Medication – Prescription Drugs-Health Issues

1,320 topics in this forum

1. 

   Veterans Crisis Line 1 2

   July 28, 2011 by carlie

   • 5 replies
   • 3.4k 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
3. 

   Meds By Mail - Va 1 2

   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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   Access To Dental Care For Medically Compelling Conditions

   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

   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. 

   VA and drug screening

   August 8 by William Booth haynie

   • 1 follower
   • 1 reply
   • 100 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
7. 

   Xanax

   August 8 by William Booth haynie

   • 1 reply
   • 67 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
8. 

   High Blood Pressure 1 2 3

   July 22 by Ronc531

   • 13 replies
   • 215 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
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     Tagged with:

     • bp
     • blood pressure
     • high blood pressure

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9. 

   Tetanus shot 1 2

   July 16 by Holllie Greene

   • 5 replies
   • 113 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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10. 

    Metformin Recall

    June 21 by pacmanx1

    • 2 replies
    • 105 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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11. 

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

    April 29 by rexlan

    • 11 replies
    • 460 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
12. 

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

    April 24 by rexlan

    • 10 replies
    • 373 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
13. 

    VA will not give me a CPAP without travel to major area clinic 1 2 3 4

    April 5 by rexlan

    • 18 replies
    • 559 views

    I am new to VA since January 2020 and have a 70% rating. I have been using a CPAP for a year and it has worked well. My machine is about shot (bought it used). I was approved to get a new unit from the VA but they said I had to drive up to Montgomery, Alabama (2++ hr. each way) to pick it up in person. I told them at my age and with the complications of COPD and oxygen I did not feel safe traveling that far. They have refused to mail me a machine which is exactly like the one I am using now and have used for a year. I asked to have it mailed to me and they said no. I asked to have it sent to a local DME and then do telehealth with the clinic - they said no. So…

    

    Last reply by GBArmy, April 6

    • cpap

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14. 

    Swollen Prostate OTC Recommendations Meds?

    January 3 by Buck52

    • 3 replies
    • 260 views

    Anyone have any good (OTC) (Over the counter) Meds that work for a swollen prostate BHP? They are 100's of these pillls on the market, what pills worked best for you? Any feedback Is Definitely Appreciated. Thanks

    

    Last reply by broncovet, January 11

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15. 

    Any male hadit member had their prostate removed? 1 2 3 4 10

    June 25, 2019 by Buck52

    • 47 replies
    • 2.8k views

    Note sorry but this post is not for the weak mind.& rather personal. Any hadit veterans had your prostate removed? I don't mean to be so personal but I just don't know any other way to ask this question? sorry in advance. Any you veterans had to have your prostate removed by the VA Dr's? if so how was it, I think they want to remove mine ? its benign thank God so for anyway. but I am tired of wearing the pee pads and up 4-6 times a night having to pee and not much come out. How was the recovery ect,,,ect,,? my pcp says its fairly easy procedure but my pcp is Female. grrrrr I Am Dreading it. Thanks for all who is brave eno…

    

    Last reply by nlualum82, December 30, 2019

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16. 

    Autoimmune Hepatitis

    January 2, 2008 by Boats

    • 1 reply
    • 1.7k views

    Has anyone had or has autoimmune hepatitis? What treatments did you use steroids? Thanks Boats

    

    Last reply by Wendy Ramirez, November 5, 2019
17. 

    Prolo therapy

    October 31, 2019 by hurryupnwait

    • 1 reply
    • 274 views

    Anyone hear or have had Prolo therapy treatment for severe back pain?

    

    Last reply by Buck52, October 31, 2019
18. 

    Hydrocodone 1 2

    October 22, 2019 by hurryupnwait

    • 9 replies
    • 734 views

    I m thinking about asking my VA primary care provider(NP) to taper me off of hydrocodone. It has become such a hassle to get it refilled and get it delivered. So many times I have missed the UPS delivery because I could not get to the door on time before he drove away. Every so often I have to go into the clinic for a urinalysis for drug screening before the nurse will refill it. I ve been taking this medication for about 15 years for pain. It reduces the pain level about 30%, enough for me to function. If I go off of it, the alternative I plan to use reduces the pain about 20%, so my daily functionality will be reduced. I have to weigh the two approac…

    

    Last reply by paulstrgn, October 23, 2019

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19. 

    Baclofen

    October 23, 2019 by Holllie Greene

    • 0 replies
    • 203 views

    Hi, I just wanted to put this out there...Baclofen. A strong muscle relaxant that works (on me and I realize everyone's system is different) to calm muscles spasms in multiple sclerosis (MS) people. The pill is scored in quarters and when first start to take one quarter is advised.

    

    Last reply by Holllie Greene, October 23, 2019

    • a strong muscle relaxant
20. 

    Travel and VA meds

    October 6, 2019 by hurryupnwait

    • 1 reply
    • 331 views

    I m thinking of traveling to Costa Rica for 3 months so my wife can see her family. The biggest issue is meds. 1. Should I request a 3 month supply from my PC NP? I m not sure if they can do this? 2. Should I use the Foreign Medical Program, see a doctor in Costa Rica to get my meds filled there and then send in the paperwork for reimbursement, all my meds are for service connected issues? 3. Same as previous but forget about the FMP reimbursement and pay for them myself. I like the less hassle road Any ideas or suggestions, Thanks,

    

    Last reply by GBArmy, October 6, 2019
21. 

    Initial psych evaluation and drug use

    August 26, 2019 by MarineLCpl

    • 4 replies
    • 522 views

    Hello everyone! (Mods, if there is a more appropriate sub forum for this, feel free to move it) Ive always received a great deal of help from this community, so I thought I’d ask about this current conundrum. I just had my initial meeting with a psych doc about getting back in daily meds for mental health treatment. The session went well, but there’s something that is worrying me a little. Shortly before returning to therapy, I had experimented with marijuana and CBD oils as a sleep aid. The doc asked me if I was using any drugs and I told him no(which I’m currently not). He asked if I would pass a tox screen and I said yes, and before I left the facility…

    

    Last reply by GBArmy, September 3, 2019

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