Not able to get critical medication from doctor

[Sunshine1968]

I have been suffering from mental illness most of my life and been on medication for it. I have been taking Clonazepam for decades. I reside in the United States and I have seen my doctor February 22, 2018, since that time I have not received a prescription renewal from him, my medication runs out on Monday. The side effects will be severe anxiety but also seizure which could happen while driving which will result in a potential car crash. I have called, e-mailed my doctor called my insurance, called my pharmacy but it just reaches a death ear, nobody cares.

In the Unites States there is pretty much a mass shooting every week and every time the government blames the event on the mentally ill. But why not addressing the incompetence behind the scene in providing medication people need to prevent any type of accidents or behavior people exhibit due to the lack of intervention of their health care providers. I hope this post is read and addressed, I hope I can get my medication before it runs out.

[Suzie40]

Hi that doesn't sound too good. You say you've been taking this medication for decades - what's different this time? How do you usually get your repeat script? Hope this gets sorted for you x

[Stilltrying_]

Hope you manage to get it sorted. Just keep pressurizing them or go to the hospital. Do what you need to do to get your medication. X

[Blabla4joy in reply to Stilltrying_]

Absolutely wrong of them. You need to go to the practice and tell them you are not leaving until you get a written prescription refill. Doctors know you cannot just Stop these meds all at once. Take you bottle with you. If it has been working for you then this is uncalled for

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Sunshine1968 and welcome to this caring forum. This must be difficult for you. Could you make an appointment to see your doctor in person to discuss this and ask for a new prescription? Also, you may like to speak to the Practice Manager at the surgery if this is still not resolved. As Stilltrying has suggested, you could go to the hospital. We care about you on this community and you are not alone. Please let us know how you get on with this. Thank you and best wishes.

[LifePuzzle]

Hi Sunshine1968, I am really sorry about what you are going through. In some states the prescription is electronic by law. Could you ask your pharmacist to call your doctor? Doctors are more likely to return the call to pharmacists. Your pharmacist would say you need the refill. If in the end - and this is last resort - if you are not able to get your medication by Monday, you might want to go to an ER - before you have the effects of not having taken the medication, they might give you the medication for the day and you can ask for a reference for a new doctor who will be more responsive to you? It is just an idea.

Has your doctor ever behaved in the same way before? If so it might be better to see a new doctor because you might avoid the kind of anxiety you are going now. No one needs the uncertitude of having doctors who don’t return their call. It defeats the purpose.

I hope this helps. I am again sorry for what you are going through.

[Misunderstood1961]

Hello Sunshine1968,

I'm sorry you are going through this I have gone through the same thing as you,as I see it Drs in the US are trying to cut down on the benzos...as they are highly addicting...(Thats the way it was explained to me anyway) it's not a good thing that you were cut off cold turkey,you need to be weaned off slowly...if you can talk to the doctor and let him know cold turkey is not accepted...print off some pages on the Internet that explains these things in my experience some Drs can be ignorant on such things a little push on the subject (With the printed copies should help)..with that being said if he is unwilling to refill your prescription and you are adamant about being put back on your med perhaps a new Dr would be in order.

[Sunshine1968]

Thank you for all the kind responses from this support group. I got my medication finally.