Posted by MarkinBoston on January 18, 2001, at 19:52:38
In reply to Re: Stimulant restrictions for adult patients, posted by Noa on January 18, 2001, at 18:32:28
> Personally, it annoys me greatly that I cannot refill my prescription for Adderall, and have to go to the doctor to get another scrip (although sometimes he gives me two in advance), and go to the pharmacy, etc. rather than just calling in a refill as with my other meds
>
> As for the issue of abuse--isn't it interesting that the restrictions apply to adults, where adolescents are probably more at risk for abusing stimulants (probably more likely friends of the patient rather than the patient themselves). In any event, I also think the issue of stimulants sold on the streets, at least right now, is now as big a problem as people fear. I think right now alcohol, marijuana, and exctacy are the major street drugs for teens. I am not an expert--just MHO.A couple points to consider:
1. Some docs will write a script for the maximum of the usual dose range if they trust the patient to actually take less and stretch it out.
2. If you got 20mg pills instead of 10mg, and split them, your supply would last 2 months for the same number of pills, and might only cost your HMO 30% more for the script instead of twice as much.
3. One way to help contain health costs is to use off-patent drugs like Ritalin or dexamphetamine instead of Adderall or Provigil.My pdoc asked the Provigil salesman what it cost, and he claimed not to know (she didn't believe him). Its about $8/pill. I don't know how much the Adderall is, hopefully less.
There's still a good bit of stimulant abuse: cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, MDMA/extasy, caffene, nicotine, efedrine (Ma Huang).
Unfortunately, turning Sudefed into methamphetamine often involves toxic chemical byproducts which the illegal labs usually pollute rivers and land with. When the DEA busts a lab, they spend 10's of $1,000s to decontaminate the area.
poster:MarkinBoston
thread:50745
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010111/msgs/51982.html