[pgrundy]

I was discharged from the hospital on January 28th with a follow up appointment with my shrink on February 22nd---25 days away. That was the soonest they could get me in but they got it all set up.

So this past weekend I realized that the psych meds I was prescribed at discharge were only for 15 days, not 25. I have four days left on my meds, and I can't go off them cold turkey or really bad things happen really fast. I've been through that before, and it isn't pretty.

So today and yesterday I've been on the phone to the hospital psychiatrist's office, my psychiatrist's office, my GP, and the hospital social worker and so has my husband. Both psychiatrists refused to extend the scripts to get me to my follow up appointment--the hospital shrink said call your GP, the GP won't prescribe psych meds, (that's how I ended up in the hospital in the first place), and my shrink won't do it until after he sees me on the 22nd because he's in another city and didn't see me in the hospital.

So after 8 days in the hospital I'm looking at a very unpleasant physical and mental meltdown come about this Sunday, and I've spent hours and hours and two days on the phone trying to prevent it, and still no refill. All I want is two weeks to get me to my followup so I don't get sick. My own shrink and the social worker said by law they have to discharge you with 30 days of meds. That's nice to know. I have that info, but I still don't have the medication, and I'm almost out.

They tell you over and over and over again at the hospital "don't go off your meds, you are responsible for staying on your meds, it's dangerous to go off" and then they discharge me with inadequate meds to get me to follow up and run me around when I point that out.

I don't get it.

I'm frustrated, angry, and discouraged. Why did I ever ask for help in the first place? You ask for help, they mess you up worse and charge you a gazillion dollars for doing it.

If I don't find a refill called in by tomorrow, I'm going to have to try something new. I can't get run around like this any more, I've wasted two days already and I'm running out of time. I wonder if I just show up at the walk in clinic at the GP if they will help me? I don't know what else I can do. I'm at my wit's end with this.

[missbelle]

See if you can immediately find another Dr. or check to see if in your area you have a mental health clinic that can see you on an emergency basis. We have one in our area so check around.

Doesn't make sense...call the hospital again and speak only to a supervisor and calmly tell them the problem...If the hospital is close it wouldn't hurt to make a vist there in person but be careful that you come across calm to them. A lot of it may depend on the med. If its a controlled substance they are going to be extra careful. If its just an antidepressant it should not be that big of a deal.

For the heck of it check the pharmacy you got the pills from and ask them to pull up the initial rx. It is possible they made an error. Also are you taking the prescribed amount?/...and are you maybe taking too much without realizing it

Hopefully this will work out but try a couple of the above suggestions first...I would call pharmacy first just to see if they made an error...This has happened to me and pharmacies make mistakes.

Let me know!!

[pgrundy]

Thanks Miss Belle for all the good suggestions.

I did check the pharmacy right away. The dosage is correct and the prescription was filled accurately. It's also the dose I was taking in the hospital at discharge so I know it's right.

I thought about stopping in at the hospital as you suggest but (also as you kind of imply) I was worried as well that I'd get worked up and they'd admit me all over again, and I don't want that. I have to be at work in about an hour (first day back, great! could today be any more stressful?) so I think if there is no prescription called in tomorrow I will stop in at a clinic--I don't work tomorrow, and if there's no mental health clinic I know my GP group has one so I'll go there.

I think it's just basic bumbling and confusion, nothing more, but it will impact me severely and no one seems to be DOING anything about it, just explaining why it isn't their problem or saying they'll get someone else to deal with it, and then no one does. The meds are Effexor CR and Seroquel. The last time I went off Effexor all at once I was sick as a dog for two weeks and my depression came back too really bad. I think this time that will actually be rather dangerous--I mean, I wasn't in the hospital for no reason so it really scares me.

I think sometimes that once you are a psychiatric patient no one takes you seriously anymore. I don't want to believe that but I suspect that's part of it. The worst thing is, I know my husband is going to go ballistic if this goes into the 3rd day over something so simple--but it's looking like it will.

Thanks for listening and thanks also for your excellent advice.

[Jerrypharmstudent]

Originally Posted by pgrundy

I was discharged from the hospital on January 28th with a follow up appointment with my shrink on February 22nd---25 days away. That was the soonest they could get me in but they got it all set up.

