Medication – Prescription Drugs-Health Issues

1,324 topics in this forum

1. 

   Veterans Crisis Line 1 2

   July 28, 2011 by carlie

   • 5 replies
   • 3.5k views

   VETERANS CRISIS LINE - 1-800-273-8255 - PRESS 1 http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ 24/7 Confidential Support is a Click Away http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatTermsOfService.aspx

   

   Last reply by john999, March 25, 2016
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3. 

   Meds By Mail - Va 1 2 3

   September 14, 2011 by carlie

   • 9 replies
   • 5.8k views

   Pete posted this today so I am pinning it as a topic. Hate to tell you all but your local pharmacy has nothing to do but fill new prescriptions. The VA has centralized all the mails by med for better efficiency . They have a new 800 number (800) 983-0933 8am to 4;30 pm CST.

   

   Last reply by Chuck75, July 25, 2015

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4. 

   Access To Dental Care For Medically Compelling Conditions 1 2

   May 15, 2013 by carlie

   • 4 replies
   • 2.3k views

   ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE FOR MEDICALLY COMPELLING CONDITIONS July 14, 2008 1. Purpose. This Information Letter solicits the assistance of each facility Director in providing appropriate care for veteran patients having a medical condition negatively impacted by poor oral health, and provides information that may assist facilities in providing a consistent standard of dental care throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). 3. Evaluation a. Veterans with a medically compelling need for dental care may be treated as either a Classification III or VI, depending upon whether the medical condition is service connected. b. The following conditio…

   

   Last reply by Memory235, January 29, 2014

   • july 14 2008
5. 

   Va Formulary 1 2 3 4

   February 10, 2009 by Tbird

   • 12 replies
   • 14.1k views

   http://www.pbm.va.gov/NationalFormulary.aspx VA Prescription Benefits Many veterans prefer to have their prescriptions filled at the St. Louis VA Medical Center to take advantage of the pharmacy benefit available to veterans. The VA Medical Center Pharmacy cannot fill prescriptions written by non-VA physicians. Patients are eligible for medications only for those conditions for which they are receiving active treatment at the VA Medical Center. The VA Medical Center will not provide medications that are not listed on the VA Medication Formulary

   

   Last reply by Bravo6, July 28, 2010

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6. 

   dental/extraction(s) 1 2 3 4

   November 23 by max87

   • 2 followers
   • 15 replies
   • 263 views

   I got a tooth extracted. Before the extraction I saw a note of the desk — didn’t know what it meant or even if it was related to me. This was an outside dentist that the VA has assigned me to — as I can no longer get to VA dental clinic due to driving-anxiety issues. Previous VA dentist sent me message: “this dentist will take care of your comprehensive dental needs.” I’m Class IV. The note said: “No bone.” since then I have looked all of the stuff up. And I realize now that I think it was quite cruel to not authorize “bone.” The dentist made a comment while doing this extraction, that again I didn’t understand until I studied up on it all later. And I didn’t as…

   

   Last reply by max87, November 25

   • dental
7. 

   Get your Flu Shot soon.

   October 29 by Buck52

   • 1 follower
   • 2 replies
   • 72 views

   *Just a concerned health message* to all you Veterans out there If your over 50 you may want to think long and hard about getting your flu shot soon or even if your under 50. It may not keep you from getting the flu but it will help not to get so bad if it turns into pneumonia. A Dr. once mention to me that it takes about 7/to 8 weeks to become effective this is why we need to get the injection early before the cold wet winter weather shows up. I Got mine on Oct 22nd 2020. If you already received your flu shot ....> then way to go.

   

   Last reply by GBArmy, October 29

   • flu -
   • shot

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8. 

   Recent article on the NDMA linking to cancer

   October 23 by glenda h

   • 0 replies
   • 38 views

   I am currently appealing to the US court for my denial of increase in GERD to include Class C esophagitis, erosive gastritis. I am currently being rating for 10% since 2007, up from 0% in 1998 or over 13 years, even though Ive had GERD, gastris with H pylori in service and then again with the claim I made in 2007. I didnt know of the bad C&P until I got my C-file in 2018. It is very important to get yours, as you can find out a lot of things. Like they didnt forward your VA file and your civilian paperwork to the examiner. I was very lucky the examiner noted this, as rater said he did in the decision. Had an ACE in 2019 which examiner stated she reviewed, but omit…

   

   Last reply by glenda h, October 23

   • gerd
9. 

