4 ms·

For medication like this, the doctor will usually prescribe a specific number of pills at a specific dosage. The number will rarely exceed what you ask for, an

For medication like this, the doctor will usually prescribe a specific number of pills at a specific dosage. The number will rarely exceed what you ask for, and asking for large numbers of pills is treated (not unreasonably) as a sign of drug seeking.

Calavar 4y ago
This is true in general, but as a doctor, I've never written a prescription for only 3 Xanax pills. Usually more like 10 to 30 depending on the situation. The only time I write for a single digit number of pills is for antibiotics, where I know ahead of time exactly how many pills they will need.
- somehnguy 4y ago
  Anecdotally I’ve received a script for exactly 3 Xanax pills. The eye surgeon prescribed them for my LASIK surgery.
  - throwing_away 4y ago
    This is also common for dentists and other outpatient procedures.
tux3 4y ago
>and asking for large numbers of pills is treated (not unreasonably) as a sign of drug seeking. Something that keeps tripping me up with the label of drug seeking, is that in this situation the person is correctly drug seeking in a situation they've previously had a specific problem diagnosed and have had positive experiences with a therapeutic. They simply need to subject themselves to the ritual, follow doctor's orders, and not look like they are drug-seeking to successfully drug-seek the therapeutic. What bother me is the implicit confusion between seeking drugs to treat a specific problem, versus not. Confusion creates damage both ways, with an insufficiently individualized approach people subject to drug addictions may not be sufficiently protected (many are still successful finding someone who will fuel their addiction), while people not subject to drug addiction receive substandard care.
- throwing_away 4y ago
  > the person is correctly drug seeking in a situation they've previously had a specific problem diagnosed and have had positive experiences with a therapeutic I've been in this situation a few times as I've moved around the US for both xanax (as needed) and adderall (daily) concurrently. The short of it is this: you just have to find the right clinician. Because of how the system works, you're not limited to psychiatrists. Pretty much anyone with a prescription pad can dispense these in month-sized quantities (primary care, psychiatrists, prescribing nurses, even dentists). Call providers and tell them explicitly what prescription you need and that you're having trouble finding a doctor to work with you and it's frustrating. A lot of them will say "oh, this practice isn't what you're looking for" and eventually you'll find one that says yes. Try to think of it as "patient advocacy" instead of "drug seeking behavior" while you're having conversations with professionals.
  - intelVISA 4y ago
    > both xanax (as needed) and adderall (daily) concurrently. I'm not a doc but something about that combo activates my fear response... how would that even work?
    - throwing_away 4y ago
      I take adderall most weekdays because I need to be reliable and on a schedule for work, but I usually take weekends off. I take xanax when I have to go do something that causes me a lot of anxiety but is required (family function, some doctor appointments, etc) and to mitigate panic attacks when I feel them starting (which thankfully hasn't happened in a long time). But I'm not usually on adderall for those events, so there's not much overlap for interaction. I spent way too many years pretending everything was fine when my head was spinning with anxiety or when I couldn't get motivated for work. Eventually I just sorted out what drugs modulated me successfully, realized that I don't have an addiction problem, and now I've got a system for managing my life better.
      - intelVISA 4y ago

Calavar 4y ago

This is true in general, but as a doctor, I've never written a prescription for only 3 Xanax pills. Usually more like 10 to 30 depending on the situation. The only time I write for a single digit number of pills is for antibiotics, where I know ahead of time exactly how many pills they will need.

somehnguy 4y ago
Anecdotally I’ve received a script for exactly 3 Xanax pills. The eye surgeon prescribed them for my LASIK surgery.
- throwing_away 4y ago
  This is also common for dentists and other outpatient procedures.

tux3 4y ago

>and asking for large numbers of pills is treated (not unreasonably) as a sign of drug seeking. Something that keeps tripping me up with the label of drug seeking, is that in this situation the person is correctly drug seeking in a situation they've previously had a specific problem diagnosed and have had positive experiences with a therapeutic. They simply need to subject themselves to the ritual, follow doctor's orders, and not look like they are drug-seeking to successfully drug-seek the therapeutic. What bother me is the implicit confusion between seeking drugs to treat a specific problem, versus not. Confusion creates damage both ways, with an insufficiently individualized approach people subject to drug addictions may not be sufficiently protected (many are still successful finding someone who will fuel their addiction), while people not subject to drug addiction receive substandard care.

throwing_away 4y ago
> the person is correctly drug seeking in a situation they've previously had a specific problem diagnosed and have had positive experiences with a therapeutic I've been in this situation a few times as I've moved around the US for both xanax (as needed) and adderall (daily) concurrently. The short of it is this: you just have to find the right clinician. Because of how the system works, you're not limited to psychiatrists. Pretty much anyone with a prescription pad can dispense these in month-sized quantities (primary care, psychiatrists, prescribing nurses, even dentists). Call providers and tell them explicitly what prescription you need and that you're having trouble finding a doctor to work with you and it's frustrating. A lot of them will say "oh, this practice isn't what you're looking for" and eventually you'll find one that says yes. Try to think of it as "patient advocacy" instead of "drug seeking behavior" while you're having conversations with professionals.
- intelVISA 4y ago
  > both xanax (as needed) and adderall (daily) concurrently. I'm not a doc but something about that combo activates my fear response... how would that even work?
  - throwing_away 4y ago
    I take adderall most weekdays because I need to be reliable and on a schedule for work, but I usually take weekends off. I take xanax when I have to go do something that causes me a lot of anxiety but is required (family function, some doctor appointments, etc) and to mitigate panic attacks when I feel them starting (which thankfully hasn't happened in a long time). But I'm not usually on adderall for those events, so there's not much overlap for interaction. I spent way too many years pretending everything was fine when my head was spinning with anxiety or when I couldn't get motivated for work. Eventually I just sorted out what drugs modulated me successfully, realized that I don't have an addiction problem, and now I've got a system for managing my life better.
    - intelVISA 4y ago