So this past weekend I realized that the psych meds I was prescribed at discharge were only for 15 days, not 25. I have four days left on my meds, and I can't go off them cold turkey or really bad things happen really fast. I've been through that before, and it isn't pretty.

So today and yesterday I've been on the phone to the hospital psychiatrist's office, my psychiatrist's office, my GP, and the hospital social worker and so has my husband. Both psychiatrists refused to extend the scripts to get me to my follow up appointment--the hospital shrink said call your GP, the GP won't prescribe psych meds, (that's how I ended up in the hospital in the first place), and my shrink won't do it until after he sees me on the 22nd because he's in another city and didn't see me in the hospital.

So after 8 days in the hospital I'm looking at a very unpleasant physical and mental meltdown come about this Sunday, and I've spent hours and hours and two days on the phone trying to prevent it, and still no refill. All I want is two weeks to get me to my followup so I don't get sick. My own shrink and the social worker said by law they have to discharge you with 30 days of meds. That's nice to know. I have that info, but I still don't have the medication, and I'm almost out.

They tell you over and over and over again at the hospital "don't go off your meds, you are responsible for staying on your meds, it's dangerous to go off" and then they discharge me with inadequate meds to get me to follow up and run me around when I point that out.

I don't get it.

I'm frustrated, angry, and discouraged. Why did I ever ask for help in the first place? You ask for help, they mess you up worse and charge you a gazillion dollars for doing it.

If I don't find a refill called in by tomorrow, I'm going to have to try something new. I can't get run around like this any more, I've wasted two days already and I'm running out of time. I wonder if I just show up at the walk in clinic at the GP if they will help me? I don't know what else I can do. I'm at my wit's end with this.

I've had this happen to me and it's downright unfair. If your pdoc won't give you enough meds until the appointment and your GP won't help - go to the ER and explain your situation. Take your meds with you.

-Jerry

[(JD)]

You can also try calling the contact at the hospital where you were...the number should be on your exit papers...and tell them. Maybe they can begin to catch these glitches so it doesn't continue to occur (and it may be just one doctor they're having issues with about this, too.)

If nothing else, yes indeed take your meds bottle and exit papers etc to the ER and you probably will get a script from the doctor there.

Makes me wonder eh? about how someone dealing with mental issues to begin with has to be the one thinking around here??? Feel better soon.

[pgrundy]

Thanks Jerry and JD! After three days of constant phone calls (by both me and my husband), my husband finally got the prescription extended. I also got my follow-up with my own shrink moved up to tomorrow, so it finally worked out, but it was way more stressful and frustrating than it needed to be.

DH filed a formal complaint with the hospital and the insurance company. I agree, people have to speak up when this happens or they'll just keep doing it. In the hospital, they spend 80% of their time telling you not to go off your meds, then they discharge you with inadequate meds. It's so nuts.

[Jerrypharmstudent]

You are on Prozac correct? If you hadn't gotten a refill, I was going to suggest to "ration" your Prozac -meaning, you can take it every other day - or every 2 days because it has such a long half-life. This is how my grandmother took it by doctor's orders. Something to remember - although you cannot do this with all ADs.

Great that you finally got the refills!!

[missbelle]

Glad things finally worked out...PHEW!!!!

[IdoubtIT]

Thank goodness you found a solution after so much work. Going off effexor is pure hell and that would have been a disaster. I'm off my risperdal cold turkey since yesterday because I made a mistake when I last refilled meds and didn't refill it. Now the rx is canceled and I am patiently awaiting my GP to give me a Rx to cover me until my Friday appointment. Argh!

[pgrundy]

Oh no! Can you explain your situation to the pharmacist? Sometimes they will give you a couple of days doses to get you through, then take them off your next refill.

Good luck and hang in there!

[jfocker]

I'm so glad things worked out for you. I've been on meds for years, and this one clinic everytime would short me a few days of medicine before my next appointment. I hated it! I had to start counting the days and number of pills, then go back inside, and tell them to change my appointment. They'd ask me don't you have extras? I'd tell them no, but of course I did because I always keep a back up. I'd be out of my anti-depressant right now, if I hadn't built up a backup supply. Sorry, I'm rambling : ). Take care : )