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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LD on April 11, 2001, at 9:38:17
Dr. Bob,
I didnt know I was doing anything wrong with offering to give away my left over Effexor. I just have so much left over, and knowing how expensive it is, I was hoping to save someone alot of money. I don't believe Effexor is a "controlled" substance, is it? Is it illegal to send it through the mail? These are questions, I don't know the answer. I'm sorry if I did something wrong, but I didnt know I was.
ld
Posted by stjames on April 11, 2001, at 10:08:19
In reply to Sharing of drugs- Dr. Bob, posted by LD on April 11, 2001, at 9:38:17
It is illegal to transfer perscribed meds.
James
Posted by ShelliR on April 11, 2001, at 18:34:50
In reply to Sharing of drugs- Dr. Bob, posted by LD on April 11, 2001, at 9:38:17
>Ld, you didn't realize, so I hope you won't feel bad. By the way, people have done this before, only they exchanged e-mails and traded or sold medications privately, rather than put it on the board. Just remember your heart was in the right place and your error was out of kindness. Shelli
Posted by Shar on April 11, 2001, at 21:41:27
In reply to Sharing of drugs- Dr. Bob, posted by LD on April 11, 2001, at 9:38:17
LD,
One of my rx's is over $200 per month. I can't find the crime in what you did either. I know that there are places for AIDS services where people can turn in their meds and have them given to others who can't afford them.Too bad that isn't "allowed" for ADs. I don't know how people without insurance make it, and the drug companies are happy to gouge the poor along with the rich.
(In case anyone asks-----Yes, I do know about the drug companies having special programs for people who can't afford meds. I also know that people in Europe can buy the same meds we do for less than half the cost.)
You should not feel bad at all about your generous offer. You're just so honest, is all....8-)
Shar
Posted by stjames on April 11, 2001, at 21:52:59
In reply to Re: Sharing of drugs- .LD, posted by Shar on April 11, 2001, at 21:41:27
>
> (In case anyone asks-----Yes, I do know about the drug companies having special programs for people who can't afford meds.James here....
Have you tried one ? $200.00 is a lot of money.
james
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 11, 2001, at 22:02:32
In reply to Sharing of drugs- Dr. Bob, posted by LD on April 11, 2001, at 9:38:17
> I didnt know I was doing anything wrong with offering to give away my left over Effexor.
Sorry if I came across as harsh, I knew you meant well and should've said so then. I just got worried about where this kind of thing might lead, and the potential problems it could cause -- for me as well as for others.
Bob
Posted by willow on April 11, 2001, at 22:13:42
In reply to Re: Sharing of drugs » LD, posted by Dr. Bob on April 11, 2001, at 22:02:32
Well put Shelli! LD when I had originally seen your post I wanted to say something along the same lines as Shelli did but didn't know how to word it.
Regarding the laws they are there for our protection. Remember the tylenol fiasco, imagine similar things happening and also correct dosages medications etc. I do agree that the drug companies are making money but on the flip side it is for these economic reasons that we have the quality of life that we do on this side of the ocean!
Whispering Willow
Posted by Sulpicia on April 12, 2001, at 19:00:34
In reply to Sharing of drugs- Dr. Bob, posted by LD on April 11, 2001, at 9:38:17
> Hey LD--
Your motives are great. Can you give unused meds back to your pdoc?
Perhaps if he or she knows you well enough to accept them -- I imagine that with proper
labeling they can be used to supplement the supply of samples.
S.
Posted by Shar on April 12, 2001, at 23:52:52
In reply to Re: Sharing of drugs- .LD, posted by stjames on April 11, 2001, at 21:52:59
James:
Shar here.....have I said it is so good to have you back? Well, it is.
I am in the lucky group of people that have insurance at the moment. My insurance company would like me to be on cheaper meds, and usually disallow at least one med when I get refills.
True story: I called the insurance company to find out why they were dinking around with the pharmacy--they always end up approving the meds. Well, the guy on the phone looked up effexor and said the xr was a 24 hour med, and I just needed one pill to last 24 hours, but my prescription said two pills per day.
I tried unsuccessfully to explain that if my doc wanted me to be at a certain dosage, I would need to take two per day. He repeated his previous statement, and then told me the dose I was at was too high because it exceeded the recommended dose.
Sigh. I would have socked him if I could. It certainly gives me a sinking feeling about whose hands my life is in.
Shar
> >
> > (In case anyone asks-----Yes, I do know about the drug companies having special programs for people who can't afford meds.
>
> James here....
>
> Have you tried one ? $200.00 is a lot of money.
>
> james
Posted by stjames on April 13, 2001, at 0:03:22
In reply to Re: Sharing of drugs- .LD » stjames, posted by Shar on April 12, 2001, at 23:52:52
I tried unsuccessfully to explain that if my doc wanted me to be at a certain dosage, I would need to take two per day. He repeated his previous statement, and then told me the dose I was at was too high because it exceeded the recommended dose.
>james here...
I have been though the same thing and got my doc to state that my dosage was medically necessary.
I still have to rattle their cage from time.James
Posted by LD on April 13, 2001, at 7:59:55
In reply to Re: Sharing of drugs- .LD, posted by stjames on April 13, 2001, at 0:03:22
Thanks for the support everyone. I'm gonna try and figure something out. I really don't want to throw away 300 pills, and there is no use in saving them because I'm never going back on Effexor. I worked great but the side effects were too much for me (a 70 lb weight gain!).Its good to know that you guys understand I wasnt trying to deal here, just help.
ld
Posted by NikkiT2 on April 14, 2001, at 7:27:20
In reply to Re: Sharing of drugs- .LD, posted by LD on April 13, 2001, at 7:59:55
I can on ly speak for the UK of course, but as for paying so much less for the meds thats not quite true. On the NHS we pay £6 for each prescription, but thats only NHS (if you go private, you pay full rate). BUT - we also ahve to pay 7% of our salary on "national Insurance" that is basically for the NHS... so we do pay int he long run, and ourt free healthcare isn't as free it it sometimes seems!!!
Nikki
Posted by Elizabeth on May 16, 2001, at 18:02:02
In reply to Re: Sharing of drugs- Dr. Bob, posted by stjames on April 11, 2001, at 10:08:19
> It is illegal to transfer perscribed meds.
Or more precisely, meds that are available by prescription only. "Rx" or "prescription-only" is a broader category than "controlled substances," confusingly. "Controlled substances" refers (in the United States) to the Controlled Substances Act (the common nickname for the Comprehensive Drug Abuse and Prevention Act of 1970).
A great reference on U.S. drug law, for those who are interested, is Shulgin's _Controlled Substances: Chemical and Legal Guide to Federal Drug Laws_.
Anywayz...this sort of talk on the P-B boards -- about giving away or trading prescription-only drugs, even if they're not "Controlled" -- could cause Dr. Bob some potential liability problems if anybody got into trouble as a result.
-elizabeth
This is the end of the thread.
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