The Medication Run-Around
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I am, once again, sick. Actually, it’s pretty much the same sickness that’s been hanging around in my body since earlier this month, only now it’s complicated by additional tangent illnesses because I didn’t get to the doctor in time. Yes, that’s partially my fault: the first half of the month I was insanely busy with work, while the second half involved entertaining a string of house guests. Oh, and since my doctor was on vacation for a good chunk of that time, I’d hoped to avoid an office visit with her substitute altogether. No such luck.
Yesterday I finally broke down and went for a visit knowing full well what my diagnosis would be, as well as which prescriptions I’d need. One hour later I left with prescriptions for the exact meds I knew I’d be given. Naturally, I was charged $95 for the privilege of having my self-diagnosis confirmed.
To make matters worse, the doctor acknowledged that he was only giving me a one-week prescription and that I’d probably have to come back for yet another appointment to get it renewed since he was pretty certain it would take longer than 7 days of meds to knock this out of my system.
Not surprisingly, I’m a bit miffed. After all, if he knows it’s likely to take longer, why not just authorize a refill? Why make me find time in my schedule to come back to his office, where I’ll be charged for yet another visit and where, because doctor’s offices tend to be filled with sick people, I’m likely to pick up yet another bug that will have me back there yet again? Answer: built-in job security. For him. Got it.
What he doesn’t get, however, is that such practices only serve to make me an even bigger fan of using an online pharmacy. Not one of those fly-by-night places that spams me, mind you, but one with factory-fresh medications. As it is, my insurance company actually gives discounts for online pharmacy orders at certain locations and the savings on my co-pay are pretty significant. Plus there’s the convenience factor: my prescription arrives on my doorstep, usually the very next day, which means I don’t have to stand in line at the store waiting around while I feel absolutely awful. But, as I said, that discount only works at their recommended sites, which still don’t always offer the best savings.
While I’d never recommend that someone self-prescribe a medication they’ve never taken before, I don’t understand why a person shouldn’t be able to buy Xanax online from less-expensive yet reputable overseas sources, for instance — or medications to treat acne, impotence or to help with weight loss — if they’ve got a valid prescription.

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