What can I do?

[Rebelmomx4]

I am on a narc contract through my physician who prescribes 112 vicodin a month, taking one every 6 hours during the day and 2 before bed.  Had a UA in January when picking up my last script and it was clean.  Yesterday my doc says she can no longer prescribe pain meds and is flagging my chart because I COULD be selling because my screen was clean.  Well, it is clean because at that dosage the script doesn't last a month so obviously when taking a UA it will be negative.  I made a formal complaint and also emailed my doc detailing what the script says.  It also does not say "must last 30 days".  My doc also said she has never had a problem with me and I have always been compliant!  What else can I do?

[Rebelmomx4]

No, you are exactly correct and that is exactly my point.  There simply isn't enough medication prescribed to last 30 or even 28 days, hence the negative screen.  Which I knew, but the office apparently can't do the math.  

[BOK2Bjan]

The narcotic stays in your system for up to a week when at that dose. If you take one every six hrs and 2 at bedtime, at most, you'd need 115 - 5 per day. 1 at 6am, 1 at 12, 1 at 6pm, 2 at midnight. Being 3 short wouldn't make your urine screen negative. Do you take the meds as durected? Sorry you're having trouble.

[BOK2Bjan]

Sorry my math was off. You'd need 150 to take 5 a day. So if you had taken all 112, then didn't have the urine test for a full week - it could show up negative.

It would be difficult to take them all at the beginning of the month, then go completely without. The meds I'm prescribed for every 6 hrs, are given in the quantity of 120. 112 is a strange number to be prescribed.

I'm sorry that you weren't given a chance to prove yourself, if you were indeed taking them as prescribed. I don't know of any recourse. I've been released from the care of a physician once, for refusing to take anti depressants  (wasn't depressed), and for refusing to take Methadone - instead, I just completely stopped taking my prescribed Avinza. He hadn't asked me to. A couple visits later, he said there was nothing he could help me with and never saw me again.

I had and have, Medicaid, so it took a couple years to find a doctor. I never understood why it happened and had no recourse. Seems they have all the power in this situation. I wish you well.

[Rebelmomx4]

Yes, I take them as directed.  One at 530 am, 1 at 1130am, 1 at 530 pm and 2 when I go to bed and repeat.  They last about 22 to 23 days taking 5 per day.  The director called me a short time ago, and we did talk about it.  She was able to pull up my chart and look at my dosage info, she said the policies are stringent about this but because there is nothing in the chart stating what time they should be taken it could be a documentation error as it only says 1 by mouth every 6 hours and 2 at bedtime and apparently it should say exactly what time to take them so things like this do not happen.  She is talking to my doctor tomorrow and will call me back.   All I can say is, wow I have never nor would I ever sell my meds and I want that off my record.  I understand people do sell them, but it feels like in a case like this that's a little harsh when it is seriously a communication error in my opinion.