a question about your psych rx in a er visit ...

I currently use less dosage than is rxed in my records ... I let my pdoc keep writing the scripts so I have extra every month ... I currently am a full month ahead ... my question is ... if I find myself in the er .. such as a car accident ... is there a med bracelet or id in wallet I can use so they don't over dose me by using my records as to what I have been rxed ... also since my pdoc's office records are not computerized yet should I carry this so they will know what to give me ... and would they use the info I carry if there records or my pdoc said different ... even my wife does not know what and how much I take daily ... suggestions .... I'm sure I am not the only one living like this ... no lectures please ... Ty ..

I wear a USB medical alert device that lets me input all that stuff and all the hospital has to do is pop it into a USB drive. It doesn't need a program so it doesn't install anything or require anything. I found it EXTREMELY helpful at the ER once when I had a few things going on and was given high dose benadryl, anti-nausea and pain meds as soon as I got in the door; I was too groggy to go through my meds. There are various types; mine is http://www.amazon.com/Medical-Alert-...SB+medic+alert

and I like it. It's the 2nd of this brand I've had. I've been using them for years because I have a dangerous allergy to tetanus shots so need one on me all the time and then as I developed med allergies it became more important and when I started an MAOI there was no choice but to have a medic alert on all the time bc/ the treatment for my allergies conflicts with the restrictions of my MAOI.

The only thing I don't like is that it is bigger than some devices. But the small one I had I hated. (I've tried several brands out over the years). I've come back to this brand twice I think.

The hospitals around here go by your pharmacy
So whatever med you have filled they will ONLY go by the directions prescribed and not off anything else

If your in a accident your psych meds arent really going to be a issue tbh.

I agree with Christina and as for me, well, I just write my meds, dosage and who prescribed it on an index card and keep it in my wallet with my medical insurance card.

Just write it down and put it in your wallet under your DL. Also, give our wife a copy.

well I guess I'm screwed, my pharm has at least 8 rx's on file, I currently am taking 3 , none at prescribed doses ... some from my pdoc some from my gp ...

the only one I worry about is the lamictal ... don't really want to double my dose or cold turkey ....

All of my meds are PRN and I do have quite a few... Some I can go for months to a year without taking. Others I can go a few weeks without taking. And the rest I take a bit more regularly, but definitely not on a schedule. Fortunately they're prescribed as PRN....except for one which is not a typical PRN medication. Put a note in your wallet stating your current medications and doses. Its not uncommon for psychiatric medication doses to go up and down. My pdoc will prescribe for 6 months out, but I can get a med adjustment over the phone.....and end up with a lot of extra medication. I honestly don't think a hospital is going to look at what is prescribed to you at the pharmacy and then force it down your throat. That is, a pharmacy doesn't keep records about why you may have stopped the medication recently due to a severe reaction, etc. I can see many a hospital being sued up the wazoo for giving a patient medication based solely on what is prescribed at the pharmacy and getting no other input!

They go by the pharmacy here. Of course thy don't force you to take it but they will not switch around the dosage at all
I have been in the er multiple tim ra and I can assure you that is what they do

Honestly they do this FOR legal reasons. I can or anyone can say nah well actually i take 2x the klonopin you see on my pharmacy list
Tigger can't go in and say well only give me half that's what I take
But that is not what was prescribed
Any med changes would be documented in your pharmacy. However if you stopped a med you just tell them that and they don't force it on you
But thy definitely arecommend not going to mess with dosage

Actually if you are in a very serious accident all of your meds are extremely important. My accident was so bad I was unable to communicate. Someone taking care of me, a relative, while I spent too much time in the er, had respiratory failure, on life support, no meds, went into withdrawal and delusional. Relative taking care of me recognized the withdrawal symptoms, they stayed in the hospital with me, forged power of attorney to get my med records, and still had to fight and fight to get me back on my meds and out of the withdrawal. This was all told to me later as I have no memory of the 2 weeks I spent in the icu. When I got to the rehab hospital my meds were straight again. I guess I spent quite a bit of time when I was in the icu when I was conscious being very delusional. So yes psych meds too can be very important if you get in an accident and land in the er.

I once thought that when I found my perfect cocktail, that I would have it tattooed on my chest because they always go to check the heart first....but things seem to change too much! Lol