But I am not a drug-seeker, I swear
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I’ve had some crazy stuff goin’ down in the city for over a year now and it routinely manifests itself as high anxiety at night. It’s nearly impossible for me to sleep more than four hours without a sleeping pill. And four hours of sleep is not enough for me.
Enter Lunesta.
When I first started taking it about a year and half ago I needed the highest dose — 3 mg — to sleep. And baby that did the trick. I was getting a solid eight hours each night and my anxiety was limited to waking hours. Booyah!
However in the last two months or so, since things have settled down, I’d been feeling hung over in the morning. After talking with my doctor, I finally put two and two together and realized that 3 mg of Lunesta must be too much. So he gave me a new prescription for 2 mg with the thought that I would eventually stop taking it.
That’s groovy with me, I hate taking medication anyway and I’m looking forward to eliminating some.
I happily drove that prescription right over to the drug store and went on my merry way.
But I had a passing thought as I dropped it off. I still have a lot of Lunesta at home. I think I have at least a 90-day supply of 3 mg pills. I wondered if that was a problem. And then I got distracted by something else.
The next day the drug store called to tell me my doctor had to send in a pre-authorization to the insurance company. He did that and everything was cool until the pharmacist called on the third day.
She let me know that I already had a huge supply of Lunesta — 3 mg pills to be exact — and my new prescription would be on hold for the next five months.
I think I actually started to stammer out my explanation.
“Five months, you say? Hmm, I knew I had a lot, but I didn’t realize it was that much. And I did wonder if that would be a problem, you know, since I had that big bottle. But I’m cutting back. That’s why my doctor prescribed the lower dose. Isn’t a dose change covered?”
“Not when you have a large supply that’s already been filled.”
(Nervous chuckle.) “Yeah, um, how does one dispose of old medication? Because I am not going to take those 3 mg pills, no siree. I’m actually trying to cut back and I don’t have a pill cutter at home, you know, to, uh, cut the 3 mg pills in half. (Clears throat) So I was thinking I would just start taking the 2 mg dose. And leave those 3 mg pills alone.”
Pause from the pharmacist. “You should think about buying a pill cutter.”
“Oh. Okay. Yeah, so what do we do with that prescription? Cause I am cutting back.”
“The authorization will be good for the year. Your doctor can write a new prescription. When you run out of the 3mg pills in five months.”
“Okay then. Thanks for the call. And I am getting off Lunesta.”
“Goodbye.”
I felt like I needed to drive over there to explain to her that I am not a drug-seeking junkie. I know about people who go to the ER trying to get extra pills for their habits. I read ER Stories. I am not one of those people.
Because those people cannot wear Converse low tops and drive a minivan. Everyone knows a junkie doesn’t drive a minivan and wear colorful low tops. Right?
Just for the record a junkie doesn’t have the good sense to pick out bitchin’ low tops in a variety of colors. And everyone knows a junkie drives a four-door sedan.
And I don’t. So I’m not.
Although now that I’ve said the word “junkie” enough times it sound kinda cool. I’m a funky junkie. I’m fun. I’m funky. And junkie rhymes with funky.
I guess if I had to choose, I’d rather be a funky junkie than a soccer mom.
So it’s settled. I’m a funky junkie — but in the best possible sense.
When I start my own world, insurance companies are going to have PEOPLE who make decisions, rather than computers who make them. You really should be able to lower a dosage without any trouble at all. Geez. How unfunky. In fact, that’s the opposite of funky!
Cool. I want to live in your world, Suzi. Give me directions on how to get there once you create it. I’ll be there in a heartbeat.
How about just cutting the 3 mg tablet in half and taking that? Or, how about a warm glass of milk with cookies before bed? Or, a heavy beer like Guiness Stout along with a turkey sandwich? Or, reading an economics text book while in bed? Maybe these would work….
See, Mik. I am a funky junkie. I completely forgot to mention that I did get a pill cutter and I have been cutting them in half for the last six weeks. It hasn’t been bad and I don’t feel hung over in the morning anymore. But I might have to check out an econ book when I’m totally off the pills. Just in case.
