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PCP needed who is not afraid of proper narcotic use

Is there such a thing as a primary care physician in the Portland Maine area who has enough humanity, experience, and judgment with chronic pain management that he/she will not treat me like a drug dealer or addict when prescribing low doses of MS Contin? I've been taking low doses since hurting my back in January 2009, and have reduced my own dosage from 75mg/day to 60mg/day, yet my PCP requires I drive 30 miles one way to his office once per month to get a new prescription, and refuses to write a prescription for a 3 month supply so I may take advantage of the 3 for 2 copay provision of my health insurance. I'm 65 years old, a respected university professor, and I've been a patient with this MD for more than ten years, and he told me once I'm "not the kind of person to abuse prescription drugs," yet he treats me like he doesn't trust me. I've done everything the specialists ask--7 epidural steroid injections, 32 physical therapy sessions, a back brace, a chiropracter, and I HATE these damn meds because I need to think to do my job, and its hard to do it in a fog. It's hard enough to watch my professional life slip away without being treated with such disrespect.
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Avatar universal
I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you in that case - I did not realize that he had previously given you a script for more than one month at a time.

It may still be a case of regulation as Jaybay mentioned regarding state laws as to how often a patient must be seen by a doc who is prescribring their narcotics.

Have you tried talking to your doc and telling him about the 3 for 2 discount with your insurance and ask him if there's any way he could write the script that way for you so you can take advantage of that discount.   Many docs are not aware of some of the discount programs that some insurance companies offer.  If you've not already talked to him about this, I would suggest doing so - he may surprise you and be very willing to write the script that way.

Best of luck!
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Avatar universal
Well, if that is the case, how come this PCP was able to give me a scrip for two months the last two times I had them renewed? I don't think its an issue of regulation.
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82861 tn?1333453911
I believe gemini is right that MS contin is a schedule II narcotic, which the DEA says must have a new scrip every month.  Regulations can also vary from State to State about how often a patient must be seen by the doctor and other hoops you and the doctor may need to jump through to get a narcotic prescription filled.  Usually, if you have a schedule II medication, you must have an office visit and get a new paper scrip.  Thank the failed "war on drugs" for this mess.  The Feds can't control the street users and dealers, so they control the only people they can: the law abiding doctors and patients.
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Avatar universal
I may be wrong, but I believe the reason that your doc won't write a 3month script for the MS contin is probably DEA regulated, rather than his choice.  Some narcotics CAN be written with refills available, but others cannot - it depends on the schedule of narcotic that it is.  Same reasoning some narcotics (such as Vicodin) can be called into the pharmacy by the doc and others (such as fentanyl) require a hard copy prescription every time.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time, but it actually may be out of your doctor's hands as far as giving you a longer supply.
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