Oxycontin prescribing doctors in Canberra?

Jim Jones said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Pommy bastard said :

Have you considered Reiki?

Pfft. Trepanation’s where it’s at.

Homeopathy

Is this a serious suggestion?

(I’ll ask before jumping to a wild and ridiculous conclusion).

From the latest issue of CHOICE magazine:

The homeopathic con

Homeopathy has been ruled scientifically implausible and no better than a placebo.

Homeopathy products perform no better than placebos, the use of homeopathy cannot be justified on the current evidence available, and government funding of homeopathy should cease immediately. These are the findings of the UK Science and Technology Committee, which recently undertook an extensive review of homeopathy in the UK.

The news has reignited calls in Australia for homeopathy to be banned for children younger than 12, because parents may not seek appropriate medical treatment or delay it while their child becomes sicker. Authorities are also concerned that parents opposed to immunisation are using homeopathic substitutes, putting their child and others in the community at risk of serious illness or death.

Meanwhile, CHOICE urges consumers to choose therapies with good evidence behind them.

Surprise, surprise! But this thread did make me look up trepanation – there are some very funny pictures on wiki demonstrating it.

J Dawg said :

Are you serious? You would rather a potential problem develop into a serious one rather then preventing further damage???

Ever dealt with addicts in general, or specifically addicts in denial?

Putting someone into rehab or Addiction support services (“Go talk to a Twelve Step\First Step\”) who doesn’t think they have a problem or otherwise doesn’t think they need to attend just won’t stick.

The entire world could be telling them they have problems, but unless they believe it too, there’s little point in sending them, because the denial can be so strong.
“My doc… wants me to quit by reducing the current dosage slowly. I cannot do this as I am completely addicted (not in an illegal way) to this drug.” is an example of ‘denying medical expertise in favour of seeking more drugs’.

The OP needs to recognise they have a dependency problem before all the referrals to drug support above will even be an option in their mind. I’m guessing that in their mind, we’ve just ‘not understood their situation correctly‘, so our advice won’t apply.
Otherwise they are just hunting for a better or more gullible supplier, or one they can manipulate.
(Whcih is exactly how their post reads, and how seriously do you think they’ll take internet forum advice about their situation, anyway?)

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Pommy bastard said :

Have you considered Reiki?

Pfft. Trepanation’s where it’s at.

Homeopathy

Pommy bastard said :

Have you considered Reiki?

Pfft. Trepanation’s where it’s at.

Skidbladnir said :

For everyone trying to convince the OP to take up support services:
The first step on any road to recovery is admitting that there is a problem, and realising that the problem is yours.
Most people only realise this after they’ve been denied drug access from every source they can find.

The second step is accepting this and personally being ready to change.

Evidence of either in the above: Nil.
In fact, the entire point of the article is pre-step-one: Hunting for alternate sources of supply.

Are you serious? You would rather a potential problem develop into a serious one rather then preventing further damage??? Because that is exactly what it sounds like you are arguing. If so then that is the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard. If not, could you please clarify?

(BTW – +1 to everyone recommending a second opinion on the matter)

Have you considered Reiki?

Definitely get a second opinion. If you’re genuinely in pain you need treatment. There have been other discussions on this blog about which are the nice doctors who are sympathetic and easy to deal with. Go to one of them. If you’re still not happy, get a referral to a specialist. Suggest that since you’re getting the specialist treatment it might be best to stick with the status quo in the meantime but be prepared for them to refuse and try to understand that they have your best interests at heart.

Be open minded. If you could treat the pain without the oxycontin would that be a good thing? If so then be willing to try something different, if it doesn’t work then your doctor might be more interested in giving you the oxycontin again.

Regarding meditation (suggested above), there are types of meditation that focus on healing or on overcoming physical difficulty. Look around town and try a few, it can’t hurt, particularly the groups that don’t charge newcomers to try. Some commercial or secular community based groups may offer you a no-charge or token charge for your first meditation, some religious groups (Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist) might not charge at all or might have a suggested donation only. You could send out a few emails and see what groups think they might be able to help.

For any kind of natural or spiritual healing I’d suggest something with a strong history like Chinese medicine rather than something recent and disputed like homeopathy. For meditation go with traditional yoga rather than someone offering a “blend of techniques”.

You’re not alone, not the first person to have been hooked on prescriptions through no fault of your own. And you can beat it with the right support and the proper treatment of your actual problems!

Why not try Heroin? From what i understand, it seems that it would be easier to come by.

or Jenkem, I know a guy that could hook you up.

