doctor shopping concern

[tfagervik]

Hi,
I'm new to site, hoping someone can help. I'm wondering if anyone knows what can "possibly" happen if a person goes to a new Dr. for an RX, gets it from him/her and then Dr. finds out there was info he was unaware of. Meaning, current meds not listed etc., on new patient form. If he found this info out from a pharmacy, will he or can he contact original Dr. who's been prescribing it? If so, what could happen then? Is this new Dr. required to tell Dr. who has been fillings meds (pain meds) originally? This is a FIRST time occasion, not a repeat thing. PLEASE REPLY!

Thanks,
T

[musicman48]

Hi,
I'm new to site, hoping someone can help. I'm wondering if anyone knows what can "possibly" happen if a person goes to a new Dr. for an RX, gets it from him/her and then Dr. finds out there was info he was unaware of. Meaning, current meds not listed etc., on new patient form. If he found this info out from a pharmacy, will he or can he contact original Dr. who's been prescribing it? If so, what could happen then? Is this new Dr. required to tell Dr. who has been fillings meds (pain meds) originally? This is a FIRST time occasion, not a repeat thing. PLEASE REPLY!

Thanks,
T

If the meds are controlled substances such as opiates/benzos etc not only will the Dr be infromed but so will the police.If your Dr prescribes an opiate and then your Dentist does too that is a different story.For example,if your Dr prescribes you opiates/benzos etc and then you go across town to another Dr and he prescribes opiates/benzos etc this can cause you big problems.Dr shopping is illegal.Hope this helps.Good luck.

[tfagervik]

Thanks for your reply. I am terrified to say the least. So the odds of this "new" Dr NOT telling my Primary Dr are slim???? Is there ANY chance he wont tell him? I received Ambien for insomnia and Butalbital for migraines which I am on Disability for. Does that complicate things more with Disability? What will the police do? My Primary was on vacation when this all happened and I am sure he will be calling tomorrow. Nothing I can say of course will justify any of it and probably this being my first time doing this isn't going to get me any favors right?
T

[musicman48]

Thanks for your reply. I am terrified to say the least. So the odds of this "new" Dr NOT telling my Primary Dr are slim???? Is there ANY chance he wont tell him? I received Ambien for insomnia and Butalbital for migraines which I am on Disability for. Does that complicate things more with Disability? What will the police do? My Primary was on vacation when this all happened and I am sure he will be calling tomorrow. Nothing I can say of course will justify any of it and probably this being my first time doing this isn't going to get me any favors right?
T

I am not sure I understand your post.Are you getting the same meds from both Drs? If you are getting different meds from a another Dr because your primary was gone that is a different story.Being your first time I would not be concerned about the Police.It becomes a more of a serious problem if it continues though.Were Ambien and Butalbital prescribed by both Drs? This does not sound that serious if your primary Dr was gone..Could you be more specific?

[tfagervik]

Yes, both meds were prescribed prior by my primary. However, I didn't tell the new Dr I was CURRENTLY on them because I figured he'd deny me. I never gave my primary Drs. name, athough I think the "new" Dr called one of the pharmacies I use and figured it all out. After he filled them for me, his nurse called to say he would not refill because I didn't provide all info on my new patient form. (meaning present meds) So this new Dr was under false info. and of course wants no part in this again-understandably. So I have no idea if he will call my primary. My primary only allows me to refill the pain med every 3 months because he knows I will take them at the slightest headache or migraine and he doesn't want me hooked. So there is already going to be that feeling by him that I went behind his back-which yes I did. Worse yet, while he was on vacation (which I didn't know till I called) I called to see when I could get a refill on the pain meds and the nurse who was filling in just filled it for me since she probably didn't know the time limit. I didn't get that many and this was why I went to the new Dr. The Ambien is something my primary recently (few months) had been prescribing. There was no discussion yet that it could be permanent so we were going month to month and I was going to ask if it could be long term. I've been seeing my primary for over 15 yrs and I couldn't ask for a better Dr. And he is the reason I was able to be on disability. My fear is that I have lost all his trust. I can't really justify to him WHY I basically went behind his back. Yes he was gone 2 weeks but his office did fill the pain med so he will question the need to go behind his back. Since I had never done this before, when I filled the new patient form out, I was VERY vague-which may also be of concern to my primary. I guess I was nervous and thought he would wonder why I was so vague. My only answer right now is that I was in dire need of sleep and pain relief. Hope this heps, sorry I rambled and thank you SO much for your help!

[musicman48]

Yes, both meds were prescribed prior by my primary. However, I didn't tell the new Dr I was CURRENTLY on them because I figured he'd deny me. I never gave my primary Drs. name, athough I think the "new" Dr called one of the pharmacies I use and figured it all out. After he filled them for me, his nurse called to say he would not refill because I didn't provide all info on my new patient form. (meaning present meds) So this new Dr was under false info. and of course wants no part in this again-understandably. So I have no idea if he will call my primary. My primary only allows me to refill the pain med every 3 months because he knows I will take them at the slightest headache or migraine and he doesn't want me hooked. So there is already going to be that feeling by him that I went behind his back-which yes I did. Worse yet, while he was on vacation (which I didn't know till I called) I called to see when I could get a refill on the pain meds and the nurse who was filling in just filled it for me since she probably didn't know the time limit. I didn't get that many and this was why I went to the new Dr. The Ambien is something my primary recently (few months) had been prescribing. There was no discussion yet that it could be permanent so we were going month to month and I was going to ask if it could be long term. I've been seeing my primary for over 15 yrs and I couldn't ask for a better Dr. And he is the reason I was able to be on disability. My fear is that I have lost all his trust. I can't really justify to him WHY I basically went behind his back. Yes he was gone 2 weeks but his office did fill the pain med so he will question the need to go behind his back. Since I had never done this before, when I filled the new patient form out, I was VERY vague-which may also be of concern to my primary. I guess I was nervous and thought he would wonder why I was so vague. My only answer right now is that I was in dire need of sleep and pain relief. Hope this heps, sorry I rambled and thank you SO much for your help!

