Is a doctor allowed to do this?

I'll try to make a long story short. Basically ive been thyroid meds for the past couple years. Its considered maintenance medication, and every few months I call my Dr. To get a script for bloodwork. Then based on my bloodwork, the Dr writes a new prescription, either for the same dosage, more, or less, depending on what I need a the time. So last week I called to get a bloodwork script and was given one with no problem. Then I got a call the Dr the next day saying she will call in the new prescription, again with no problem. She mentioned I hadn't been seen by her in almost a year. But I told her I just had a baby and my OB had been monitoring me. So she said that's fine and called in the prescription. But she called it in wrong, ordered generic instead of the brand I usually take. So I called today just to ask for it to be resent with the brand name prescription. The receptionist was happy to help. No problems. Then a little while later i got a snotty toned message from the same receptionist saying the Dr is refusing to call in the prescription unless I come in to be seen by her first. I called back to say I already had the bloodwork done that the Dr had ordered, and since I have a baby and a toddler and my dh works 6 days a week. And I NEED the meds daily to it get very sick can they just call it in and I'll make an appt asap. She said she'll ask, and then I got another rude message back saying no. How can the Dr do that? Its not like it's an addictive medication, and she had no problem calling in the prescription, but now is refusing to just correct her mistake of generic vs. Brand? What am I missing? I feel like she's is just trying to bully me into coming in so she can collect a copay, since the only thing she needs to renew my prescription is my bloodwork, which she has. What can I do here? I figure I'll pick up the generic prescription that's already at the pharmacy for now, even though I've read it can be bad to switch from brand to generic, but the Dr is giving me no choice, it seems.

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

It's pretty common. My dr has to see me once a year for a physical exam of sorts in order to prescribe my synthroid.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Yes. I've been in your situation before. Call your gyno for an rx and make an appointment ASAP for the Endo.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Yeah, my endo does this too. But post pregnancy it is actually really important to be seen by the dr. Just bring the kids with you.

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

It doesn't sound like she had an issue calling the script in, just when you wanted it switched to brand vs. generic which is odd.

Why can't you take the generic? It's the exact same thing- it has to be or the FDA wouldn't allow it to be sold.

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

I was on Coumadin and switching between generic and brand was a mess. If I swapped it messed my bloodwork up totally.

Ask the doctor for just a few days worth, a week maybe to get you enough time for an appointment. If you're willing to make an apt on the phone for a week out then they may be more lenient in giving you the small script.

Message edited 7/28/2016 10:42:09 PM.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

My endo and other doctors I have are the same. After a certain point in time if they're rx the medication they want to see you. As far as thyroid meds go I know there is a lot of talk on generic synthroid (Levo) vs synthroid. I had different doctors sing each ones praises, so they're not exactly the same.

Side note neither one worked for me and I felt like I was going to die for years. Switched to armour and have felt normal again for the last 2 years.

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

I have medicine that I have been taken daily for years. He only gives me 6 months at a time so I have to go into the office to get the refills. There has been no changes to the medicine in over 6 years so they are just looking to charge for an office visit. He will not refill unless I go into the office.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

My endocrinologist has me come into the office for a visit every 3-4 months. He usually does an ultrasound during the office visits.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Absolutely. He needs to see you to document that you are not having thyroid symptoms. If he does not see you as medically is recommended and you develop a hear arrhythmia from your condition unchecked he is liable. Thyroid conditions can have severe consequences unchecked so he absolutely needs to see you in person.

They probably called the initial script in without thinking much about it and when you called back they looked further into the dates and such as realized they should see you. Also, if someone says their levels fluctuate a lot based on brand/generic then that can indicate your levels fluctuate in general especially due to pregnancy. Postpartum alone is good enough reason for you to be seen. My thyroid went out of control postpartum. So this all raises more of a red flag for you to be seen in person.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

She has liability issues if she's giving you an rX without having seen you in over a year. She's not out of line. Just make an appt and bring your kids with you. No biggie.

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

I see your point in being very swamped but a doctor SHOULD do thathe, I feel like a face to face is important. Plus, liability is high.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

I think after you called back and they looked into it, maybe she realized she shouldn't have called it in the first place without seeing you. Seeing as how it was too late to take it back, I guess this is her way of getting you to come in for the appt.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Yes. They phaycoally have to see you in person within a certain time frame

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

I don't have a problem with going in to be seen by the doctor. And I understand why it's important to get a check up. I just think it's so unprofessional the way she handled it. If she had told me I had to come in in the first place, before sending me to get bloodwork, then I would have done so. But to call and tell me that according to the bloodwork she ordered I need a different dose, and then to concsoiusly withhold the medication from me that she told me I need, all leaves a bad taste in my mouth and makes me want to switch doctors. In my opinion a caring Dr would let me get the prescription, not force me to rush to the office for a non-emergency, and drag my baby and small child along with me, and just tell me that I need to be seen within the next month.

Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Agreed, I don't know why they have to be snots on the phone

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

It's all about the money, money, money.

Typical doctor

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

Posted by NervousNell

It's all about the money, money, money.

Typical doctor

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

The Dr didn't handle the situation properly. It isnt right that she initially called in a prescription for you and now won't call the correct prescription in. She is basically going back on her word and not really giving you an explanation as to why. She said all along that you need to be seen so what makes the situation different now that she called the wrong prescription in? If there is something else going on I think the Dr should speak to you directly and explain and not have the receptionist just tell you no.

That being said not sure what you can do other than go in for an appointment and speak to the Dr. Tell her that you were unhappy with the way it was handled.

Message edited 7/29/2016 9:31:09 AM.

Re: Is a doctor allowed to do this?

My MIL and DH both had to do face-to-face visits.

MIL's doctor would not automatically renew prescriptions. They required an office visit, which was a pain in the butt for a 96-year-old woman with limited mobility. Especially when I had to get her out to Center Moriches twice a year (we live in Islip and she didn't want to switch doctors).

DH tried to get an approval to go off his blood thinners for one week so that he could get an epidural shot for pain he was having in his neck. The cardiologist would not approve it unless DH went into the office.