GP labelling me a drug seeker

[ShamanYou]

I take various medications including some powerful painkillers. I had a telephone conversation recently where I asked for the quantity each month to be increased as I've been running out. I was receiving 25 doses a month and can take up to four times daily.

Doctor agreed to increase it, but I find a note relevant to the consultation saying "drug seeking behaviour". The drug is a strong opioid, stronger than morphine.

What does this label mean for my care. Any GP, / Surgery staff views really appreciated.

In total shock still, very upset and struggling.

I am sure this is what was going on when I phoned out of hours a couple of years ago for what turned out to be viral arthritis. I was in pain in all my joints. I was initially told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen and if that didn’t work to ring back which I did. The nurse on the phone was awful to me, telling me I shouldn’t be phoning as it was just for urgent care. I hate taking pain killers and had a lot in the cupboard left over from an operation. I wasn’t after drugs - I wanted to know why I was suddenly in so much pain and given how it had come on so rapidly was it going to get rapidly even worse. I was also looking after three under 4 and had no help. But she point blank refused to put me through to the doctor or make and appointment with the out of hours service. (Fortunately my GP was much better two days later)

Surely they are noting this because these are very strong drugs with known dependency? I would imagine they are trying to identify people who need help.

Baby DD had morphine when on a ventilator with bronchiolitis. She had it for about 10 days and the withdrawal was AWFUL. It has made me hyper aware of the horrific effect of these strong opioids on the body.

I think it’s a positive thing! Just because it’s something available on prescription it doesn’t take the dangers away.

When you look at Michael Jackson etc/ these celebs die because of their overuse of prescription drugs.

I think you should be more concerned that a doctor is telling you that you’re having too much of a drug stronger than morphine.

Is it pain related op? Or something else?

If it’s mental health related can you get any support you help you through it without needing to be on so many drugs?

This thread and the other thread are two separate issues. This and some of your other responses are quite defensive, @ShamanYou

Maybe take a step back. Nobody here is trying to attack you. Nor is your GP.

However it is not beyond the realms of possibility that this defensive tone has also been noted by your GP... and may be seen as an issue.

Every time you post in that tone you are going to get more responses from posters who become more worried about you. Think about why that might be....

I have lots of co-codamol prescribed, occasionally tramadol and morphine. For chronic pain. I’ve taken just about every kind of painkiller going, the best I found for my conditions was OxyContin?? It was an oxy something. Sadly I’m not prescribed it anymore.

The co-codamol and tramadol normally do the trick, and morphine’s only used as a last resort. I’m only prescribed a small amount of morphine 🤷‍♀️

I suspect even tho it’s never been confirmed by my gp I may have been addicted to them, and if I take them for longer periods withdrawal is worse than putting up with the pain in the first place.

I’d have a chat with your GP I don’t think it means what you think it means and maybe a referral to the pain clinic? I’ve found them helpful before.

having two threads regarding getting paint medication but say it's about separate issues suggest that you may, without realising, be becoming dependant on this medication. This isn't a dig at you or a criticism.

But they ARE separate issues - one regarding the annual panic attacks, self-harm and trouble sleeping due to being raped and sexually assaulted this time of year.

This thread is about pain, painkillers, and the labelling.

you are likely addicted now.

I'm not addicted, although I will concede there's likely some dependency.

@CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate - I had amitriptyline prescribed for fibromyalgia and migraines as a preventative measure and hated every single second of it. Made me feel like a zombie with no relief for pain or other issues such as anxiety attacks, sensitivity to sounds etc.
The GP was pretty put off when I told them that because hey, pain killers are bad, amitriptyline is the bee's knees and why do I refuse walking around in a drug induced haze combined with all other problems still present.
They're also very surprised when I refuse taking steroids for some other chronic issue because they almost killed me (brain swelling, vomiting blood).
There's that strange belief that anything is better than pain killers. No matter what that is.

It exactly is drug seeking behavioir, though so not sure why you need a second appointment to discuss it? It's literally what you asked for.

One only needs to look at the opioid crisis in America to realise why we are being more careful. I’m sorry you are having to deal with excessive pain. I really hope it is alleviated soon

Do you need to take the medication 4 times a day for at least half the month or is it that the pain builds, so you go from 1 or 2 a day up to 4 a day for X number of days, then the pain subsides and you go back to managing on 1 or 2 a day again ? 25 doses doesn't sound sufficent to cover either scenario so I can easily understand you running out.