“So it’s settled. I’m a funky junkie — but in the best possible sense.” You’re too much :) He he.
That whole thing stinks. There should be a place where you could exchange the old pills for a new one. I mean, cutting them in half will only give you 1.5 mg, right? You have to cut them in like 2/3rds. Sounds annoying to me.
I can sort of understand that it might be unsafe, as in crazies who spiked the drugs, to return unused drugs. But I do wonder about wasting stuff like that. It cost money and I’m sure someone could use it, but in my case I can continue to cut them and use them. I guess I won’t be refilling the new prescription for ten months, since I have double what I need now, eh?
This is like a math problem where there are two trains going in opposite directions at different rates of speed and then you have to figure out which one will get to the destination first and how many people on each train take Klonopin versus Ativan.
I hate math problems.
The pill cutters are so much fun though. My wife doesn’t even let me cut my own pills anymore, she cuts them all for me because she has so much fun doing it…ok, now I am starting to sound like a junkie…and not in a funky kind of cool way either.
Yikes.
I didn’t realize until I read Mik’s comment that I failed to mention I do use a pill cutter. And damn if that isn’t right — it *is* fun cutting those bad boys in half. I’ll let you be an honorary funky junkie. Have pill cutter, will travel.
I know the feeling.
Over here most supermarkets have a limit on the number of paracetamol you can purchase in one go. My friend went into a garage and managed to buy about 45 paracetamol in one go – baring in mind that 24 x 500mg tablets is about an overdose! NOT Good!
Another one how does it work out that I can buy a 300ml bottle of cough medicine on my prescription which is £7:50 something or I can buy 400ml (2 x 200ml) for about £3 without my prescription!?!?! Can you do the Math?
Oh Hannah. I am no good at math. None at all. And I did have to look up paracetamol. It looks like it acetaminophen over here — code name Tylenol. That’s surprising that you can only purchase so much each time. Although they did that with Sudafed (a nasal decongestant) over here. You don’t need a prescription, but you have to show your license to the pharmacist to get it.
I wish you could take in those 3mg Lunesta pills and exchange them for the 2mg. Sure, they’d have to be destroyed — but at least it’d be obvious that you’re not trying to scam on your prescription and selling them on the black market. I didn’t think Lunesta was a drug one would abuse, but Wikipedia is now telling me that if you take 6-12mg of Lunesta, it produces the same euphoric effects as 20mg of Valium. Hmm. Now I know.
But seriously, that’s so dumb that you can’t get your new prescription. Can you talk to your doctor about how to get around this? Or if your doctor has some 2mg pills in his office to give you in exchange for the 3mg pills?
Good luck with the pill cutter if you have no other options.
I had the same idea in mind, just a smooth trade, but it didn’t seem like an option. That’s interesting that 6 mg is the equivalent to 20 mg of Valium. I do recall the doctor telling me to make sure I never take two (6 mg). Ever. Ever.
The cutter really isn’t so bad, you know? And I suppose after a while I’ll be able to go down to 1 mg, since I’m down to 1.5 right now. But I suppose I might run into the issue again of the refill and already having some. I guess I’ll just keep taking half until May or June and then I should be cleared for the new one.
I would have been the same way, stammering out a defense when there is nothing to defend yourself against. It’s part of that people- pleasing gene that we seem to share. I dealt with a bunch of drug-seeking behavior with clients, and I never once had one that was trying to get a script for a lower dosage of the meds, so I think your pharmacist understands:)
Yeah. That was the kicker. I am not trying to get more!! Like it matters, right? That’s why I have this blog so I can share my insecurities with the world. That would be such a crack up to have the pharmacist leave a comment.
I can see it now:
I remember you. You seemed like you were guilty even though I knew you weren’t. You should work on that. And did you ever get that pill cutter?
Ugh, again I hit return too quickly. I was going to add that he probably was just frustrated with dealing with the insurance people.
I’m sure the next drug-seeker caught his attention more than I did. But I still felt guilty as sin. Shake it off, Cardiogirl, shake it off.
