The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: franksolich on January 29, 2016, 04:03:23 PM
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/114215969
Oh my.
It's only an antibiotic, though, not a mood-altering drug, so the primitives don't get too upset.
progree (2,480 posts) Thu Jan 28, 2016, 01:56 AM
So I go pick up my anti-biotic prescription refill, and its half the expected dosage
This has happened twice in the last three times.
I've had a deep skin infection of my foot (Cellulitis) for a month now. Anyway, I had been taking 500mg of the anti-biotic Cephalexin (Keflex) 3 times daily. So I was surprised to pick up my refill and find it 250mg 3 times daily. I figured the Dr. knew what he was doing, and I took it for a week. But my foot progressed very little during that week (very little reduction in the swelling).
But the next office visit I mentioned that it had been 500mg, and he said something like "how did that happen?" and prescribed 500mg.
Fine. When I was done with that, I asked for a refill by phone. The person from the Dr.'s office who called back an hour later, "Ann", said my prescription has been renewed and sent to the pharmacy. I asked, "is it the same thing as before, 500 mg Cephalexin?" She said yes. Well, she was either lying or too lazy to actually look, because when I went to the pharmacy, a prescription for 250mg was waiting.
On Edit: To be clear, I later checked "mychart" at the clinic's website and found that 250mg was prescribed on the refill. So it wasn't the pharmacy's mistake - they filled the prescription they were sent.
Finally the big question: it could be the same mistake again, or the doctor could have had his reasons for reducing the dose to 250mg. If the latter case, leaving Ann's fib aside, should I be mad that I wasn't informed that my dosage had been cut by half? So that I could appeal the decision? Before showing up at the pharmacy?
Anyway, I'm taking two 250mg pills 3 X daily (i.e. 500mg 3X daily as before)... will call the doctor's office tomorrow.
Should I make a huge stink about the surprise reduction and not being informed until I pick up my prescription at the pharmacy? Am I being naïve and stupid to think that I have the "right" to be informed (or just out of courtesy) when my refill is going to be different than what I had before?
On Edit: just to clarify: the pharmacy didn't get it wrong. The doctor prescribed 250 mg on the refill, I don't know if intentionally or not yet. My question is: what if he did it intentionally (cut the dose in half), shouldn't I be informed?
ANOTHER EDIT, Update 1236 pm CT: It was a mistake, not intentional. See #14 for more. Thanks all for your input, I'm glad to hear that its not common to intentionally switch doses without telling the patient. But as #14 says, I've had bad experiences with that clinic including something similar that was intentional, so I just wanted to be prepared if what I'm experiencing now turned out to be intentional.
progree (2,480 posts) Thu Jan 28, 2016, 02:02 AM
2. The pharmacy wasn't the one making the error
I checked the clinic's website (later) and the Dr. did prescribe 250mg. It was just a refill over the phone.
valerief (50,184 posts) Thu Jan 28, 2016, 02:05 AM
5. Oh, then the doctor needs to say why s/he told you 500 and prescribed 250.
progree (2,480 posts) Thu Jan 28, 2016, 02:07 AM
6. The doctor didn't tell me 500mg. It was an office assistant "Ann" that called me later,
to tell me my refill had been approved and sent to the pharamcy, and who when I asked if it was the same -- 500mg of Cephalexin, said yes (too lazy to check I think, just wanted to get me off the phone)
But yes, I feel strongly that somebody should have told me my refill is 250mg, rather than the 500mg as previously.
And on and on it goes; Ms. Hindenberg, the defrocked warped primitive "Warpy," is at the thread, but not, surprisingly, Big Mo, "mopinko."
Big Mo hasn't been around a while; one wonders if she's perhaps ill.
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This past Monday morning, circa 3:30 a.m., I was treated in the emergency room at the hospital in the big city, at the conclusion which I was given a bottle of cyclobenzaprine 10 mg, and instructed to take one every six hours.
The physician had no idea who franksolich was, or is; otherwise he wouldn't have bothered.
