Dr. Won't Refill Prazosin Because It's A Controlled Substance?

[Fadeaway]

So my GP moved/retired and a new Dr took his place. The new Dr is refusing to prescribe me anyone prazosin because he says it's a class 4 controlled substance. Even though I do not see it on the list of controlled substances. I am in tears right. So terrified of having nightmares tonight.

Now I am really upset. I just called two different pharmacies who confirmed that it is not a controlled substance.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Are you able to get a different doctor that both sees and hears you and will help you? Are you able to make a formal complaint about the currant doctor? That is the only two things I can think of in my tired brain.

I know how it feels to have a bad doctor and my heart goes out to you.

 

[shimmerz]

Doctors can be such assholes. First they get you on it and then you are at their mercy. I am so sorry @Fadeaway . So many hugs to you.

 

[scout86]

This won't help you tonight, but I'm wondering where your new doctor got his diploma? (Like maybe a Cracker Jack box?) To begin with, that drug has an extremely low potential for abuse. And, it might BE a "class 4 controlled substance" because that's the second to the least dangerous class of prescription drugs. It's main use is as a medication for high blood pressure. It works on anxiety by helping to keep your nervous system from shifting into overdrive. To be honest, I doubt it does much for nightmares, other than to keep those adrenaline levels down. And you can probably do that some on your own. What ever you do to relax and ground. If he's not going to prescribe a drug like that one, he's not going to be prescribing much medication. But, it shouldn't be too hard to find a better doc than that one!

 

[Bookoffee]

I am on the same thing. It was working for me but my nightmares are starting to come back. It has been a horrifying day for me. I hope you are able to find someone to help you.

 

[Fadeaway]

Thank you. Yes I am working of getting a new Dr. This one took over for my old GP. I did get the number to make a formal complaint because this is just of of a handful of instances since he took over 2 months ago.

I hope your day gets better @Bookoffee When the nightmares started coming back they upped my does slightly.

 

[Friday]

GP = Doesn't know all 1,116 commonly rx'd medications in the PDR. (Not including generic names which bumps that number well over 10,000).

$ on the table says that he heard medication for sleep & thought Prazoin is a benzo, or other serious oversight med, and didn't look up the unfamiliar name in the PDR. Most GPs are extremely leery to outright refuse to Rx benzos &/or psychiatric meds & insist you see a psychiatrist. Which isn't a bad thing. Better, by far, to have someone who specializes in the brain Rx medications that affect your brain. Like seeing a cardiologist for heart medication. Not excusing his complete & total failure to look up the med, or beside manner, but just to let you know these kinds of mixups happen with over 1,000 medications GPs interact with on a regular basis, with patients often garbling the names. Prazoin & 'prazolam (alprazolam / aka Xanax) is I'll bet what he heard even though it's not what you said, or what would be in the chart.

1. 
   Examples of Schedule IV substances include: alprazolam (Xanax®), carisoprodol (Soma®), clonazepam (Klonopin®), clorazepate (Tranxene®), diazepam (Valium®), lorazepam (Ativan®), midazolam (Versed®), temazepam (Restoril®), and triazolam (Halcion®).Sep 9, 2014

 

[scout86]

I finally found what I was looking for last night. According to drugs.com, prazosin is not subject to the controlled substance act. It's just not that kind of drug. Mostly, it's used to treat high blood pressure. I'm wondering what this guy prescribes to treat THAT?

 

[Ocean5]

@Fadeaway I feel for you. Time for a new doctor. It's a high blood pressure medicine. A Nurse Practitioner could most likely give you it depending on State you live in. Do you have CVS Urgent Care in stores where you live?

I'm glad it helps you. I had side effects, but was also on other medicines like ssri and benzo. So who knows anymore what caused side-effects. I plan to try it again in future.

It's main use is as a medication for high blood pressure. It works on anxiety by helping to keep your nervous system from shifting into overdrive. To be honest, I doubt it does much for nightmares, other than to keep those adrenaline levels down.

That's what I was told by p-doc, "too keep adrenaline levels down." My old p-doc contacted a VA (Veterans Administration) doctor colleague, and prazosin was what they recommended as the latest treatment for recurring nightmares or night terrors.

 

[Lucycat]

The new Dr is refusing to prescribe me anyone prazosin because he says it's a class 4 controlled substance.

Did you have a face to face discussion with him when he said that?
I have been refused a repeat prescription in the past, ( for a different medication) but when I questioned it, I learned that it was simply that the new doctor wanted the opportunity to discuss my medication with me, and to check that it was still appropriate. At the discussion she happily issued a further prescription and authorisation for 6 months of repeats on condition that I then attended for review again. It felt sensible to me.

I have no idea if your doctor is thinking something similar - that he wants to see you and discuss medication rather than simply continue what someone else has prescribed?

 

[Ocean5]

I still find it astonishing to not be given a high blood pressure medicine.

Right now I'd "much prefer" to be on that than addicting benzo and ssri. That seriously mess with your mind's chemistry, and can take so long to get off of.

 

[Fadeaway]

Face to face. I am supposed to get my blood tested weekly. He is saying I don't need to do that anymore since my hemoglobin is staying at a steady 8ish. I was told by the hospital that I had to keep going in until it reached 11. He has met with me face to face.

I don't think anyone really knows how prazosin works, just that it does.

This is just compounded by the fact that typing is so painful for me nowadays due too the joint pain and the fact that my fingertips feel raw and tingly all the time like they are asleep, and his response was to get off the internet, really bothered me.