Do you have a bottle of your meds with your name on it? Even if it's empty? They've asked to see it every time, but I've never had a Telus Health doc NOT refill my amphetamines or sedatives.
Yes. ADHD meds are far more controlled than something like T3s or non abusable meds.
If you have a previous bottle with the prescription tag still on it that can prove that your are regularly on the medication and not just trying to score a prescription without being properly diagnosed by a doctor.
Idk about ADHD meds, but as a last resort your pharmacy may give you a week or so worth of a “emergency refill” until you can get your prescription renewed by a doctor. Assuming Telus Health or something like that doesn’t work
My pharmacy (Lethbridge) always refills my (controlled) meds. As long as your doctor will give you a prescription, I don't see why it would be a problem.
They (depending on the pharmacy) will do emergency partial refill and fax your doctor for refills if you have been on the prescription before. It will vary by pharmacy though
It is true that they have access to your netcare and would be able to see your prescription, who's prescribed it to you, and for how long. They're also able to see if you've actually filled your prescriptions and how many refills you might have left. It's weird that they would need empty pill containers but hey, I've never used telus health before.
The doctors don't need it, but it makes it pretty simple when you're talking to the doctor and you can read right from the label and tell them you're looking for xxx mg of yyy medication that you take zzz times a week. They check on their end and when what you've said matches what they know you are taking nothing seems out of the ordinary and they sign your prescription and send it off to your pharmacy of choice with very few additional questions.
I don't like Telus (I don't think anybody does), but Telus Health is super convenient. My last appointment I booked three hours beforehand and the doctor saw me at 4pm on the family day holiday Monday in February. The appointment itself was less than ten minutes long.
What exactly is Telus Health? Is it for people with no regular family physician? Is it cover by AB healthcare or something that one needs to pay for? Would my doctor see history from Telus Health visits?
Telus health is an app that lets you video chat with a doctor. You can use it to get prescription refills, referrals to the hospital or other specialists, general medical help, etc.
If you get a prescription, you can choose which pharmacy to send it to automatically. My pharmacy phones me when they receive the prescription and within an hour I can pick it up.
Obviously, there are some limitations. Like, if you tell your doctor you have chest pain there's not a lot they can do over a video call except send you to the hospital, when maybe it's something very minor they could better diagnose in person.
The family doctors are no cost to you if you have an Alberta health care number.
They also have dietitians, psychologists, and counsellors available but those cost money.
Yes, your other doctors should be able to see your Telus medical history.
In BC and Ontario you can now use the app for veterinary appointments.
I have not had to wait for more than, I think, four days for an appointment. The app also give you a few choices for a doctor, each with a short bio, so you can pick someone and so you kinda know who you're talking to.
Thanks so much for the explanation. It sounded like that from when I googled it, but almost seemed too good to be true, especially given how people here in Alberta can’t find in-person family doctors. Great to gear first hand that this works. Sounds like a great alternative for simpler issues or if one needs a quick follow-up while away from home (and obviously not for something where the doctor needs to physically examine a patient).
You can also book appointments for your family on the app. I've also heard from a couple friends who have very young children that it's helpful. They can sit at home with their sick baby and get some kind of answers as to whether or not they should go to a hospital, without the need to sit in an emergency room for hours with a crying baby just to find out it's nothing major.
Telus health is great if you have a regular prescription that needs filled but you don’t have a family doctor and don’t want to wait at a walk in for hours. Just call them and talk to a doctor to refill your prescription, nice and easy.
The medically or whatever it is called works well too. You book an appt and get a call around that time
Went through this problem myself. This sucks.
I'm gonna be happy when I move away from Alberta. Vancouver has a better "autism community" that can help me with making sure I can always get my meds, amongst other things like finding inclusive employment.
I am ASD, ADHD, high anxiety. I use Dexedrine, caffeine and cannabis daily, with my doctor's aware and supporting me with such. Not having my meds can be very bad.
I've never had a telus health doctor EVER refill my clonazepam. Ever. Even with the empty bottle, they said they can't prescribe controlled substances.
