Doctors/Nurses/Pharmacists of Yahoo Answer, how do you deal with drug seeking patients?

I ignore their requests and prescribe only medication necessary to treat disease. With very rare exceptions, once these folks realize I'm not going to feed their habit they leave and find someone who will (sadly, they can always find a doctor that will give them what they want - for a fee of course).

It depends on the situation as always, but generally what you need with these patients is a clear plan and clear boundaries.

It's not strictly the case that drug seeking patients won't get drugs- everyone is entitled to pain relief if they require it, and leaving someone completely without analgesia may or may not be appropriate, it depends. If someone presents to emergency with vague complaints of pain that don't make any sense, and have a known history of drug-seeking behavior, then they won't be getting many opiates from me. On the other hand, if someone has just had a total hip replacement, drug seeker or not, they'll be getting pain relief- to not give them any would be criminal.

In terms of what we do, generally the team would develop a management plan that would outline what this patient's issues were, what drugs if any they were getting, and what to look out for. Many drug-seekers try to manipulate staff members or play different departments off against one another, so it's important for everyone to know the plan and what to expect. In some cases you might get either the drug/alcohol team or the chronic pain team involved also.

We run a CURES report, and take a careful history. If its true seeking, then they do not get them from us.

idk but heres a tip,... those who ask a Dr or tell them what they want do not get them!

killem

Sex works.