DEA Agents — Ignore this Article!
May 6, 2008 by kfabrizio
Note to readers and to web-lurking, criminal-seeking DEA agents: This is in no way meant to be a solicitation for prescription drugs, nor an attempt to traffic my unused meds to another M.S. patient using the Internet. This is merely an opinion piece on the lack of a reputable system for recycling safe and unused DMD’s that cost nearly a fortune for many patients. This disclaimer is designed to protect Sunshine from her biggest fear: false prosecution. There’s no need for drug agents to raid my home and kick in my back door. My dear father is already worried there’s a tap on his phone line since we talk about drugs so frequently now in our conversations. He certainly doesn’t want to share an adjacent cell. This is merely one M.S. patient’s opinion on an infuriating topic.
Do you remember when M.S. blogger Lisa Emrich asked you what $7,000 looked like to you? That was a poignant and breath-taking piece about the cost of M.S. patients’ injectible DMD’s. After reading that article, I became highly cognizant of the value of my meds, grateful for a terrific prescription plan, and cautious about being wasteful with a single syringe. (Click the link above if you missed the article previously. It’s a must-read).
Last month I had a terrible reaction to Copaxone, resulting in my inability to continue use of the meds, further resulting in a brand-new box of sharps, along with five extra days’ worth of the meds, taking up semi-permanent residence on the top shelf of my fridge. Sunday I began a five day regimen of Solumedrol, and my refrigerated food items are planning a mutiny for space. I just can’t bring myself to throw out meds, which without insurance would have cost me well over $1,700. The new prescription came the day before my attack.
Shared Solutions won’t take them back. Either will my mail-order pharmacy. My neurologist shook her head at me and also saved me a phone call to the M.S. Society, who also can’t do anything with them. I’m not comfortable wildly posting “have medicine, will donate” on the Internet. I wouldn’t give my meds to just anyone. I did offer the box to another Copaxone user whom I’ve gotten to know a little, but the good soul, also blessed with a good prescription plan told me to find a needier patient. I even called a local free clinic, but alas, they too are unable to receive donated Copaxone.
I understand the worries. I could be a psycho (no comments from the peanut gallery) and I could have tampered with the sharps. I haven’t. Dear Lord, I can’t even bring myself to throw them out; I certainly wouldn’t waste them or purposely harm another person. But I understand. However, that’s not an excuse.
It would be different if I was the only patient on the planet with this problem. If you’ve never lurked in an M.S. networking site (Patients Like Me, M.S. World, Daily Strength, for example), perhaps you think this is a rare occurrence, but it isn’t. People are constantly having to switch their DMD’s – for a variety of reasons. So many people (and their refrigerators) are in the same boat as me. Like me, they too have been told to “just throw them out.” Would you throw out a $1,700 perfectly fine laptop just because you couldn’t use it anymore? Would you junk a perfectly fine used car worth $1,700, just because you needed a change? Would you take $1,700 cash, wrap it up and seal it with duct tape, and just toss it into the garbage on pick up day? This is exactly what we are being asked to do.
Why hasn’t a system for DMD return or donation been established? Why haven’t policies and procedure been established to safe guard the integrity of the meds or to test for tampering? Telling folks to “just throw out” their meds is certainly not the best answer. There must be a better solution.
Perhaps I’ve missed one along the way. If a reputable system for donating unused medications exists, please educate me. Needy M.S. patients, it will do you no good to post your contact info here on the blog or to email me with your mailing address. If I don’t know you personally, I can’t send you my Copaxone. Instead, let’s use this forum to brainstorm solutions to this growing problem. I’m up for ideas.
Note to sexy DEA agents, carrying handcuffs: If you’re cute and rival some of the hunky cops on my favorite law shows, you can pay me a visit. You won’t be able to cuff me due to my port-a-cath in one arm, and my bruised other forearm from a blown vein. But, if you’re wearing a big badge and want to waste your time with a wired-on-Solumedrol and feisty redhead with a thing for hot cops, I’ll open the door so you don’t have to kick it down. Otherwise, if you’re just an average run of the mill agent, move on to your next Internet trap for a true drug criminal. I promise you he doesn’t live in my father’s house either. (Unless trafficking blood pressure meds and arthritis remedies are hot on the drug market these days). And, dear hubby, no need for scolding here, since you announced to the world last week that you dream of camping in the mountains with Shania.