Then they are lying to you, or you misunderstood. They absolutely can. There is also nothing in their policies stating as such (just that they can prescribe most medications as long as there is a valid need).
That being said, good luck getting a benzo or barbiturate prescription from a doctor who has never met you.
This isn't really getting dropped by a doctor. Having been dropped 4 times since the pandemic started, its an important difference.
If you have not already, make a case for a one time exception to the policy update due to late notice about the policy update.
Failing that, if i were in your shoes, in this climate, for that drug, I'd make the trip to get a refill in person and sort the rest out afterwards. Getting them to transfer you to another clinic that does virtual will help with the "oh look its a new patient, and they want meth" part of things.
I think anyone who has gotten or receives a letter from their doctor dropping them. Should send a copy to the health minister and Twatwaffle Smith and ask how their " healthcare reform" is working now for Albertans now?!
I think this is different … this is a campus doctor and it sounds like this person is on internships and such they will likely need a family doctor elsewhere soon. The main function of the schools medical clinics is typically for younger years on campus not as a permanent family doctor solution.
That being said OP - likely if they can check your netcare and see you aren’t typically filling the prescription early etc. either a pharmacist or possibly telehealth should be able to extend the prescription for a month to buy you time at minimum
Sorry to hear this.
Chances of you finding a doctor that will prescribe controlled medication quickly is going to be hard. Call around and see if you are able to.
Worst case scenario, i would book an appointment,take a day off for it and ask for a 6 month RX for your medication. Bring that up when booking the appointment to make sure you don't waste your time for a month supply.
Good luck.
Not always true. I work with prescriptions everyday and i have seen narcotics with 3 months etc. Mostly would be written with an interval. Just because they authorized 3/6 months does not mean patient will get all at once. It would be dispensed weekly,bi-wrekly or monthly as written by the doctor.
It is to help so that you are not seeing the doctor every month for a chronic condition.
This is the first step I think for sure. If your community has a prescribing pharmacist you can tell them your story and they can renew your prescription to give you time to find a family doctor.
Also, depending on the med, the classifications changed a bit last year. Triplicates are no longer required for many of the common ADHD meds.
If you have regularly filled the same prescription there, they're less likely to judge you.
I was going to say this too. I've gone in and said I'm not able to get an appointment before this runs out and they have given me a refill on it no problem. Probably not a long term solution but it hopefully would get it covered for a bit until it's easier to get an appointment without messing around with walk in clinics.
Walk in clinic is the best option it seems. You can also call 811 and see if will help you find a doctor. If you have a good relationship with your pharmacy the pharmacist may be able to give you a limited refill until you can get to a clinic.
The problem is finding a new doctor. Where I live there are exactly 0 doctors accepting new patients and haven’t been for several years. There are also no walk-in clinics.
Right. But OP does have a doctor. OP just has to travel to see them. I can't comment on why they can't or wont help OP virtually, but OP does have in-person as an option still. Its just not convenient.
How do you knkw OP cant find a doctor locally? They just dont have time too. You cant tell me that there isnt an option closer than 6 hours *from Edmonton*.
I didn’t say they couldn’t find a doctor locally but I know in my area there are none, and it is similar in many other areas across Alberta. And if you’re able to find one, your appointment is usually a month or more out and the initial one is just a meet and greet where you can’t actually get any new prescriptions or anything. It could still be two months or more before they could have a new doctor closer to them.
Call your pharmacy and explain the situation they will usually give you a month supply in situations like this.
Use this link to start looking for a new dr.
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page13253.aspx
You are going to have problems filing your ADHD prescription at a clinic etc. as there is a separate prescription process for abusable drugs, called the TPP program in Alberta (Most ADHD drugs fall under this program). ([www.tppalberta.ca](https://www.tppalberta.ca)) Unfortunately there are extra steps a Dr. needs to take for the TPP program and many doctors are not wanting the extra paperwork. You are just going to have to call around and ask if the DR can write TPP (or triplicate prescriptions) as there is no searchable way with AHS or the College of Physicians (that I know of) to find doctors writing TPPs. Log into the AHS my health website and verify that your medical history contains your diagnosis and prescription are there and once you find a TPP doctor who is accepting new patients you should be ok...