I am not a big pill person anymore, after I was prescribed 2 different anti-anxiety/anti-depressants about two years ago. I quit those cold turkey a year later, and I had physical withdrawals and cravings and whatnot. It was strange and now I am more careful about strong drugs. Sleeping pills, although I probably could use them, scare me silly! They are so addictive, and I don’t want to go through that again. Good luck cutting back!
I was really freaked out about taking sleeping pills in particular as well. Probably as much as you are. Obviously I got over that, but it’s still weird to me that:
1. I take it every night
2. I’ve been taking it for over a year and a half, and
3. I actually have to wean off this drug.
It’s wild to know I am taking an addictive drug every single night. But I know one day I’ll be done with it. Hopefully sooner than later.
p.s. Tell Seal I said hi!
You know, when I took my 65+ mom to the ER for her shoulder pain, they treated her like a drug seeker.
….
They treat everyone like a drug seeker these days because so many doctors DO prescribe narcotics & such for people who really don’t need them.
Anyway, I just use a pair of scissors.
Yesterday I went to get a new med and it was $124 WITH INSURANCE. I said “Nevermind, switch me back to the old one.” She said “Well, on the old one, you have 5 refills for twice the dosage.”
So I’ll be cutting those pills with a pair of scissors, LOL. I’m not getting a pill cutter. It worked before…
Seriously you can cut them with scissors? They’re so tiny and they’re not scored. I’ve tried to cut them with a knife and it didn’t work, because they’re small, coated and round, actually. They do not sit flat on the counter. But that’s no match for my pill cutter.
But now I want to try a pair of scissors just for the hell of it.
i guess the pharmacist wouldn’t think it was funny if you told her you were going to sell your leftovers on the street. and you’re right, i have never seen a junkie wearing converse, maybe air jordans but never converse. you’re in the clear, cg.
everyone is all fancy about their pill cutting gear. if i ever have to cut a pill, i just use the heel of a shoe, ok that’s more like smashing or the wooden part of a steak knife.
more than one way to skin a cat. ya darn tootin, duncan!
(whispers) For sure those junkies wear air jordans.
You’re resourceful like my Polish grandma. She didn’t need any kind of gadgets; she just used her paws. Are you sure you don’t have any Poles hangin’ out in your family tree?
A short, sturdy paring knife does a pretty good job of cutting pills in half. I’ve yet to see a pill cutter that cuts in thirds. Although I suppose to a doctor 1.5mg is near enough to 2mg that it doesn’t matter.
What you *could* do is this: just pay cash for the 2mg supply. And see if you can’t get it in 1mg form in case you need to taper the dose again.
True. I hadn’t even considered paying the full amount. That’s what relying on insurance will do for you. I can’t even imagine trying to cut that pill into thirds or quarters. I guess I could suck on it if I get desperate enough. But I don’t think it will come to that.
I have to take Zofran for my nausea and they always act like I am some drug seeker because I don’t even go one day without my medicine. The pharmacist said something like “Man, you always call like clockwork to get this filled.” To which I wanted to say “Excuse me, male pharmacist, since you have never been pregnant with any baby, much less twins and therefore thrown up 10 times a day for 4 months-do not judge me.” But I didn’t I just apologized. Why did I apologize CG? Because I am a people pleaser and I felt like the pharmacist thought “less of me.”
That is so pathetic. But it’s the truth.
I’m surprised the pharmacist would say something like that and to a pregnant woman, to boot. He must be single. Oy, I can’t even imagine the nausea that comes with twins. I hope the nausea passes soon and you won’t have to deal with that guy much longer.
Gees, put the pharmacist in the category with the beastly nurses. What the hell?! I love how they won’t exchange them for you either–and for a LESSER dose. What an idiot!
After my surgery, I wanted to dispose of the vicadin that I did not want to use (I think I used one) and being earth-friendly, I wanted to dispose of them properly. The internet says to ask the pharmacist to do it–yeah, okay. The dude at The Walmart looks at me like I’M the drug dealer here….and I was freakin’ RETURNING the damn things! He wouldn’t dispose of them for me and suggests I dump them down the toilet–the thing you are not supposed to do. Fool. I sold them all to the bums by the airport. Not really, but I should have.
