Pharmacist questioning me..should I be worried?

[happyholidays]

I take one medication, but take more than I should to be honest. I have been on this medication for a long time. I doctor shop and go to different pharmacies. My medication is not monitored. Anyways, I made a mistake a couple of months ago. I filled one prescription at a pharmacy where a pharmacist works, and then took another prescription to a different pharmacy, where I didn't know he still worked! They tried to caught me, and now, look at me as a drug addict. I know what I am doing is wrong, but I am worried.

My doctor wants me to go on a new med for anxiety, so I called my main family doctor to re-fill it, and asked for the WRONG prescription drug. They called in the wrong prescription for me, and the pharmacist wouldn't release it to me. I asked to speak with him, not knowing this wasn't the right prescription my family doctor had prescribed to me previously.

Anyways, he proceeds to tell me, let's be honest. I know you take more than one pill a night, and don't lie to me. Are you really trying to kill yourself? You frequent different doctors and pharmacies, and you eventually are going to go on more drugs and become a bigger addict. He also said, this is what happened to Michael Jackson, how he died, that will happen to me. He said I was going to get in trouble for what I was doing.

I understand his concern, but I hate how blunt he was. I only one take one medication at night, and I felt he was outline about the suicide comment. Do you think I'll get in trouble? He also said I am using two names at different pharmacies. I just changed my health card to my married name a few years ago, so how am I using two names?

Do pharmacists have a network where they can fax other pharmacies to see if I have a prescription filled there? My husband told me to go out of town. I'm worried he's talking to people!

BTW, I have never drank, smoked, or done any recreational drugs in my life, and never would.

[nursegirl6572]

You admit to abusing Ambien, do you want help for that, or just to continue using?

Without knowing what country you're in, it's hard to say if you could get in trouble or not.  Does your country consider Ambien a scheduled naracotic (controlled substance)?  The US does.

[alreadybetter]

I don't know if this will help you or not, but my aunt took Ambien for 25 years because she had severe sleep problems. But, she recently quit, and she's sleeping fine now.

Ambien is a strange drug. The way it "knocks you out" is scary to me. I am not judging you- in fact, I have a bottle of it for emergencies when I can't sleep. But, I find that it affects my memory the next day and that can't be good.

Sorry, I cant' help with your questions. Do you mind saying what country you live in?

[happyholidays]

It's a sleep medication called Ambien. I live in a different country, and it's not monitored. I have been doing this for years. In the country I live in, we do not go to jail for this. I am not American.

BTW, I was addicted to Percocet for five months. I took 4 to 6 pills a day. I tapered myself off it, and am now 602 days clean. I've been on Ambien since I was 20. Almost 16 years now.

I need this to sleep.

[dominosarah]

excellent post~

[tryingtocope39]

What exactly is the medication you are getting?

[glamisgirl]

This was a very big wake up call if you choice to see it and could save you from years of despair. I too did a hole lot of Dr. shopping and using different pharmacies and sometimes it would make me nervous and I would be so uncomfortable when picking up because I always felt like they new what I was up to. But non of that out weighed my addiction, my addiction came first before any common sense. I hope that what happened put just enough fear in you to want to stop and get clean. Like ricart70 said I too have done street drugs put nothing really stole my life like prescription drugs did. My opinion is and addict is and addict whatever your drug of choice is. For me I hid behind the fact that my drug was prescribed. That is how I justified it in my head for so long that I wasn't doing anything wrong and that it wouldn't hurt me because it was Dr. prescribed. That was my way of not facing the fact that I was an addict, but there comes a time where you have to face it. Maybe now's your time????

[10356]

Hi HappyHolidays.. Welcome to the forum. I have to agree with all the above the Pharmacist was trying to do you a favor although you may not appreciate the delivery.. Now as I see it you have been put on notice the next time he may not be as nice and just call the police. Although you have never done street drugs our drank alcohol you are showing addictive behaviors. I would suggest you getting into some counseling and try to get a handle on this Before you do get busted for you will get busted, you have been warned If I was active in my addiction I would not have heeded the warning thou I will send a prayer you do.. take care and I wish you well. lesa

[dominosarah]

Your pharmacist did you a favor.  Now it is up to you to take his advice.  You are heading down a long lonely road filled with jail and court dates, thats a guarantee.

[Ballgame]

This is a good wake up call. You will get caught dr shopping. Just a matter of time. So take control and give yourself the power to stop before that power is taken from you. Because it will be taken from you at some point.

[ROSYouralright]

I understand where your at... Its so tough. I'm still on pills (going to quit this week) so my only advice is that (its a painful realization) AN ADDICT IS AN ADDICT and we are ALL the same... Crack or pills, doesn't matter. STOP....this site is a wonderful tool filled with wonderful people. U can do this...what are u taking?

[ricart70]

"BTW, I have never drank, smoked, or done any recreational drugs in my life, and never would. "

I have drank and used many street drugs in my life but I never REALLY  got ensnared and hooked until I started taking these prescription meds. You have got to realize how very powerful these pills are. They already have a hold on you and are influencing your thought process.What the pharmacist said actually makes perfect sense.That is how they view it when a patient takes more med than is prescribed.You may not be trying to kill yourself but it is certainly not at the top of your mind.   If you are wanting to quit give us your story and we can help   .  best wishes...and we have pretty much all been there.  

[nursegirl6572]

I want to add that you're actually lucky the Pharmacist took his time to try to reach out to you and warn you, if he's aware of your doctor shopping, he could have just called the police.  I hope you decide to get some help before this goes any farther.

[nursegirl6572]

Well, the pharmacist was absolutely right, whether you want to hear it or not.  You're on a slippery slope, what you're doing is both dangerous and illegal.  Do you want to stop?

And yes, most states have a database where they keep track of narcotic scripts.

[quitinoxys]

Hello Happy and welcome to the forum. OK you admit to "Doctor shopping" so that i it self is addictive behavoir. You didn't say what the drug was so one can only assume that it is some sort of addictive drug. Also it sounds like the pharmacist is trying to look out for your health so I won;t fault him. So as far as the pharmasist having a "network" it depends on what state you live in as most do have to report dipensing schedule II drugs (which are opiates). Plese let us know what drugs you are refering to so we can give you more accurate advice. If you want help we are here for you no judgements.