did you know that Many prescriptions have changed the way you get them starting today?

[With whom]

28. This is truly madness.

Been on Vicodin and other pain meds for ten years now through the VA. My doctor would write 6 month scripts that I could refill online through myhealtevet. In these last ten years I have been able to count on the fingers of one hand how many alcohol drinks I've had each year, usually with fingers left over.

When calling in for a new script I was told to make an appointment. I did. One month without meds until the 20th gets here. The first week was hell. I could not move. I could not function. Then it hit me. Use vodka instead. Now its 8 ozs of vodka each day. Bad days its 11 ozs.

Here's the madness part. On the pain meds I function normally. There is no impairment, while if I do not take the meds one might think I was on them. I'm not sure how many I would have to take to feel a high, the 10 mg vicodin are much weaker than what I was once prescribed. Using alcohol, which is 100% legal to purchase, creates a greater risk. It is illegal to have in my system while driving, even though the BAC is under the limit. My dosing of alcohol is 2 ozs @ 8 am, with another oz every two hours. When the pain level requires more the two hour dose becomes one and one half oz, still within legal driving limits.

It will be interesting to hear my primary care physicians' take on this on the 20th.