Seriously – educate me and/or start the conversation towards a solution my friends….
I wish I lived near you because as a new user of Copaxone I accidentally messed one up (didn’t take off the red cap) and now I’m one short. My insurance company won’t refill until right before the date, so I actually was going to have to miss a dose because the refill date was Sunday and my pharmacy doesn’t get shipments in on Sat or Sun. I had to “borrow” from another copaxone patient I know. I felt like some kind of deal was going down when she handed me the brown unmarked paper bag with the goods in it.
I’ve been on the receiving end of unused Copaxone before. The local DC chapter NMSS maintains close contact with some of the larger MS clinics and MS nurses around, one of which happens to be mine. There have been instances where a patient, even one who sees a different neurologist, changes drug and has ‘leftovers.’ The NMSS calls Carol (my nurse) and she accepts the box of unused drug and proceeds to either use it in demonstrations or pass it on to a lucky patient (that has been me).
I believe that this procedure is completely legal since the medication is being ‘dispensed’ in the doctor’s office. The previous patient’s label will be removed but otherwise the box is undisturbed. Here’s where having a good relationship with your healthcare team and being upfront with financial challenges can benefit the patient.
Unfortunately, this process is focused locally and is not one which can be conducted online or across statelines or patient-to-patient. There was a popular forum a few years ago, hosted by one of the drug companies, on which patients sometimes made known whether they had needs or had excesses in the drug department. I believe that there may have been a patient or two who might have received gifts in the mail (on ice) after discussions departed the forum. But now that particular forum has been closed and other forums are more diligent about monitoring discussions and posting relevant legal warnings.
Sad really.
To Susan, and others,
If you’ve forgotten to remove the red cap when the syringe is in the autoject and you’ve hit the trigger, all is not lost. Simply unscrew the autoject, recock the spring mechanism, screw the autoject back together, remove the red cap and proceed with the injection as usual.
To Kim,
I hope you’re hanging in there and that the Solumedrol isn’t too rough to handle. I’m seeing great improvements with having added Baclofen to my daily regimen. Although my left arm/hand/fingers don’t want to get with the program. This relapse (or two) actually started mildly around New Year’s and became rather obvious by the beginning of March. I managed to avoid additional Solumedrol after my trip to Florida since I came back with a nasty sinus infection.
Infection + Solumedrol = not a good idea.
But hey, I’m happy my legs are working better.
Hey! This is ironic. I was listening to my local NPR station adn there is a new program for dispensing unsued meds. I am in Iowa. I will try to find the info on it and get it to you asap. I know what you mean about the unused medicine.m I was very nervous when I started taking Rebif. I wasn’t sure I would handle it well and afraid I would have to start something else. Part of the reason I lived through the crap that goes with Rebif is the ridiculous cost. Even though insurance paid for it, I could not bring myself to waste it. Of course, I did nto have a horrible reaction…only the predicted ones.
Kim,
I am in the same boat as you. I was Dx last August with MS, in the same town as you and I also have the same Neurologist as you. As a matter of fact, I just saw her today. But getting back to the drugs, I get 3 months at a time delivered and last November I went through exactly 9 shots total of Copaxone before finding out it was not the drug for me. I had severe reactions to it. Therefore, I am sitting here still, 6 months later, with 79 shots of Copaxone in my refrigerator. I too, cannot throw them out. Thinking it is almost $7,000 of drugs and the expiration date is 2009 I just can’t do it. So, 3 large boxes take up a shelf of the fridge along with 3 boxes of Avonex that I have been on since the day before Thanksgiving. It is a shame these drugs go to waste.
Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU for the little note about cops and handcuffs. AHHHH….memories…..those were good times!!!!! hahahahahahahha
Oh, by the way, where did all the pretty patchwork pictures come from for those of us who don’t have a picture? I really think they are neat!!!!!
Vicki, what a small world! I hope we have a chance to meet sometime!
I was just diagnosed with MS on March 31, 2008. I started my Copaxone injections on May 1st. I also forgot to take the cap off on one. I didn’t know what to do, so I just pulled it off and Copaxone went every where. I wish I would have known to unscrew the Autoject and start over. It pains me to know that I may have to miss an injection, not to mention the money that was wasted. It was a lesson well learned. Good luck finding a home for your unused Copaxone. It seems a shame that no one will take it. Have fantabulous day!