I’d like to hear some of the whacky things that people have done while taking this medication.

Seriously, it would brighten my day.

Doctor: “Nurse, why is my waiting room full this morning?”

Nurse: “Well, apparently your name is on the local blog as the doctor to see if you wanted Oxycontin without much trouble.”

Doctor: ” ….oh..”

Nurse: “And someone from the Health Department called. They asked you to ring them as soon as you get in”.

For everyone trying to convince the OP to take up support services:
The first step on any road to recovery is admitting that there is a problem, and realising that the problem is yours.
Most people only realise this after they’ve been denied drug access from every source they can find.

The second step is accepting this and personally being ready to change.

Evidence of either in the above: Nil.
In fact, the entire point of the article is pre-step-one: Hunting for alternate sources of supply.

The link for Canberra Hospital’s program is http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=da&did=10038160&pid=1058841208 and you can call 6207 9977 for help or an appointment 24hrs a day.

Good luck.

Please take your doctors advice and taper off the drug. You may be able to change to a more sustainable pain relief medication regiment. Doctor shopping is extremely unethical and makes it difficult for people who really need pain relief to get it prescribed. I wish you luck getting off oxycodone.

If you are completely addicted (not in an illegal way) to this drug you need to have a chat to the drug and alcohol clinic at Canberra Hospital tio help you overcome your non-illegal addiction. No point trying to go cold turkey, reach out for help.

I doubt criminals or law inforcement would bother with such a post… prescribing and dispensing is stricly monitored. No matter how much anyone attempts to doctor or pharmacy shop in the ACT you cannot get around this. Patient’s selling on their meds is an entirely different situation and does happen.

I think it’s a valid post regardless as there are many people out there addicted to prescription and over the counter pain killers(I see them regularly)

I understand that if you crush them up and inject them, they effect you more…

Oh please. This is not a genuine post people; I think it could be either a) members of law enforcement attempting to locate Canberra docs who may be free and easy with the good drugs or b) criminals trying to locate Canberra doctors who may be free and easy with the good drugs or c) a pisstake.

I wouldn’t waste any further energy by responding.

Elle

I’ve been on Oxycontin for the last 2 1/2 years. I started on 100mg twice a day and I’m now down to 10mg morning and 5mg nightly.

I had a major car accident and received multiple fractures and internal injuries. My wonderful GP has been working with me for the last 18 months bringing me down off the Oxycontin.

Take my advice, talk to your doctor and start coming off the drugs. It isn’t doing you any good. You’ll be surprised how much better you will feel once you come down from the drug induced stuper that you are in at the moment.

I know you’re going to hurt but talk to your GP and physio and start getting your life back on track!!!!!

Don’t continue to be an idiot!

where’s that reiki thread? perhaps that, or some sort of meditation would be useful (am actually serious about the meditation bit…)

Mrs. nifty was prescribed very small doses of endone and then oxycontin a few years back and we couldn’t wait to get her off them as soon as possible. It was a testing time walking the fine line between chronic pain and strange behaviour.

We now look back and laugh about finding the tomato sauce in the dishwasher, but there were many more serious lapses which frankly scared the shit out of us. People on larger doses must really struggle with these side effects.

I think you’re likely to struggle with any doctor if you just walk in off the street and beg for oxycontin. Your post really does read like you’re addicted, and whether it’s legal or not shouldn’t make it less concerning for you. It’s difficult to say given we don’t know much about your circumstances, but perhaps it is time to think about the alternatives.

You need to find a doctor who can help get you off this stuff. Take the advice here…

An addiction is an addiction, “legal” or otherwise. If you were hooked on heroin, you’d be wanting to get proper support to get off it, wouldn’t you? This is exactly the same.

So if your doctor is doing the right thing and trying to get you to withdraw slowly, then what makes you think any other doctor would be so irresponsible as to do otherwise?

There’s nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion, if you don’t think your condition is being managed appropriately, but you seem to just want your DRUGS. With proper management, that may in fact not be the most appropriate drug. If you want to go elsewhere, go for the right reasons, not to have someone who will just rubberstamp a prescription you dictate.

Hi Elle

I’m sorry that you have come to be in this situation, and as you can appreciate doctors and pharmacists are regularly monitored by the Health Department in terms of quantities of opiods prescribed to patients. You said ” I cannot do this as I am completely addicted (not in an illegal way) to this drug. ” I’m a pharmacist, so I occasionally see patients hooked on these prescription pain killers, while it’s hard, coming off them is achievable and has been done by many people. I suggest finding a sympathetic doctor that will help manage your condition (and not just supply you what you want!). Dr Tedeschi and his colleagues at Canberra Hospital are experts in manageing this condition. If you have ongoing pain issues, you could consider getting a referral to a pain management doctor that will assist with getting the best drug regimen for you. I dont recommend finding a lax doctor that simply feeds your addiction. Good luck!