   Pain Management - No Help

   October 2 by Cobra4v

   • 1 follower
   • 3 replies
   • 96 views

   So. I don’t know exactly where to start but here it goes. I’m 100% permanent. I have bulging discs, annular fissures, disc disease from my C-T spine. I have patellar femoral in both my knees as well as torn patellar, I’ve had two shoulder repairs and anchors in both and they are about to go back in on my right shoulder as the repair wasn’t done correctly. I’ve been in PT on and off for nearly 6 years. As well as injections in my knees and shoulders. They tell me I need knee replacements but won’t as I’m in my 30’s. I have been on pain medication 5/325 oxycodone since 2016. I cannot sleep at night because I’m in so much pain. I’ve invested in a therapeutic mattres…

   

   Last reply by GBArmy, October 5

   • medication
10. 

    VA and drug screening

    August 8 by William Booth haynie

    • 1 follower
    • 1 reply
    • 112 views

    Have been on Xanax, since 2003, for anxiety. Am 100 per cent service connected PTSD, anxiety and depression. Have been taking 0.25 mg 4 times a day, which has worked fine. Now the VA wants to reduce that amount and replace it with an antidepressant which has a lot of side effects. Oh, and now I have to be drug tested randomly, beyond getting drug tested when I have routine blood work. The clinic is shut down due to COVID 19, I can't see my doctor, they don't want to expose elderly veterans, like me, to the virus, but it's ok to go in and give a urine specimen. I guess the virus doesn't attack you if you're peeing in a cup. Also, when I looked up this new drug, the number …

    

    Last reply by Buck52, August 8

    • meds for anxiety
11. 

    Xanax

    August 8 by William Booth haynie

    • 1 reply
    • 81 views

    VA psychiatrist wants to replace Xanax with Buproprion, and Buspar. These have a lot of listed side effects. What can they do to me if I refuse these meds?

    

    Last reply by Buck52, August 8

    • antidepressants
12. 

    High Blood Pressure 1 2 3 4

    July 22 by Ronc531

    • 13 replies
    • 246 views

    So I have had high blood pressure for over 40 years and been taking medication for the hole time. I was diagnosed with high BP when I got out of basic training and was in the best shape of my life. I am now 62 and out of shape. it wasn't borderline either, I could tell when I had forgotten to take my medication, i would feel different. the VA gave me a BP monitor at the first of the year so I could monitor it regularly. I was have in dizzy spells when I would stand up or just walking up stairs. when I would take my BP it would read 90's over 60 something. it was doing this for a while so I talk with my VA provider and he took me off all of my BP medications. that wa…

    

    Last reply by Ronc531, July 22

    • bp
    • blood pressure
    • (and 1 more)

      Tagged with:

      • bp
      • blood pressure
      • high blood pressure

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13. 

    Tetanus shot 1 2

    July 16 by Holllie Greene

    • 5 replies
    • 129 views

    Hi, Hope all is ok. Is it SOP for the advice nurse to ask when your last tetanus shot was when you want to be checked out for a minor blister? Seems odd but maybe it is just me. Take good care. 🌻

    

    Last reply by Holllie Greene, July 17

    • why the question

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14. 

    Metformin Recall

    June 21 by pacmanx1

    • 2 replies
    • 121 views

    Metformin Recalled for Possible Cancerous Chemical June 1, 2020 -- A recall of the widely-used diabetes drug metformin was announced by drug maker Apotex, due to possible high levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is believed to cause cancer in people. The recall for all lots of metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets 500 mg from Apotex comes after one lot tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had higher NDMA levels than allowed by the FDA. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20200601/metformin-recalled-for-possible-cancerous-chemical

    

    Last reply by pacmanx1, June 22

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15. 

    Question - how to proceed with sleep apnea denial 1 2 3

    April 29 by rexlan

    • 11 replies
    • 555 views

    I filed for sleep apnea and it was denied as service connected. I have all the documents and use a CPAP daily so the issue is secondary to PTSD and service connected. I am inclined to just let this go; however, I started my sleep issues in Viet Nam but back in the mid 60's most folks did not look for help because Viet Nam was pretty unpopular with the folks back home. I have had sleep issues all my life after military. But in fairness I was just 18 when I went in (4 active USMC). My question is if it is worth an appeal or a supplemental claim? I can get my doctor to give me an opinion letter and state how the sleep issues relate to PTSD. But the big questi…

    

    Last reply by Fat, May 15
16. 

    Question - does the VA have un iform standards at clinics 1 2 3

    April 24 by rexlan

    • 10 replies
    • 395 views

    I have run into this new issue and feel that my VA system in Alabama is using a different set of procedures compared to others. I am 70% rated,on oxygen and CPAP so all medical is covered. After 3 months of struggle I finally got a CPAP machine from the VA - but it was a struggle. We lost power here after some severe storms and it was off for 2.5 days (2 nights). I ran out of oxygen battery from my portable in 7 hours but OK. However, I could not use the CPAP and I had a really rough 2 nights. My friend is in NY and on CPAP as well. He asked about camping and his VA sent him a battery unit for his Philips Dream Station like mine and a 12 car adapter ... v…

    

    Last reply by rexlan, April 27