Has anyone ever had a doc ask for a filled prescription?

Question

Has anyone ever had a doc ask for a filled prescription?
I was recently diagnosed w/ shingles. My doc gave me a strong painkiller to take, but it did little to numb the pain. After four days, I called his office to find out what the next step would be in order to get this pain under control. He wrote me a prescription, but wouldn't allow me to pick it up until I returned the pills I had left from the prescription he gave me four days ago. What in the world is going on here? This is the first time in a VERY long time that I've had to take pain medication, so it isn't like I'm a common addict. His nurse said they had to have it back to keep me from "over-medicating" myself. I paid for that prescription to be filled. I did have my husband take the bottle of pills to the doc's office, and I got the new prescription. I just need to know if what the doc did was ethical, and if so, do they not owe me money for the amount I paid for that prescription? Someone, please, help me understand this

Answer 1

something is amiss.your physician is not a pharmacist.tell the office you will contact the pharmacy in which you obtained the prescription for advice. you may also contact the state physician medical board for advice. perhaps his staff or the doctor himself is using the medicine for personal use.i have never heard of such a practice, not even for a pain clinic.goodluck;)

Answer 2

I haven't ever heard of them asking for the prescription back. However I can understand with as many people who abuse pain medication why your doctor would feel that was necessary.
I had a friend who took Ritilin for her ADD, her doctor would have her come in for nasal swabs to make sure she wasn't crunching it up and snorting it. Doctors have different ways of monitoring controled substances.
You could ask the doctor about that and ask if you had to return it couldn't have been returned to the pharmacy so you could get a credit back to your account or a reimbursment.

Answer 3

Your doctor may be worried that you may mix up your prescription. Yes he can request you prescription, He dose not have to give you new pain med. If was me I would ask him why he wanted it back. I bet he wanted to make sure you was not over doing it on those pills. or he wanted to make sure that the pill s you got was what he wrote the prescription for. There may be other reasons but I bet he's looking out for your well being. If you think their may be other reason you should change doctors.

Answer 4

I have never heard of that occurring. I have heard of doctors prescribing new medications and then telling their patients to stop taking the old ones. What your doctor is doing is unethical. You paid for those medications, they belong to you.
It is illegal for pharmacies to accept returned prescriptions. You cannot get a refund once you have left the pharmacy.

Answer 5

I can see both sides of this story, but I was unaware that any doctor had the authority to request the patient to give him any old medicines, especially medicines the patient paid for.

If you're sufficiently hot about this, you may want to write the state board of medical examiners.

TX Mom
Not an expert

Answer 6

You should tell your pharmacist what the doctor did and ask him/her if they have heard of a doctor doing this. I know a lot of people abuse prescription drugs but for all you know, he is the one abusing drugs and that is a good way for him to get drugs without the medical board being alerted to what he is doing.

Answer 7

The doctor definetly owes you a refund! A pharmacy will not let you return medicine. You could call and ask the pharmacy, then tell them what has happened.