Unfairly dismissed from PM...

[sigley0527]

I have been in PM for a year being prescribed Percocet to be take up to 4 times a day as needed.  I never had a problem and was always a compliant patient and passed all my drug screens.  Recently I had a drug screen and they claim I didnt have the proper amount of percocet in my system....so they dismissed me from the practice.

I understand I signed a pain contract, but this is rediculous.  The reason this happened is because I took my last Percocet the day before the test because I wasn't in that much pain.  I usually take 4 a day, but that day I only took 1 and 2 Motrins throughout the day.  

My doctor always encouraged me not to take the medicine if I wasn't feeling that much pain on a certain day.  I don't understand how he could hold me to this if I am prescribed to take AS NEEDED for pain.  It is a contradicition to his advice and his practice.  Will my name be tarnished with other PM doctors now?  It's not like I do drugs or anything.  I was responsible and always took my meds the way I was supposed to.  THanks.

[geminigirl1963]

I"m sorry that your doctor is not willing to talk to you face to face.  Since the bottle does specifically say as needed, then I would strongly suggest you send him the certified letter stating that and telling him that since it did say that, you understood it to mean that if you did not need four pills a day that you didn't need to take them and since you had had a decent day the day before your test, you hadn't taken all four pills.

It very well may not change his mind, however, it will then be in your record that you were following the instructions on the bottle and it may help to make your being able to find another PM doctor much easier.

Best of luck.

[sigley0527]

Thanks for the replies. And YES, the bottle does say AS NEEDED for pain.  It says "TAKE 1 TABLET FOUR TIMES A DAY AS NEEDED, MAX DAILY DOSE 4 TABLETS". I even called him for appointment and he denied it.  I volunteered to have drug tests every months and random pill counts every month.  He still said NO....

[geminigirl1963]

I understand about you saying the meds were to be taken up to 4 times a day as needed.  However, is it written AS NEEDED on the prescription bottle?  If it is, then I would say you definitely have a good case with your doctor and should definitely try to make a face to face appointment with him to discuss this.  If they refuse to give you an appointment, then I would send a certfied lettter to him stating that your prescription bottle states AS NEEDED - and not four times a day, every day.  This may help.

If, however, it is NOT written on your bottle AS NEEDED, then chances are you'll have a hard time trying to convince the doctor to change his mind.  While I don't agree with it - and DO agree with you that if you don't need it, why take it --- if it's written to be taken four times a day, every day - and does not have the words as needed on there - then that's probably why they say your levels were too low.

Even if it does not specifiy as needed, you can definitely try to either get a face to face appointment with the doc or send the certified letter explaining the situation.  If you do get a face to face appointment, be sure and take your prescription bottle with you so the doctor can do a pill count for himself to prove that you haven't diverted the meds (not saying you do or would, but this would be extra proof/information for him to show that you're taking them as needed/prescribed).  If you send the letter, let them know in that that you are more than willing to bring the bottle in also for a pill count.

Best of luck!

P.S.  I'm saying send the letter certified so that you have proof that they receive it - and legally if they receive it, they have to put it in your file.

[Totie]

Is there anyway you can get an appt. to see your doctor face to face? If not, maybe write a letter explaining your unfair dismissal.

[sigley0527]

I went to the doctor every 30 days and he would write me a script for a months supply.  He did this every month for the past year.  Considering I'm not a drug attic, why would I take the percocet if i was having a good day and didnt need to? it's to be taken AS NEEDED up to 4x a day.  I would say 28 days of the month I actually do need 4 a day.  But every now and then I have a good day.  This good day just happened to be before a urine test.

[sigley0527]

I was prescribed 120 Percocets every 30 days.  To take UP to 4 a day AS NEEDED for pain.  This was a urine screen that they send out to that company Ameritox.  The drug test that cost $2000...

[nurseaudrea]

I am sorry to hear about your situation. I do have one question. Do you get refills on a consistent basis? Say they prescribed 120 pills for the month and is to be taken 4 times a day as needed. If you were taking them 4 times a day you would need a refill by the month's end. If you do get 120 pills a month maybe they expect you to have a specific amount in your system even though it says as needed. Was it a blood test that was quantitative or a urine drug screen?

[sigley0527]

....this reason I'm in PM is because I broke my neck last year and had to fuse 3 vertabra together.  I still have chronic pain in neck and shoulders...muscle spasms and headaches.  I need PM, its not an option.  Am I really screwed because I tried to do the right thing and not over medicate myself???