sell it on the street. We are not druggies and believe me I feel for those who are.
Thank you for taking the time to write back to me. I hope we can stay in touch. I will keep you posted of our problem because I truly feel you care. I am in the process of getting all of our meds for the past ten years printed out by the pharmacies we used.
Once again, thank you for caring.
Tessa

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JO, Tessa. Just wanted to comment about your posts. It's a shame that we have to live in fear of running out of our meds. The medical field just doesn't seem to care. I find myself counting the pills I have left in my bottle and the remaining days of the month. It shouldn't be so hard to find a Dr. but it is. I honestly hope things can be worked out. Take care and God bless.

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Pam, It is a real shame that Pain Management Specialists won't prescribe medicine for people who really need it. What is wrong with this picture? I don't include myself in the populace of people who were on heroin and weaning with methadone. Unfortunately, it has put a curse on people who truly need pain medication for chronic pain syndrome, etc.
Why don't they see this?
I am a retired nurse and years ago pain management was an important issue. They even made a chart on how to evaluate your pain so you could be treated more "humanely" if you will. I can see that got thrown out the window pretty quickly. Being in my sixties, I don't have too many years left in this lifetime, and I would like to make my remaining years as pain free as possible.
Open your eyes doctors; it seems the Hippocratic oath has been tossed out the window as well.

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@Tessa,
Got home a couple of hours ago, from a baseball game with friends. Something I could never do without having my meds. I was overdue for them by the time the game was over, so as I walked (ha ha) out to our car, I stumbled a lot. But it felt good to get out for a change. I almost felt human. But that is thanks...only to the Methadone.
U & your husband are most welcome for any help I can give U. I wish I could do more because I totally understand your situation. It's so true. How can doctors do this to patients who depend on getting what little relief they can from a drug that's like U say...working and inexpensive. It makes no sense, and it's cruel.
I feel very lucky now, that the doctor I'm seeing agrees with me.
All pain doctors should know more about Methadone to begin with. And know that once a Methadone patient finds a level of it that works well for them, most likely they will never have to increase that dose like they would if they were taking a different medicine. There is an extra ingredient in it that helps people for whom other drugs won't work as well on them. It is considered stronger than others, also... but it's really that extra ingredient that makes it more effective for some patients. My doctor just explained it to me today, but with my darn C.R.S., I can't remember all the facts.

He compared it to oral Morphine. Telling me how much more Morphine I would need to take to compare to the relief I get from the Methadone. The problem I would have taking Morphine instead, was that it bothered my breathing for some reason, where the Methadone doesn't.
Doctor explained a few things to me today, and gave me another letter to give to my pharmacy, so they would know that my doctor is aware of why I'm taking the Methadone.
It's become so crazy out there with this drug. It's very scary.
Most doctors, even PMDRs are pulling away from prescribing it. They are so afraid of the DEA coming down on them and taking away their licenses. I'm sure my old PMDR fell head 1st into that category and that's why she dismissed a lot of her patients when she did. Probably like yours did also. And some others I have noticed here too. It sure puts many of us in a bad situation, n' it isn't funny !!
Even the PMDR I see now told me that most of them won't treat a patient who is only on meds. They want to break away from this and treat pain in other ways if possible, so the DEA can't crack down on them.
I think it's awful that they can take such control over what a physician decides for his patients' well being. Where does that leave all of us ?
My PMDR said that only in rare cases will they continue to treat with only meds and I happen to fall into that category, so they treat me with the meds only. But it sure is scary. We shouldn't have to go thru this. The pain is bad enuff.
I personally just feel that if these drugs were created to treat severe pain, then they should be used for that.
The risks have to be weighed out between the doctor and the patient if there's no other choice or a long term treatment. It shouldn't be left up to the DEA.

Anyway Tessa,
I hope U will be able to make those calls soon, so U won't run out of your meds. That's gotta be the worst part of needing this stuff. Keep me posted on your progress. I am concerned for U. Or if U have any other questions I can possibly help U with, please do post again. Even if I can't help U, maybe someone else in here could. Don't give up !!

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@Pam,
Thank U for your prayers and for caring so much. I understand why U need to count your pills to be sure you'll have enuff until your next appt. It's like a God awful sin if U accidentally use one extra pill one month and find yourself short. Or even if U may happen to drop one now n' then and can't find it until after your next appt.. I've had that happen too.
I fill weekly pill cases with all of my meds and vitamins, so I won't forget to take them. And sometimes, I drop one or two and they roll under furniture, so I may not find them for weeks. That hurts, when I start to run low coz we know the doctors aren't going to fall for our story sometimes. They'll start suspecting us of U know what.
It's really awful, the way we get treated. It's bad enuff we're in this pain... then to be treated as if we're addicts ? What is this ? The doctors put U on the stuff, then make U come in to beg for it later, after U become dependent on it for relief. I can't figure that out.