Oxycontin should only be prescribed normally imediately after surgery. I think your doctor is right. Ween yourself off the drugs and find alternatives that arent opiates.

After suffering chronic pain and sick of taking pain killers, I turned to acupuncture – I no longer take my daily cocktail of painkillers and anti-inflams.

It may or may not work for you, but it sure as hell is worth a try and is better than being addicted to opiates.

I’d be taking the doctors advice.

Finding a new doctor who gives you what you want may require embelishment of what you’ve got in order to convince them you need to stay on the drug – that’s unlikely to result in a good treatment outcome. Sticking with a doctor who knows you and has experienece in managing your condition is likely to be the best outcome.

…I got hooked on Endone…
…I am completely addicted…

They call it housewife heroin and hillbilly heroin for a reason, dear.
Its addictive, because in addition to killing pain (and making you feel better), it directly stimulates your brain into euphoria.
This interference with your reward circuit is why doctors worry about potential for addiction, and over-prescription.
Also, patients may lie to themselves and doctors about problems to stay on it, becuase the reward system is being overridden. (ie: You’re potentially not entirely rational)

From all my research… fairly sure… Oxycontin [is the drug for me]

You are not a doctor, you have not undergone medial training, . Let the medical experts decide before you go self-diagnosing, because internet research eventually convinces hypochondriac that they have cancer.

…They have to gain approval each time and are closely monitored when doing so.

This is because its a Schedule I restricted access drug.
For exactly the reasons above doctors are even less likely to help a new patient cold-presenting with a specific demand for a drug.
And those who will help out under those circumstances risk their credentials, because you are admitting ‘drug dependence’ and displaying ‘drug seeking’ behaviour, to the point of doctor shopping…

So, does anyone know of any sympathetic doctors out there ? I’m at my wits end.
…why not me also?…

Doctor shopping, and persecution complexes that seem rational when people won’t give you what you crave because you know better than the experts?
Its like you’re a living lesson in rationalised addiction and self-deception.

You are an addict. Take a reality check and take your doctors advice.
You are not going to need a ‘sympathetic doctor’ as you already have one you idiot.
No doctor is going to issue you a script for this medication, in the state you are in so start focusing on your detox.
Oxycontin has serious side effects and addiction is well documented.
I hope you are not driving a vehicle on this stuff.

There’s a dude living at the flats on Northbourne who can probably help you out.

Jokes aside – perhaps you need to seek a second medical opinion for more than just the oxycontin. Find another specialist perhaps? If your doctor wants to wean you off the oxycontin, there could well be a valid reason.

hmm Tagged – Hillybilly Heroin. Interesting term to use.

I believe there are doctors in Canberra that are more compassionate in regards to providing this than others but I haven’t personally been on the receiving end of this. If I remember when I get home and talk to someone in a similar situation I’ll try pm or email you a name as I’m not sure if it would be responsible to simply post ‘*doctor’s name* may provide you oxycontin more readily than other docs”.

“Why not me also?”

Because you’re an addict, and the fact that the drug you’re addicted to is legal doesn’t make you any less an addict. People who can’t get their fix have still resorted to street dealers to get Oxycontin, often sold by elderly people who need money more than pain relief or stolen from pharmacies (there is a reason it’s kept in safes, and must be returned to the pharmacy if you don’t need them all). Don’t think anyone here is going to help you shop for prescriptions.

Your wheedling excuses and refusal to let your doctor wean you off onto a less addictive drug are classic junkie behaviours, so don’t expect any sympathy here. Most doctors – and certainly any good ones – won’t prescribe those sort of drugs to new patients, and definitely not to ones who ask for them. If they are willing to, it would only be with the go-ahead of your previous doctor, which clearly isn’t going to happen.

For the record, I know all of this because I have been on it for chronic pain. I’m also off it and using milder drugs and lifestyle management to deal with my pain issues. I suggest you quit whining and let your doctor help you. It sounds like s/he knows what they’re on about.

An interesting post. I doubt any medico in Canberra who is viewed as less tough than the norm would appreciate having his or her details up on this site. “Ooooh look, Dr Dickens in Dickson, he’s good for anythink you want, and bulk bills!” I don’t think so somehow.