I gave it one Boy Scout try, cutting one pill in half and taking that, but I didn't like what even that smaller dosage did to my head, so I quit taking them. I still have the bottle (seven-day supply), and trying to figure if I can use it in some way as primitive bait.
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The DUmmy should take care to follow the doctor's orders. Cellulitis of the foot is no laughing matter...
Unless it happens to a DUmmy, because he could share a pair of socks with Ol' Bob!
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The primitive is fishing around for a suggestion on how to find a doc that will prescribe its choice narcotic at the level it wants.
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primitives discuss too-weak dosages of pharmaceuticals
Had a dummie written this, it would have come out:
primitaves diskus two week dosages of farmasutikals
amiright?
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The primitive is fishing around for a suggestion on how to find a doc that will prescribe its choice narcotic at the level it wants.
I think that you're dead on, neighbor!
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Been taking a prescription for almost 17 years. Non narcotic or mild altering, aka Prozac, Effexor, etc. But one that I need on a daily basis. Long story which I'd rather keep private. No, it isn't Viagra, you dirty minded folks.!
Had to take Vicodin for two reasons. Wisdom teeth removed & the only surgery I've been involved in. Both times, knowing how addictive it can be..took the prescription for about a week & got no refills.
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Perhaps the primitive should try actually washing it's feet.
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Perhaps the primitive should try actually washing it's feet.
My guess is diabetes. In the long term diabetics' extremities develop neuropathy, and wounds and infections heal much more slowly (if at all). I wonder if that's what happened with TMN.
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My guess is diabetes. In the long term diabetics' extremities develop neuropathy, and wounds and infections heal much more slowly (if at all). I wonder if that's what happened with TMN.
I'm a nurse and have seen that. But I have also seen cellulitis with homeless people (for example) and those with extremely poor hygiene. At a clinic I used to work at we actually had to warn a patient that we would not see him unless he took a shower before coming in. We fled the room when he removed his shoes. lol
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I'm a nurse and have seen that. But I have also seen cellulitis with homeless people (for example) and those with extremely poor hygiene. At a clinic I used to work at we actually had to warn a patient that we would not see him unless he took a shower before coming in. We fled the room when he removed his shoes. lol
Interesting. Contrary to Libs' & Progs' stereotype, "the homeless" are not homogeneous. Some are down on their luck and with some work will improve their lot. Some are chemical-dependent; some are more or less insane but functional enough to keep out of mental institutions; some are pretty much sane, but don't want a lifestyle bound by work and other social rules/norms. There are people who live in their cars and scrape together enough $$ every month to keep their stuff in a storage place and to have a monthly gym membership for the sake of bathrooms and showers, and there are people living under freeway overpasses and along creeks and rivers in city and county parks.
Folks who live "in the wild" in parks and such have pretty minimal personal hygiene - personal choices lack of opportunity - and it's a pretty unhealthy manner of life. Skin infections and diseases, parasitic critters, rotting teeth, and more/worse ...
Some years ago I had a coworker who was up in years and was a long-term diabetic. She had neuropathy in her feet that was so bad that she had to choose her shoes carefully and still could barely walk.
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I've had a deep skin infection of my foot (Cellulitis) for a month now. Anyway, I had been taking 500mg of the anti-biotic Cephalexin (Keflex) 3 times daily. So I was surprised to pick up my refill and find it 250mg 3 times daily. I figured the Dr. knew what he was doing, and I took it for a week. But my foot progressed very little during that week (very little reduction in the swelling).
As this DUmbass slowly rots away, he awakens memories of the Las Vegas Leviathan, who's been pining for the fjords for over six months now.
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As this DUmbass slowly rots away, he awakens memories of the Las Vegas Leviathan, who's been pining for the fjords for over six months now.
Hers just trying to be like his idol: Crazy Bob.
CMD
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Interesting. Contrary to Libs' & Progs' stereotype, "the homeless" are not homogeneous. Some are down on their luck and with some work will improve their lot. Some are chemical-dependent; some are more or less insane but functional enough to keep out of mental institutions; some are pretty much sane, but don't want a lifestyle bound by work and other social rules/norms. There are people who live in their cars and scrape together enough $$ every month to keep their stuff in a storage place and to have a monthly gym membership for the sake of bathrooms and showers, and there are people living under freeway overpasses and along creeks and rivers in city and county parks.