It sounds like you have learned your lesson so I will not lecture you.I doubt that both Drs will communicate about this althout that is a possibility..There is a chance that your pharmacy may call your primary.I would not worry to much about the legal ramifications since this was your first offense.You may have been "flagged" by your pharmacy though so I would consider switching pharmacies unless it does not bother you..In some states Pharmacies communicate with each other thru "spyder" programs and the like.You can only hope the pharmacy does not call your primary.If your Dr confronts you, your best bet is to be totally honest with him. There is a chance that your primary will never find out.You can do jail time if this happens again though.At least court ordered rehab.Good luck to you.Let us know what happens.Just curious.

[tfagervik]

Thank you SO much for your advice and being so prompt. I'm a LITTLE less anxiety ridden but I know there are definite possibilities as you said. One thing I did do is had the new Dr call in the script to a pharmacy I rarely use. But I stupidly mentioned my regular pharmacy when the new Dr. called me back to say the pharmacy didn't have record of that drug. So I played dumb and said maybe it was this other one which is how he HAD to have found out about other meds I take (which are not narcotics etc.,)

IF I escape this without my primary finding out you can bet I will NEVER do this again. It's so not worth it. And I can't jeporadize the great care I get from my primary. On a side note, which may or may not mean anything, I did call my primary for a refill on an anxiety med I take on rare occasions and he filled it. He had just gotten back from vacation. Surely he would not have filled that knowing what I had done, I would assume. But it was the very next day that the "new" drs. nurse had called to say he was denying any further refills. So I guess time will tell. I'm really disappointed in myself as well as embarrased...there's NO ONE I can tell so I was thankful to find this site.

Many Thanks!

[iwasstupid]

Hi, I'm new to all this, I have a primary doctor I am seeing for the past several months and receiving pain meds via script for a back problem. I started seeing this doctor in November of 2008 and on January 2, 2009 I went to see a doctor I see for my well woman checks because of a 3 day migraine and was prescriped pain meds as well. I had seen this doctor years ago, I stopped seeing her because of insurance purposes. I finally got insurance and found her again and started to start seering her for my well woman exams. So anyway she knew about my back problems as well and had a copy of my MRI. Anyway, I was between visits with my primary doctor who I see for my back when I ran out of pills, (we hear at work suspect that someone is stealing them out of our purses) so I stupidly called in a refill from the second doctor. That same night the HEB pharmacy called me to tell me that I needed to call my doctor (the second one) because I had pain meds filled at Wallgreens by another doctor. Well, I didn't call the second doctor, I just thought it would go away. I have an appointment this week with the first doctor, for my monthly check up and I am scarred to death. Can something happen to me. I was so stupid, I did't think. I decided to google this topic and see what happend and I got this forum. Does anyone have any ideas for me. Will this all go away. And believe me, I will never to anything like this again for the rest of my life!!!!!!!!!!!! How stupid!!!!!!!!

Thanks!!

[musicman48]

Hi, I'm new to all this, I have a primary doctor I am seeing for the past several months and receiving pain meds via script for a back problem. I started seeing this doctor in November of 2008 and on January 2, 2009 I went to see a doctor I see for my well woman checks because of a 3 day migraine and was prescriped pain meds as well. I had seen this doctor years ago, I stopped seeing her because of insurance purposes. I finally got insurance and found her again and started to start seering her for my well woman exams. So anyway she knew about my back problems as well and had a copy of my MRI. Anyway, I was between visits with my primary doctor who I see for my back when I ran out of pills, (we hear at work suspect that someone is stealing them out of our purses) so I stupidly called in a refill from the second doctor. That same night the HEB pharmacy called me to tell me that I needed to call my doctor (the second one) because I had pain meds filled at Wallgreens by another doctor. Well, I didn't call the second doctor, I just thought it would go away. I have an appointment this week with the first doctor, for my monthly check up and I am scarred to death. Can something happen to me. I was so stupid, I did't think. I decided to google this topic and see what happend and I got this forum. Does anyone have any ideas for me. Will this all go away. And believe me, I will never to anything like this again for the rest of my life!!!!!!!!!!!! How stupid!!!!!!!!

Thanks!!

I doubt that you will have any legal ramifications.However,if your primary Dr has been notified he may choose to not see you anymore.Since this was your first offense I doubt that the police will get involved.I was getting pain pills from my Dr and at one point got a script from my dentist the same week and had no problems.I am clean now.I suggest that you go to your appt and wait and see if your Dr says anything.If he/she does just be honest with them and tell them you needed extra because of the migraine.You have nothing to lose if you are confronted by them.The worst that will happen is you will be dismissed from their care.I think you have learned your lesson.You should think about getting clean.Risky behavior such as this is not a good sign as I am sure you already know.The stress is not worth it.Is it?

[iwasstupid]

HECK NO!!! Like I said, I feel so stupid that I put myself in this position. I am mentally beating my head against the wall. Thanks for the advice and quick reply.