Advice Needed

[jean2579]

I am  sorely in need of advice.

My OH has developed a pattern of going to his GP and requesting a particular script and the GP is simply writing it.

My OH is now taking so much medication it is very worrying.

The Chemist has also commented on the number of scripts.

It is only August and we have now reached the safety net.

I can't speak with the GP as he says that it is patient confidence.

It has  now reached the stage where I am embarrassed to go into the chemist.

Any suggestions? I really am worried.

[punch*drunk]

You said you cant speak to the GP because he says its patient confidentiality? Does that mean you did try to speak to him? I am a bit surprised that he wouldnt see you and at least listen to your concerns, theres no confidentiality issues as long as he doesnt pass on information about your husband.

Maybe you need to find out when this doctor goes on holidays and book your husband in to see a different one.

[jessicadazzler97]

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@j*oono wrote:

For a start I would be getting him to pick up his meds from the chemist.  He might feel differently when it's him standing in there feeling like a junkie.

If it's pain meds then he might be feeling that he needs more because they are not working as well now, so perhaps suggest to him that you can visit the doctor with him and you can all discuss better ways to manage his pain or condition.  If he flat out refuses to have you there I don't know.

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 I agree with this. Perhaps ask him to collect the medication himself - it might help wake him up to the fact that he's going to get them pretty often. If that isn't possible, then I really think sitting down with him and discussing it is the best course of action. That said, I know some people are pretty hard to talk to, even if you know them really well.

[go-tazz]

Ask the doctor to get a medication review,(which is done by a pharmacist).

http://www.nps.org.au/topics/how-to-be-medicinewise/managing-your-medicines/home-medicine-review

That way you can go with him and voice your concerns.

[springyzone]

I would do what one other person said:

What I would do, is get out all your OH meds..write a list of all of them, and include the dosage info.

Next, make an appointment at another clinic. Tell your OH you are concerned and just want an opinion about whether he is on the right track with diagnosis/medication.

I say that because I have a friend whose father used to always get prescriptions renewed then one day he had to go to a different doctor who was shocked-asked how long he had been on some particular tablets (answer was about 20 years). He said those tablets should only be taken a few months continuously or there was a danger they could cause organ damage.

He changed the medication immediately.

The other thing that comes to mind is your OH may be under treatment for a lot of different conditions but he needs to have a check up-there may be something more serious. My brother was under various tablets for various aches and pains. Turns out he had brain/lung/liver cancer. His GP had never bothered with a full check up to see what was going on.

[jean2579]

Sorry for not replying before. I have been in bed with flu all day.

he has a lot of his meds in a Webster pack and these are not an issue.

He is going into hospital in 2 weeks for a hip replacement and the ones that are worrying me are a very heavy duty pain relief called Targin and now there is another one which is similar.

I can not even get past the receptionist to speak with the GP as I am told he will only speak to the patient and my OH does not want me to go in with him.

[springyzone]

Hopefully you will have a good chance to discuss all this when he goes into hospital.

If you have to, ask at reception there to make a time to see the supervising doctor. They will be able to tell you the best time to come in etc. Otherwise you might not get to see them. Just say you have some concerns and issues you need to clear up.

Have that list of medications & doses written down, ready to show them.

Good luck.

[nevynreally]

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@jean2579 wrote:

He is going into hospital in 2 weeks for a hip replacement 

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I'd be asking at the hospital.

GP sounds shady

[imastawka]

Targin (oxycodone)  is highly addictive

Do a google search and have a read

[lyndal1838]

If the chemist who is dispensing the Webster Pack has concerns about the other medications he is the perfect one to contact the doctor.

That is actually the responsibility of the chemist to keep an eye on what they are dispensing as some patients "doctor shop" and get medications that do not work together. 

I have heard my local chemist ring a doctor and query a prescription.

Have a word with the chemist and see what he can suggest....if he is concerned enough to say something to you then he is probably concerned enough to contact the doctor.

My OH and I always have joint appointments for our regular checkups.  That way we always know what is going on.  If either of us was rushed to hospital but unable to answer questions the other one would have the answers

[grandmoon]

You mentioned that he is taking a large number of pain killers and he is waiting for hip replacement. I did the same before my hip replacements, but have taking almost none after I came out of the hospital.