Folks who live "in the wild" in parks and such have pretty minimal personal hygiene - personal choices lack of opportunity - and it's a pretty unhealthy manner of life. Skin infections and diseases, parasitic critters, rotting teeth, and more/worse ...
Some years ago I had a coworker who was up in years and was a long-term diabetic. She had neuropathy in her feet that was so bad that she had to choose her shoes carefully and still could barely walk.
I hope my fellow Caver April will back me up on this.
Antibiotics are becoming deathly serious.
When you are put on a regimen, it is so important that you stick to it.
Be "compliant" as they say in the health care industry.
You cannot take the prescription willy nilly.
You cannot skip days.
You cannot stop early because you are "feeling better".
You cannot continue past the recommended regimen, stockpile or otherwise hold in abeyance to self medicate in the future.
Our super antibiotics have been so effective they are in part causing a proliferation of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
MRSA
VRE
There are also flesh eating bacteria that are very resistant to traditional antibiotics.
One more note.
Antibiotics are ineffective at treating viral infections. They should never be used to treat them.
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I hope my fellow Caver April will back me up on this.
Antibiotics are becoming deathly serious.
When you are put on a regimen, it is so important that you stick to it.
Be "compliant" as they say in the health care industry.
You cannot take the prescription willy nilly.
You cannot skip days.
You cannot stop early because you are "feeling better".
You cannot continue past the recommended regimen, stockpile or otherwise hold in abeyance to self medicate in the future.
Our super antibiotics have been so effective they are in part causing a proliferation of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
MRSA
VRE
There are also flesh eating bacteria that are very resistant to traditional antibiotics.
One more note.
Antibiotics are ineffective at treating viral infections. They should never be used to treat them.
Correct on all counts, and I would add that there currently are, and should always be, some antibiotics (IV vancomycin, for example) that should NEVER be used outside a hospital setting.
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^TYVM.
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Correct on all counts, and I would add that there currently are, and should always be, some antibiotics (IV vancomycin, for example) that should NEVER be used outside a hospital setting.
Yes, usually IV vanco is only administered on an inpatient setting. Either hospital or rehab setting.
Big problem is those that are not taking it as prescribed as listed above by zombie. I have had patients come back complaining that they feel worse and find out they stopped taking the meds. I told my son one time that the initial antibiotics won the battle but you need to send the backup troops in to win the war.
The other problem is that the stockpile they have will be taken for things like a common cold. I have even had some people brag that they keep fish antibiotics around and take them. Or livestock antibiotics for the same thing.
Those two reasons is why we have super bugs like we do now.
When a culture is taken (sputum, wound or the like) they first see what the germ is then they do a sensitivity test to see what antibiotic will get rid of it. Just taking a random drug will not be anywhere near as effective.
If people stopped running to doctor google everytime they get a sniffle and see a real medical professional then we wouldn't have half the issues we do now.
Sorry for rambling just got off night shift and getting ready for bed. lol
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Yes, usually IV vanco is only administered on an inpatient setting. Either hospital or rehab setting.
Big problem is those that are not taking it as prescribed as listed above by zombie. I have had patients come back complaining that they feel worse and find out they stopped taking the meds. I told my son one time that the initial antibiotics won the battle but you need to send the backup troops in to win the war.
The other problem is that the stockpile they have will be taken for things like a common cold. I have even had some people brag that they keep fish antibiotics around and take them. Or livestock antibiotics for the same thing.
Those two reasons is why we have super bugs like we do now.
When a culture is taken (sputum, wound or the like) they first see what the germ is then they do a sensitivity test to see what antibiotic will get rid of it. Just taking a random drug will not be anywhere near as effective.
If people stopped running to doctor google everytime they get a sniffle and see a real medical professional then we wouldn't have half the issues we do now.
Sorry for rambling just got off night shift and getting ready for bed. lol
H-5 earned and issued! Rant on, Sis!