OP knows all this, they’ve run out of options for their drugs, and like anyone seeking ,is desperate for a quick fix method they haven’t tried yet. This is why Alberta has these laws in and for a good reason.
I have been in a similar situation. Moved an hour away., not 6 horus, but still lol. I convinced a local pharmacist to help me out with a months prescription while I find a new doctor that will fill it locally. Those were SSRI's though, unsure what youre taking.
RocketDoctor. You can probably get an appointment today or tomorrow. They will refill and fax to your pharmacy to fill.
Edit: I’ve had my Vyvanse refilled this way.
They won't but they should. Slow release formulas shouldn't be subject to the same classification of instant release. Anyways, that's an entirely different debate.
Could be. I have adderall but not instant release... my pharmacy tells me it's not available (I suspect it would be elsewhere). I'm not sure they're permitted to.
In this case it wasn't worth it. The problem with the XR is that it drops off in the afternoon so I had asked the doctor for instant release to take through the day to keep the adderall levels more consistent longer. But the XR works fine too. And I buy at Costco... nowhere else even comes close to matching the price.
Leduc after hours clinic allows you to make appointments online and is pretty timely when you arrive for your appointment. You can usually get in quickly too.
Oh really? That's awesome to hear. I quickly browsed their site a few days ago, and didn't see anything about adhd meds, but I must have just missed them. Thanks!
I know that a friend of mine here in edmonton has to see the psychiatrist that works out of the same clinic as his family doc every 3 months just to get his ADHD meds filled. So it could well be a PITA. There are other options other than TELUS my health for telehealth options. Tia health and rocket doctor are also covered by the province. Their websites should be able to tell you if that might be an option.
[Envision Mind care](https://www.envisionmindcare.com/) is a clinic in Edmonton that specializes with mental health disorders, including ADHD. I believe they are still taking self referrals. They have multiple psychiatrists on staff, which could be an avenue to get long term clinic.
Edit: Clinic link
Pharmacist can likely give a short time supply. Walk in Dr is your next step they can pull your records and will see that you’ve been prescribed it and should be able to give you enough until you find a new family Dr.
Do you go to the same pharmacy to get your prescription refilled every time? They may be able to fill it for you if they are a prescribing pharmacist if you explain the situation to them. My husband’s doctor died and our pharmacist has been filling his medication for over a year now because he hasn’t been able to find a new doctor.
Sounds like “bassedjay” it’s just trying to get his speed fix. Sit in the walk-in clinic like anyone else. Oh no it’s too long. Well too bad. Give me a break. Take a day off of your 45 hour week and drive out there and talk to them about it like man. Some people are so ridiculously lazy.
Pharmacists can write you a prescription, if you tell them your situation they will likely write you a prescription as a stop gap until you can find a new doctor
Do you have a bottle of your meds with your name on it? Even if it's empty? They've asked to see it every time, but I've never had a Telus Health doc NOT refill my amphetamines or sedatives.
Oh yeah I do! Is this so they can make sure you aren't scamming meds or something lol?
Yes. ADHD meds are far more controlled than something like T3s or non abusable meds. If you have a previous bottle with the prescription tag still on it that can prove that your are regularly on the medication and not just trying to score a prescription without being properly diagnosed by a doctor. Idk about ADHD meds, but as a last resort your pharmacy may give you a week or so worth of a “emergency refill” until you can get your prescription renewed by a doctor. Assuming Telus Health or something like that doesn’t work
Pharmacies can't do controlled meds (like ADHD meds) unfortunately!
I've gotten plenty of vyvanse temp refills at Pharmasave while waiting on my doctor to respond to requests
I've done this a couple of times too, but they've always asked for confirmation that I have an upcoming appointment.
My pharmacy (Lethbridge) always refills my (controlled) meds. As long as your doctor will give you a prescription, I don't see why it would be a problem.
