Doctor Rx'd a drug I am ALLERGIC to - RANT

BarbaraA

Didn't know where to put this rant but I have been struggling with diarrhea since pre BC (April). Pretty much tried everything diet-wise and my PCP tested me 10 ways to Sunday so he had me go to a gastro. I had an ulcer 5 years ago (eating 20 advil a day) and he was my gastro before so I went to him.  Had a colonoscopy two weeks ago plus a biopsy. Good news is: all is well including, I don't have colon cancer...YAY!.

So, the nurse who delivered the results told me they were calling in an Rx. I showed up the next day to get it. The pharmacist said that my insurance wouldn't pay for it because the dosage is too high. They said they called my doc to get them to reduce it but no one called them back. So I wrote down the name of it so I could call them and raise hell.

Get home, look up the drug. It has sulfa in it. I AM ALLERGIC to sulfa. ALL OVER my charts of every doc I have.

I call. Leave a scathing message. This is at 11 AM. Finally get a very apologetic call back at 4:30 (this is Fri) telling me they will prescribe another drug. I ask what. They tell me and I tell them I'll get back to them. This one is a steroid. WTF?

Anyway, the point of the rant is: should I fire his a$$? I mean, come on! If I had taken that drug, I could be dead.

Thoughts?

marcy4

I think to some of the many doctors we deal with, we are a number, and with so the many patients my oncologist has I can understand why.  I did my research on all the chemo drugs very carefully and then went to my oncologist to get my treatment changed.  I spoke to my radiologist and told him that I would not radiate all of the areas he suggested and he finally agreed with me.  I must admit that I have not researched my other drugs.  I always tell my doctors that I will not take anything with codene.  With my chemo drugs I had 2 allergic reactions and had to have further changes.  Since I had never had these drugs before I had no way of knowing I would have a reaction. From this experience I understand how quickly a reaction can become life threatening.  I don't know what you should do, but I certainly understand your grave concern. You sure are lucky that you ended up not accepting the drug.  I am fortuante to have a family doctor who knows me personally so I know she is taking good care of me.  We have to have faith in the doctors we are dealing with and if you have no faith in this one, you may be best to see if there is someone else.  Good luck.

Leah_S

I am allergic to penicillin and I make sure to tell EVERY DOCTOR I see about this. I also remind the doc before I am given any antibiotic - I ALWAYS ask if it is penicillin-related. I just don't take a chance. Even the most caring and concerned doctor can be a bit tired and not notice the flag (especially in a chart with as much on it as mine!).

Leah

BarbaraA

Thanks Leah and Marcy. This doc has never given me warm fuzzies and always seemed too ready to deal with the next patient rather than listen to me. I will try to figure this out with my PCP who does listen to me. He was the one who wanted the gastro but that just isn't working.