Cancelling Medications Without Notice

[Navy Spook]

I emptied a bottle of medication I have been taking for over 20 years. I couldn't find my renewed bottle. I checked myhealthVA and could see that I ordered it at the same time as my other meds a couple of weeks ago. The website reports that the prescription has "expired" (as opposed to being "active") and also shows 4 refills remaining. The script is only about 6 months old. Nobody called me to tell me the med was cancelled nor did I get a letter.

I am totally out for Sunday and abrupt cessation of this medication causes "Abdominal and muscle cramping, convulsions, hallucinations, confusion, tremors, depression, and suicidal ideation". If I am an hour or two late taking this med I get severe muscle cramping, I don't know what will happen if I miss a day.

If I suffer any serious side-effects because of the VA cancelling my med without telling me, do I have a claim? I mean, if I have convulsions, which is the most usual problem as I understand it, I won't have any lasting damage unless it kills me or I bite my tongue off or something. I'm not really after monetary compensation for a temporary withdrawal "detox", but I would really, really like someone to put a large boot up the rear-end of those responsible.

But i get the impression that suffering and perhaps almost dying won't get much attention from anyone and I'll just be wasting my time. I'm hoping someone will say "Fill out a form 82 stroke B and heads will roll". Anybody?

[luvHIM]

So far no problems with receiving my meds. But just wanted to chime in and note that if you scheudle an appointment with your doc to renew meds...pharmacy TLC will refill the RX...with at least enough medication until doc writes new RX. Just went through it myself. Got RX via mail overnight. Now, here again, that is the VAMC where I'm at; and like I stated before...I'm very satisfied with their performance when it comes to my overall care. I hope this issue is rectified for you soon. Best regards.

[broncovet]

I think the VA pharmacy has taken lessons from Comp. and Pension in inefficiency. In the private sector, we drop off a prescription and pick it up usually within 5 minutes.

At the VA, it is a multi, step process:

1. Get prescription from Doc.

2. Take a number and wait for pharmacy tech..usually 5-20 min.

3. After seeing pharmacy tech, they find out doc prescription did not come through yet, so you go back to doc.

4. At docs office, he says he put it in, and it should be there by now.

5. Take another number and wait for pharmacy tech..another 5- 20 min.

6. This time, pharmacy tech says you can get half your meds, the others will be mailed to you.

7. Watch TV screen for your name that means your meds are ready for pickup.

8. Your name comes up, so you get in another line for your meds.

9. You wait again, and have to sign your name twice if they are narcotic. They only give you a sample and mail the rest.

10. Your mail man doesnt show up, so you call the post office and ask why.

11. The Post Office says your mailman was fired for stealing narcotics out of the mail.

12. Go to item #1 and start over, except this time, you have to try to convince your doctor that you need more medications as you did not receive the last batch. He says he needs the newspaper article to prove that your mailman stole YOUR drugs. Then, the doc asks you to take blood tests for compliance on medications, and writes things in your chart that you are not taking your medications and your disability rating should be reduced.

Edited February 19, 2009 by broncovet

[rentalguy1]

my script had ran out. They sent a note to my doc and everything is fine, now. This isjust like everything else...it varies from state to state.

[purple]

Very true....I was there today broncovet (the Dayton VA) and you need to add a step between step 7 & 8.

I was waiting for my meds for close to 40 minutes so I went to window to see if they were "lost"...the guy said "Nope, here they are, but they are showing up as pending so for some reason your name didn't appear on the screen, I'll find out why".

A few minutes later he came back and said "Oh it's because you are a 'Do Not Mail' and that confused the system".

Really? LOL!! I'm thinking to myself did it confuse "the system" or confuse the stupid workers behind the counter who couldn't read the very big sticker on the front of the bag on my meds that reads "Do Not Mail".................duh.

[mike/3/8/cav]

Just a little confused here. I am retired and get my meds through TMOP/TRICARE. I have been to 3 C&P exams and have not been prescribed any meds. I have given copies of the results of my exams to my civilian doctor who has prescribed meds for me. I have gottten a list of all meds prescribed to me for the last 5 years from our pharmicist and sent this list to be placed in my VA medical file. Does this follow the VA's rules on prescribing meds, or should I be getting them from the VA?

[rentalguy1]

C&P docs can't provide any treatment or prescribe any meds.