Wouldn’t it have made sense for you to exchange them? Doesn’t anyone think anymore? Can the doctor help? Can you go to another pharmacy and get it filled? How about another state? or country? All this thinking and scheming might just make you drowsy and you’ll fall asleep just thinking of ways to foil the Evil Pharmacist.
P.S. Drugs are overrated.
I did find that weird that there was a problem with a lower dose. I kind of wonder what Lunesta goes for on the black market. I’d trade ten for a large iced cappuccino from Tim Horton’s.
Any takers?
ROTFL!! Oh, Shetbag! You needs you some ments, Betch?!
Yeah, I could use some ginseng ments or whatever herbal puts you to sleep ments you can find. Thanks! I’ll watch my mail box :)
At least you are dealing with pills and not capsules. You can’t cut capsules in half. As a result, I have a half a bottle of Topamax and other stuff in my cabinet of forgotten medicines. I tend to use a regular steak/paring knife to cut my pills. Ocassionally tiny pieces go flying through my kitchen but that is half the fun! ;)
I asked a pharmacist friend of mine about returning old medicines and he said that they couldn’t do that. My recommendation is to mix them with something fun in your trash and send it to the landfill. At least landfills are lined and if any of the medicines seep out, it shouldn’t get into the water supply. If you flush them down the toilet, they go to the water treatment facility, but those are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals from the water just other fun stuff.
I did a very short stint on capsules that were too strong. My doctor actually told me to open them and pour half out! I did do that and it sort of worked but it was during a period of time when we were still experimenting on which drugs worked for me and which did not. That one ended up being one that did not.
But it was a major drag trying to guess how much to dump each day. And I dumped that right into the kitchen sink and washed it down with water. So if anyone out there is feeling jacked up and hyper it’s because of my upper that didn’t work for me (slinks away).
if you cut your pills in half you may not need to fill your prescription for 10 months. Your prescription may actually expire.
I’ve had that thought as well, sanjay. It would be more cost effective that way, wouldn’t it?
“I guess if I had to choose, I’d rather be a funky junkie than a soccer mom.”
:D Follow-up post on what exactly “soccer mom” means to you and why you’d rather be a drug addict than one…?
I think that is definitely worth a follow-up/investigative post. And it might just be doodle-worthy as well.
*Snort*
I’m dying laughing about the Lunesta Nazi. Backed up by the Aryan Brotherhood of Insurance Companies and Pill Cutters.
And aren’t those soccer moms the ones buying up all that cold medicine to make…um…crack or something? Aren’t they the reason why we have to give blood and fingerprints just to get decongestant?
It’s all your fault, Cardio girl. You and your Ilk.
Yes, I think the soccer moms are to blame for the decongestants and I am to blame for the Lunesta conspiracy. But hey, I’m funky!
There is nothing like picking up repeated prescriptions of controlled substances to make you feel like a junkie. Let me tell you, we’ve become experts at what the details are in our household.
Yeah, doesn’t that phrase get to you? “Controlled substances.” I try to tell myself that *all* prescription drugs are controlled, but the medical field doesn’t seem to buy that. And it does feed into the feeling that I am a funky junkie. Punks.
Damn – send me some of those threes. I could use a full night or two under my eyelids… And you think maybe the sales of pill cutters are perhaps subsidized by the lovely insurance folk? And just WHY do they think we’re all turning into funky junkies needing the hard drugs (like Lunesta, widely advertised as a butterfly, apparently to fool the narcs), I ask?? Could it be the basic absurdity of logic put forth by the folk we have entrusted with oversight of our health care? Ack. Get a net, we’ll go catch some Lunesta in the wild. We’ll just have to make sure they’re twos.
I wonder if I could get that past the Post Master. Um, I might have to try that unless the fine for discovery is a couple of years in the slammer. I’m cool with being a junkie who walks the streets. But not one locked behind bars.
On second thought, I think we do need to pick up our butterfly nets. I hear the twos have pink spots on their wings.
[...] week I wrote about feeling like the pharmacist thought I was a junkie looking to score more Lunesta than the insurance company would allow. So I lamented and then came to the following conclusion. [...]