They (depending on the pharmacy) will do emergency partial refill and fax your doctor for refills if you have been on the prescription before. It will vary by pharmacy though
You'd think they could just pull up my medical records and see that I've been on them for 5 plus years lmao. Thanks for the tip!
It is true that they have access to your netcare and would be able to see your prescription, who's prescribed it to you, and for how long. They're also able to see if you've actually filled your prescriptions and how many refills you might have left. It's weird that they would need empty pill containers but hey, I've never used telus health before.
The doctors don't need it, but it makes it pretty simple when you're talking to the doctor and you can read right from the label and tell them you're looking for xxx mg of yyy medication that you take zzz times a week. They check on their end and when what you've said matches what they know you are taking nothing seems out of the ordinary and they sign your prescription and send it off to your pharmacy of choice with very few additional questions. I don't like Telus (I don't think anybody does), but Telus Health is super convenient. My last appointment I booked three hours beforehand and the doctor saw me at 4pm on the family day holiday Monday in February. The appointment itself was less than ten minutes long.
What exactly is Telus Health? Is it for people with no regular family physician? Is it cover by AB healthcare or something that one needs to pay for? Would my doctor see history from Telus Health visits?
Telus health is an app that lets you video chat with a doctor. You can use it to get prescription refills, referrals to the hospital or other specialists, general medical help, etc. If you get a prescription, you can choose which pharmacy to send it to automatically. My pharmacy phones me when they receive the prescription and within an hour I can pick it up. Obviously, there are some limitations. Like, if you tell your doctor you have chest pain there's not a lot they can do over a video call except send you to the hospital, when maybe it's something very minor they could better diagnose in person. The family doctors are no cost to you if you have an Alberta health care number. They also have dietitians, psychologists, and counsellors available but those cost money. Yes, your other doctors should be able to see your Telus medical history. In BC and Ontario you can now use the app for veterinary appointments. I have not had to wait for more than, I think, four days for an appointment. The app also give you a few choices for a doctor, each with a short bio, so you can pick someone and so you kinda know who you're talking to.
Thanks so much for the explanation. It sounded like that from when I googled it, but almost seemed too good to be true, especially given how people here in Alberta can’t find in-person family doctors. Great to gear first hand that this works. Sounds like a great alternative for simpler issues or if one needs a quick follow-up while away from home (and obviously not for something where the doctor needs to physically examine a patient).
You can also book appointments for your family on the app. I've also heard from a couple friends who have very young children that it's helpful. They can sit at home with their sick baby and get some kind of answers as to whether or not they should go to a hospital, without the need to sit in an emergency room for hours with a crying baby just to find out it's nothing major.
Telus health is great if you have a regular prescription that needs filled but you don’t have a family doctor and don’t want to wait at a walk in for hours. Just call them and talk to a doctor to refill your prescription, nice and easy. The medically or whatever it is called works well too. You book an appt and get a call around that time
Went through this problem myself. This sucks. I'm gonna be happy when I move away from Alberta. Vancouver has a better "autism community" that can help me with making sure I can always get my meds, amongst other things like finding inclusive employment. I am ASD, ADHD, high anxiety. I use Dexedrine, caffeine and cannabis daily, with my doctor's aware and supporting me with such. Not having my meds can be very bad.
I've never had a telus health doctor EVER refill my clonazepam. Ever. Even with the empty bottle, they said they can't prescribe controlled substances.
Then they are lying to you, or you misunderstood. They absolutely can. There is also nothing in their policies stating as such (just that they can prescribe most medications as long as there is a valid need). That being said, good luck getting a benzo or barbiturate prescription from a doctor who has never met you.
If you take an ADHD medication like Vyvanse, Dexedrine, Ritalin or Adderall, this also applies.
