Worried about being on so many meds

[s10sleeper]

I have been thinking recently about all of the medications I am on. While I have been thinking about it, I have been concerned about how many I am on, and the high dosages I am prescribed on them, I am concerned about the fact that I am on 3 different controlled substances, which are Ativan, Ambien and Vyvanse.

I try to take these as little as possible, a bottle of 20 1mg ativan lasts forever as it is only as a rescue med; Ambien I am prescribed 10 to 20 mg a night as needed but recently also got a script to try ambien cr but had to stop because it left me groggy, insurance wouldn't cover it and was way too expensive so I had to refill the regular ambien and start it again even though the cr was not used up; and I am also on Vyvanse 60mg twice a day for ADHD although I don't take the full dosage all of the time.

The Ativan is prescribed by my epileptologist and they used to prescribe the ambien but when I started seeing a psychiatrist we all felt best for him to handle the ambien, he also handles the Vyvanse and I see him monthly.

With my meds, I have had to use separate pharmacies for some of them due to price and availability, plus when vocational rehab has assisted me I have to use a different pharmacy from my regular one so they can send a voucher.

I worry about how bad this looks to doctors and pharmacies as Vyvanse is a schedule II and ambien and ativan both schedule IV. I keep a list of my meds on hand at all times and do not go to doctors more often than necessary, I rarely have to see a regular doctor. Another issue that may look bad is that I had to switch regular doctors when I lost my insurance and switched to medicaid and due to the way the doctors act at the new place if I have to go to the doctor again it will be a different one.

Currently my seizure meds are filled by the epilepsy center and my ambien and vyvanse by the psych. I just don't want doctors or pharmacies to think I am seeking drugs as I try to avoid taking these meds unless necessary but also worry about what other people may think too considering altogether I am on a total of 8 different medications. Does anyone else ever feel this way about taking meds that are easily abused?

 

[Endless]

What a great question. Many people are on those types of drugs.

I'm just an ordinary human, not a doc, pharmacist, or federal agent so I really couldn't answer that question. Have you considered asking/talking to your doctors and pharmacists? They are the ones that would know best on those concerns.

If you are switching to a new doc that's not the same thing as having two or more docs prescribing controlled substances for you. Two or more docs at a time could be misunderstood as doc shopping. Does each doc have a good list of your other medications and who prescribed them, as well as the phone number and fax for the pharmacy where you get the prescription filled for the drug they prescribed? That might be a good preventative step to avoid misunderstandings, as well as a wise one to prevent drug interactions.

Does each pharmacy have a complete list of the meds you are on? And if their database is set up for it, who prescribed it and where you get those prescriptions filled? It could also be a good preventative step to prevent drug interactions and misunderstandings. Just say you want to make sure that there are no adverse drug interactions and that your pharmacies and docs are all working together to prevent that. They can't fault that.

 

[s10sleeper]

Good point, I make sure they both have a list of my meds that is up to date, in fact, when I was started on Vyvanse I emailed my epileptologist. I believe they have been in contact with each other as I filled out the releases, plus since they psychiatrist is from the city where my epileptologist is, they actually know each other.

As far as the meds, I believe they are aware, and I also make sure to consult the pharmacist to make sure there are no problems with taking the new one with my others. The big reason I started to get concerned was that I was filling my ambien at one pharmacy, when prescribed ambien cr, they didn't have it so I went to another but could only afford a weeks worth, so then I had to have the prescription transferred to yet another pharmacy when voc rehab said they would cover it. I got that filled, but after a few more times of taking the CR, could not stand it, so the old pharmacy refilled my regular ambien, I shouldn't have to worry too much I believe as medicaid was willing to cover the regular ambien even though I had just gotten the cr filled.

As far as doctors, I go to as few as possible, currently only the specialists which are the psychiatrist and the epilepsy center. One worry I also had is the most recent family doctor that I had to go to was the First Care center, which is one of those bottom of the barrel doctors that alot of the drug seekers do go to. I only went there when I lost my job and health insurance as my old doc refuses to accept medicaid and won't even do appointments if you pay cash.

My other concern has been that I have had to be prescribed for narcotic pain relievers a number of times for my back problems a few years ago, but have learned to deal with just tylenol and ibuprofen anymore. At my last appt a few months ago at the First Care clinic back in May I went there with back problems, same muscle issues, only intending to have them check it and also to ask about just a few muscle relaxants until it healed. Before even looking at me or talking to me she immediately said "I don't think this warrants narcotic pain killers" Had me shocked, as I can't stand taking them anyways, and explained to her that the most I would need was fllexeril as that is what my old doctor gave me when needed and it is not one doctors have problems prescribing most of the time, she just said "Oh" walked out the door and back in with a script.

Oh well, some docs are ignorant, she is also the same one I have had to explain why I couldn't take certain meds with epilepsy after she tries to prescribe them.

 

[Endless]

I'm sorry you are having to deal with the results of a screwed up medical system.

Everybody assumes the worst, and they don't ask questions and make decisions based on fact. I guess that's a repetitive problem with lots of things for people with epilepsy, like thinking someone is drunk when they are actually having a partial seizure.

This adds one more hard thing to something that's plenty hard already.

 

[Bluesbrkr]

I totally hear you. I just changed doctor's (due to my wonderful insurance...) and felt like a pharmacy filling out the paper work with all the drugs I'm on.

I also worry at work as they do random drug tests and I'm on ADHD meds and occasional Ambien aside from my trileptal and lamictal.. I also take effexor and levoxyl (thyroid).. all in all, about 8 different drugs. I also have the occasional back problems and take the flexerall as well.

I know it's all prescription, you still worry... Some days I look down at all the pills I have to take and just get depressed. guess I'll be a walking drug cocktail till I'm old...

 

[s10sleeper]

Isn't insurance fun?

You are definitely right about looking down at the pills, Bluesbrkr, it is the same way here, especially my evening dose, which in the evening I have to choke down about 12 pills, 14 including the melatonin I take at night. The doctors have me take my highest dosages in the evening as my brainwaves show constant spiking when I am asleep and is also when I have almost all of my seizures.

I guess it beats carrying a handful of them to work for my afternoon dose though.

 

[RobinN]

I don't like medication so I am not a good one to comment.

My daughter remains med free after searching out alternatives. It wasn't a quick therapy, but it seems to be working now.