The use of controlled substances such as pain medications (narcotics), anxiety medications (benzodiazepines), sleep medications, etc, must be monitored very closely. These medications have several potential complications. These include: - Potential for Addiction - Constipation - Fatigue - Sedation (technically, patients on chronic narcotics should avoid operating heavy machinery. This could include cars/trucks/etc). - Respiratory depression (decrease breathing / stop breathing) - Death: For the past 11-12 years, the number of deaths due to overdose on narcotics has consistently risen. In 2010, 38,000 people died in the US from narcotic overdose. Three-Quarters of these deaths were unintentional (non-suicide).
Thus, the decision to take controlled substances needs to be very well thought out and all other options exhausted.
Furthermore, recent evidence indicates that controlled substances (especially narcotics) are becoming more and more abused and misused. As a result of these concerns, I have had to create several policies for the prescribing of controlled substances.
Controlled Substance Policies:
Patients will be prescribe controlled substances ONLY when other treatment options have been exhausted, or are not tolerated.
Prescriptions for controlled substances will be for the minimum amount needed to control the condition for which they are prescribed.
Prescriptions for controlled substances will only be for the FDA recommended dosages and directions.
Patients who are prescribed controlled substances, should ONLY get their prescriptions from Dr. Beer.
Patients will be given a treatment plan for the proper use of controlled substances.
Schedule II Controlled Substances will NOT have any refills. This is in accordance to the State Of Iowa Laws.
Patients on chronic controlled substances, will have a treatment plan outlined. Any variation from the treatment plan by the patient, without notification to Dr. Beer, will result in no future prescriptions for controlled substances from Dr. Beer.
Lost or Stollen controlled substances will not be refilled unless a Police report is filed.