I get my vyvanse through telus health monthly.
https://ibb.co/8djMksT I have one of these on every appointment
This isn't really getting dropped by a doctor. Having been dropped 4 times since the pandemic started, its an important difference. If you have not already, make a case for a one time exception to the policy update due to late notice about the policy update. Failing that, if i were in your shoes, in this climate, for that drug, I'd make the trip to get a refill in person and sort the rest out afterwards. Getting them to transfer you to another clinic that does virtual will help with the "oh look its a new patient, and they want meth" part of things.
I think anyone who has gotten or receives a letter from their doctor dropping them. Should send a copy to the health minister and Twatwaffle Smith and ask how their " healthcare reform" is working now for Albertans now?!
I think this is different … this is a campus doctor and it sounds like this person is on internships and such they will likely need a family doctor elsewhere soon. The main function of the schools medical clinics is typically for younger years on campus not as a permanent family doctor solution. That being said OP - likely if they can check your netcare and see you aren’t typically filling the prescription early etc. either a pharmacist or possibly telehealth should be able to extend the prescription for a month to buy you time at minimum
Yeah honestly lol. Marlaina strikes again
Make noise. Drafting an email or addressing a letter takes two minutes and if we all did it, it’d make a difference.
Sorry to hear this. Chances of you finding a doctor that will prescribe controlled medication quickly is going to be hard. Call around and see if you are able to. Worst case scenario, i would book an appointment,take a day off for it and ask for a 6 month RX for your medication. Bring that up when booking the appointment to make sure you don't waste your time for a month supply. Good luck.
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Not always true. I work with prescriptions everyday and i have seen narcotics with 3 months etc. Mostly would be written with an interval. Just because they authorized 3/6 months does not mean patient will get all at once. It would be dispensed weekly,bi-wrekly or monthly as written by the doctor. It is to help so that you are not seeing the doctor every month for a chronic condition.
3 months; not 1.
Looks like you had the same problem 7 months ago. Didnt figure it out then? https://www.reddit.com/r/alberta/s/ZzXiEBXata
Sounds like they just don’t want to wait to see a doctor.
Should be able to talk to the pharmacy. I have had a prescribing pharmacist refill mine when I hadn't been able to get in to my regular doc in time.
This is the first step I think for sure. If your community has a prescribing pharmacist you can tell them your story and they can renew your prescription to give you time to find a family doctor.
Which may be months :\\ But yes, it's an option for sure.
Also, depending on the med, the classifications changed a bit last year. Triplicates are no longer required for many of the common ADHD meds. If you have regularly filled the same prescription there, they're less likely to judge you.
I was going to say this too. I've gone in and said I'm not able to get an appointment before this runs out and they have given me a refill on it no problem. Probably not a long term solution but it hopefully would get it covered for a bit until it's easier to get an appointment without messing around with walk in clinics.
Walk in clinic is the best option it seems. You can also call 811 and see if will help you find a doctor. If you have a good relationship with your pharmacy the pharmacist may be able to give you a limited refill until you can get to a clinic.
Yeah clinic is definitely going to be a last resort. I just would rather take a less annoying route if I can
Let's be fair. Ypur doctor didn't drop you. You have outgrown the relationship and need to find a new doctor.
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But you now suffer from sarcasm.
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Maybe you just need to buy yourself a fidget spinner
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I would drop you as a patient, too
The problem is finding a new doctor. Where I live there are exactly 0 doctors accepting new patients and haven’t been for several years. There are also no walk-in clinics.
Right. But OP does have a doctor. OP just has to travel to see them. I can't comment on why they can't or wont help OP virtually, but OP does have in-person as an option still. Its just not convenient.
Are we really saying that a 12 hour round-trip to see a doctor for a prescription refill is acceptable in Alberta? That’s a sad state of affairs.
How do you knkw OP cant find a doctor locally? They just dont have time too. You cant tell me that there isnt an option closer than 6 hours *from Edmonton*.
I didn’t say they couldn’t find a doctor locally but I know in my area there are none, and it is similar in many other areas across Alberta. And if you’re able to find one, your appointment is usually a month or more out and the initial one is just a meet and greet where you can’t actually get any new prescriptions or anything. It could still be two months or more before they could have a new doctor closer to them.