Some days I have excruciating pain that lasts an hour, other times it's 72 hours. Obviously the latter uses more medication.

It exactly is drug seeking behavioir, though so not sure why you need a second appointment to discuss it? It's literally what you asked for.. This. Your behaviour is drug seeking, it’s noted so it can be monitored for all the reasons stated above. You take drugs that warrant this level of care.

I think it’s exceptionally poor that you, the patient, have been able to see that note.

I would get an appointment and ask them to explain a) why that’s been written and b) why it’s showing up for you to view? It’s a data integrity issue and if they can’t get that right, what other data slips are they making?

I hope you get the treatment you need, OP.

It's just flagged up because of the increase in prescription opiate addiction. It's an alert for your and the GP practice's protection.

But some of those issues may overlap. Trouble sleeping and pain?
They aren’t labelling you. They are making a note of something that concerns them about how your condition is managed.

Unfortunately this is very common.
I am disabled and an NHS professional, I take 8 co-codamol/zapain a day and top it up with one or two tramadol when I get home so I can actually sleep and not roll around in agony all night. I have severe spinal problems and sometimes need to use a wheelchair, other times am ok with a stick.
I've been a medical professional since 1981.
I take the minimum painkillers to live a decent life and be reasonably happy. I've agreed my analgesia with the pain clinic where I used to live who said I know what I'm doing and I'm managing my own pain very well.
I moved to the West Country in October to start a new job and my new GP immediately cut off the tramadol without even seeing or speaking to me. I rang up and they said we're not prescribing this for you any more.
I went in to see him and was told I don't need these drugs, it's "ridiculous" I'm still on all these painkillers after all these years, he's not having it and went on and on , basically saying I was no better than an alcoholic. I never drink, not on these drugs. He put me on a massive dose of amitriptyline instead for nerve pain and they made me fall asleep driving, at work, gave me nightmares and made me feel suicidal.
I was outraged. I take the MINIMUM number of pain killers I actually need to function, to work and to live. I was in agony for weeks and weeks and had to take a month off my new job because I couldn't move.
Luckily I didn't have a probationary period, my new job was unconditional thank God or I'd have been fired. as it was they were not very happy not surprisingly.
I changed my GP surgery immediately and went in to see my new GP who put me back on my tramadol straight away.
I've now asked to be referred to the local pain clinic so I can deal with them instead of a GP.
It terrified me that I could just have my life ripped away from me like that by someone who hasn't even read my notes properly.
Get your GP to refer you to the local pain clinic so your can have PROPER treatment and investigations for your pain.
I'd like to come off all of these drugs really but I'm afraid it isn't an option right now.

This and some of your other responses are quite defensive,

Yes, I'm now realising it.

Working in pharmacy i'd say that 99% of these cases are people seeking more medication because they are addicted. Not saying you are one of those, but plenty of people out there are ruining it for genuine people like yourself.

But lets face it not many people out there are on the really strong stuff so addicted or not these would definitely have to be monitored after a period of time, and it would be the norm to have regular appts to discuss how you're doing, increases, decreases and whatever. When you talk to them again maybe you can mention you felt tarred by that 'addicted' brush and you're not happy!?

“This is a free service so you will get
Bad service and get what your given”

The attitude sucks.

Minimal private care exists outwith London,
So they really need to start providing competent care.

Dependency is a form of addiction.

You clearly strongly believe you are not addicted, which you might be absolutely right, but can I ask what makes you so strongly adamant that you are not?

Most addict dont realise their level of addiction until they come of it and look back.

When you go to the GP don't be defensive ask them is there another way to manage your pain like a pain management clinic and asked to be referred. Then keep asking for different ways to manage your pain other than drugs when you see someone else.

I should add on one blood test it was queried whether I was a drug addict due to my odd blood cell counts. Nope I have an underlying condition which, was only taken seriously by one medical practitioner. She was the only one who bothered to look back into my medical history the rest accused me of taking different drugs as a reason I was unwell.

The terminology sounds awful but in reality it is just a quick note that they would put on anyone's folder who asked for Amman increase of certain medications. It's to flag it up if you went to a different doctor in a month and asked for an increase again. If your doctor thought you were seriously escalating they wouldn't have prescribed more medication and would've raised the issue with you.

I've no idea what your condition it but it sounds like you go through a lot of horrific pain. That must be very hard for you.

Given that your GP agreed to increasing the amount you get, I’d guess they probably put that note on for the future - i.e. if you go back in a few months’ time asking again to increase your prescription.