I thank God that my pharmacy is very understanding and never gives me trouble.
An' it kills me how pharmacies can give out hundreds of say...Vicodin or Percocet and not blink an eye. But show them U take Methadone and watch out !!
There is such a terrible stigma to it. Makes it so hard for patients who need it for pain.
Yes...it really IS difficult to find a replacement PMDR these days. It's like going thru Hell.
What would happen if U lost your primary doctor, then came down with Pneumonia ? Would every other doctor turn U away ? Can U imagine ? Why should PMDRs be able to get away with doing this ? It isn't right, and something should done about it. If PMDRs are allowed to get away with doing this, what happens down the road ? I tremble to think.
Anyway...sorry for my ranting. Just wanted to thank U.
And I also hope U don't ever wind up going thru what we have for your medication.

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Jo, I wish I could keep it together! Every time I think of the situation, I cry and I'm not talking a couple of tears; I mean bawling my eyes out. How can I pull myself together to talk to someone when I can't even pull myself together long enough to get a sentence out? This happens all of the time. I wish I could just get angry enough to spit out what I have to say and cry later, but it doesn't work that way with me. I'm just a blithering id***. I don't like myself for that.
If I ask you a question you can answer if you want and if you don't want to don't. I understand. Do you go to one of the clinics at one of the hospitals you recommended?
I know I am going to have to travel and I am up for that since we have been travelling to Scranton, Pa. to see our doctor since September. That is an 8 hour drive from where we live now(round trip). And of course now he won't be seeing us anymore. Well I'd better start my research. Thank you,Jo, for your support.

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Tessa, Tessa, Tessa...U go right ahead and cry all U want to. I am in total agreement with U on everything I have seen U say. I, too, have hit that good ole' number 60 and feel as U do, that I would like to be able live the rest of this short life in as little pain as possible. I have also spent many a day in tears, if only from the damn pain. Or feeling sick n' tired of not being able to have a normal life anymore. Like to be able to wear a normal pair if shoes once in a while.
Methadone is great, but it doesn't take all the pain away. But I want to be able to function, so I'm happy with I've got.
BTW, my answer to your question is...Yes, I do go to one of the hospitals I mentioned to U. It takes me a half an hour to drive there, so that isn't too bad.
I hate to drive. I wish it only took me 5 minutes. But I do understand that to find relief U sometimes have to be forced to drive hours to get it. U did say U were living in Central NJ right ? If so, then getting to one of these hospitals I mentioned shouldn't take U half as long as you've been driving. Are U familiar with any of the towns like New Brunswick, Edison, Plainfield, Elizabeth, or Newark ? The hospitals I gave U are all in those towns. So if your in N.J., U should realize that we have highways all over the place to get U where U need to go in decent time. Personally, I avoid highways myself if I can. So sometimes, U can even find back roads to get there.
I live in Somerset County. Which County are U located in ? Are U farther south in N.J. ? I've been told there are some PMDRs located farther down near Chery Hill also, but I don't exactly know who. I was also told there are several in north Jersey, by one of my pharmacists. And very good ones too. Those are just too far for me to get to.
I had looked in a magazine called The Best Doctors of New Jersey, at one time, and saw one or two of the doctors in it. That made me feel a little better. I just worried they would be too busy to accept any new patients. It stinks when U have to find a new PMDR. But it's their fault we have to. Unless we've moved. Which people do, believe it or not. lol
Oh my...I actually got a laugh out. Rare as it is these days.
Tessa...please don't give up now. If I could give U a name as if it were my brother who was treating me, I would love to. Believe me...when I was searching for a new PMDR, I ran all thru my phone book, looking under pain management. As it turned out....one of those names who would not accept me in his office as an individual patient turned out to be the exact doctor I was assigned at the hospital !! Hot stuff, huh ?
Goes to show ya that U just have to go thru the correct channels to get help..I was sort of angry at 1st, when I realized this, but how can I complain now ?
I know U get sick n' tired of making those depressing phone calls. I had gotten my best friend in the world to make some calls for me for awhile coz I just couldn't bring myself up to do one more at the time. It helps to have some support, and someone around to help U. Ask your hubby if he's willing to make a few calls for U so U can take a break. It helps.
Hang in there...I think this will work for U if U insist on it. I had to. We haven't been given any other choice. It totally sucks, but that's what it is. I know we are not alone. So we'll just have to help each other.
Sorry I yak so much.

