medications and prescriptions 101

This is going to be an exceedingly boring entry, since it's about prescription medications. If you like, just skip the whole entry and I'll sum it up like this: Pay close attention to any prescriptions your doctor might write for you or your spouse.

I don't know what it's going to be like if and when I ever go on prescription medications. It's already confusing, just dealing with Cliff's.

Ever since his open heart surgery, he's taken three prescription meds: Lipitor, Niaspan, and Metroprolol. This combination must work well, because his blood pressure stays remarkable low, with consistant readings around 112/70.

Right after surgery, he started taking two 50 mg Metropolols daily: one in the morning, one in the evening.

About six months ago at his regular appointment, Dr. D. looked over the list of meds and said, "How would you like to take your Metropolol only once a day, with all your other pills?"

Sounded good to us, so we took the new prescription to the pharmacy and got him started on that. I didn't realize it at the time, but it's a time-release pill.

When it was time for Cliff's next appointment (he has to go every three or four months for blood work), Dr. D. was unavailable. He's had brain surgery. Cancer. I doubt he'll ever be back; he was old enough to retire anyhow (our age).

So I suggested we try the new, young doctor. I wish now I hadn't, because the nurse-practitioners there are super, and so is the other doctor, Dr. G. I don't think there would have been any mixup with them.

I asked young Dr. H. if he'd write a new prescription for Metropolol so we could get a three-month supply at one time.

From the doctor's office, I went directly to the pharmecy; that's when I noticed the "2x daily".

He must have glanced back too far on Cliff's history and given him the old 50 mg pills, right? That's what I assumed.

So, although I had the druggist file that prescription, I asked him to fill the time-release 100 mg one instead, for one month. Because one pill a day works better for us.

Yesterday, since Cliff was down to one Metropolol, we went to get a refill. Pharmicist says there's been a problem getting the timed-release ones, and they can't fill it.

"Oh well, you have another prescription on file for two a day; just give us that one, because he's totally out; he only has one left."

Seemed like a nice, simple fix. Until I got home and realized these were 100 mg, not time-release, and they were to be taken twice a day.

I've been on the phone once with the pharmacy and twice with the doctor's office, and I've finally gotten it straightened out.

Had I doled these pills out to Cliff, he would have instantly doubled the amount of Metropolol he's been taking for three years.

I can still use them, I'll just have to split them in half. And he'll be taking two doses daily again.

I sure do miss Dr. D.