Q. My mother cannot drive due to painful degenerative rheumatoid arthritis. I have to take her to the doctor each month to get her prescription for her hydrocodone-containing painkiller even though she is not very mobile. The trip, with its hassle and time involved, is stressful for both of us.
She used to have her meds delivered, but now with the new regulations I have to take off work once a month to get the script. I am afraid I will lose my job because of the time away from work.
Driving People to Suicide?
I wonder if the Drug Enforcement Administration has thought about the crippled elderly. My mom says the DEA is pushing people like her to suicide with this new rule. She needs the pain control. Her body is a pretzel of deformity.
A. The DEA has made it harder to access hydrocodone-containing pain relievers (Lortab, Norco, Vicodin, etc). Its goal was to reduce illicit use by requiring written prescriptions from a physician each month. This may reduce abuse but many disabled people in pain are finding it harder to get their medicine.
Your mother’s doctor may be able to write three 30-day prescriptions at a time to make it a little easier on you and her.