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Just had to add i was in the same position where i lost my pmdr and couldn't get into a pain clinic for 2 WEEKS. I am embarrased to admit it but i went back to the methadone clinic and paid 80 dollars a week for 8 weeks, after i tried going 3days without any meds at all. The most horrible excrutiating and debilitating pain coupled with lack of medication. I thought i was in hell.

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@fingers.
I'm sorry U had to go to a Methadone clinic to ease your pain during the interim of your finding a new PMDR. I've heard that once U do that, it will remain in your file forever.
I wish U could've gotten thru that time w/o doing that, but I know how desperate U felt w/o your meds. I came close to doing that myself but fought it. Besides that...the expense held me back a lot too. Having to go there every week for meds & pay that much, is crazy. But I guess they figure your desperate and do whatever they wanna do to ya. And Legally !!
When your out of meds, after being on them a long time, the pain U feel is like 10 times as bad as U felt before. I know it was for me. I don't know if it's the withdrawal causing that, or if it's partly in our imaginations, or from not feeling that pain in full force for so long, that does that. I just knew I was in Hell too.
I couldn't stop the constant tears. I'd try to talk to the doctor & I'd break down. Got all choked up trying to explain anything. I had to stop making phone calls to look for a new doctor because I was crying so much, I couldn't get the words out & had to have my fiance' call for me.
All in all, I'm glad your doctor is taking care of U now. I bet it's a huge relief.

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Where do you live fingerscrossed? If I only had to wait to weeks, I'd be in heaven. Unfortunately for you, I couldn't imagine the pain and hell you went through waiting. Doctors just don't get it!! If they put themselves in this position, you can bet they would find someone very quickly. I'm glad you finally got relief, even though you had to walk through hell to get it.

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Hi Jo,
I've had the most horrible last few days. Trying to save my methadone then my RSD kicked in and I've had to use the dreaded cane for 4 days or so. I hate that!! I have no feeling in my foot at times ( to the touch) but the pain can be excruciating. So needless to say I had to take my regular dose of methadone. It probably flared up because I stopped taking my regular dose.
I live in Ocean County, Jo. Really not too far from you at all.
I wish we could communicate via email rather than on here. Do you think we could do that somehow? You have become a good friend to me in such a short while and I do appreciate all of the advise you have given me.
Thank you so much.

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@fingers...Don't be embarrassed of what U had to do to relieve your pain. U did what U had to. Unfortunate that U had to go to a clinic during that time tho.But I do understand. I also went thru Hell trying to find a PMDR during a time like that. Plus, it was over the Xmas holidays and New Year's, so that made it worse.
I could not stop crying. Talk about feeling like a baby !!
My entire body was cringed up in pain, even tho the majority of it is in my feet and legs.
I'm really glad U finally found someone to get medication from. It's getting so difficult in N.J., where I am. I pray that the place I'm in now will never let me down like the others did. Feel like I should ask my doctor for a written promise that he won't. I just might do that...now that I think of it !!

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Hi Tessa,
This site blocked out your email on me. But if I can find it, I will write to U there. It would be better that way.
I'm so sorry you've had a bad time recently. Today I'm suffering more becoz of the rain. And I was hoping to get to the Greek Festival for dinner, too. I
m just not sure how far it is to walk from the parking to the food areas. Sheesh ! That's something I always have to worry about. I'll bring my dreaded cane tho...just in case. Today I need it.
Ocean county is a bit of a distance from my local hospitals. But still a little closer than what U traveled B-3. (I think)
Wish I knew of one closer to U. I will look anyway. Or next time I go to see mine, I'll ask him for U. But I don't go in again until the end of June....coz I had an early appt. this last time.
I remember U were at {edited for privacy}, right ? Can't remember the beginning of it. celtic witch something ? U may have to encode it somehow for me to get it ? If not...I'll try mine. But there are some on here I would not want to have it. I do not need the accusations or analogies.
Okay...time to see if I can make it to go get some food.
Talk with ya soon. Hugs

Editor's note: In order to protect privacy, we do not allow individuals to post their personal contact information on our discussion threads (except in some very rare cases).

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Hi Tessa, I just sent a post for U, but they aren't posting it yet. Hope U get it.

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Hi Jo, haven't received it yet. I'll keep looking.

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