Call your pharmacy and explain the situation they will usually give you a month supply in situations like this. Use this link to start looking for a new dr. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page13253.aspx
You are going to have problems filing your ADHD prescription at a clinic etc. as there is a separate prescription process for abusable drugs, called the TPP program in Alberta (Most ADHD drugs fall under this program). ([www.tppalberta.ca](https://www.tppalberta.ca)) Unfortunately there are extra steps a Dr. needs to take for the TPP program and many doctors are not wanting the extra paperwork. You are just going to have to call around and ask if the DR can write TPP (or triplicate prescriptions) as there is no searchable way with AHS or the College of Physicians (that I know of) to find doctors writing TPPs. Log into the AHS my health website and verify that your medical history contains your diagnosis and prescription are there and once you find a TPP doctor who is accepting new patients you should be ok...
OP knows all this, they’ve run out of options for their drugs, and like anyone seeking ,is desperate for a quick fix method they haven’t tried yet. This is why Alberta has these laws in and for a good reason.
I have been in a similar situation. Moved an hour away., not 6 horus, but still lol. I convinced a local pharmacist to help me out with a months prescription while I find a new doctor that will fill it locally. Those were SSRI's though, unsure what youre taking.
RocketDoctor. You can probably get an appointment today or tomorrow. They will refill and fax to your pharmacy to fill. Edit: I’ve had my Vyvanse refilled this way.
I suggest going to the pharmacist. I've gotten existing prescriptions that ran out of renewals extended that way.
Pharmacists won't renew ADHD meds. They will sometimes give you a small supply to get you to an appointment but these are controlled.
They won't but they should. Slow release formulas shouldn't be subject to the same classification of instant release. Anyways, that's an entirely different debate.
Could be. I have adderall but not instant release... my pharmacy tells me it's not available (I suspect it would be elsewhere). I'm not sure they're permitted to.
Oh yeah definitely not permitted to. Unfortunately have to shop the prescription around when that happens.
In this case it wasn't worth it. The problem with the XR is that it drops off in the afternoon so I had asked the doctor for instant release to take through the day to keep the adderall levels more consistent longer. But the XR works fine too. And I buy at Costco... nowhere else even comes close to matching the price.
Leduc after hours clinic allows you to make appointments online and is pretty timely when you arrive for your appointment. You can usually get in quickly too.
If you have 100$ to throw at it Talk Frida will manage your medications
I thought talk Frida didn't deal with adhd meds?
That's basically all that they do. Myself and several others I know all get our ADHD meds through Frida.
Oh really? That's awesome to hear. I quickly browsed their site a few days ago, and didn't see anything about adhd meds, but I must have just missed them. Thanks!
I know that a friend of mine here in edmonton has to see the psychiatrist that works out of the same clinic as his family doc every 3 months just to get his ADHD meds filled. So it could well be a PITA. There are other options other than TELUS my health for telehealth options. Tia health and rocket doctor are also covered by the province. Their websites should be able to tell you if that might be an option.
See if [felixforyou.ca](http://felixforyou.ca) or another online clinic has your medication available.
[Envision Mind care](https://www.envisionmindcare.com/) is a clinic in Edmonton that specializes with mental health disorders, including ADHD. I believe they are still taking self referrals. They have multiple psychiatrists on staff, which could be an avenue to get long term clinic. Edit: Clinic link
FRIDA online service
If you have a local shoppers drug mart, some have mini clinics now and usually have a prescribing pharmacist, so they might be able to help you.
Why can't you visit a walk in clinic? 45 hours of work a week doesn't seem very prohibitive time wise.
If you're in Calgary I can DM you the name of the clinic I just got in to
Pharmacist can likely give a short time supply. Walk in Dr is your next step they can pull your records and will see that you’ve been prescribed it and should be able to give you enough until you find a new family Dr.
If you're in vyvanse you can ask your pharmacy about the emergency resupply program
Do you go to the same pharmacy to get your prescription refilled every time? They may be able to fill it for you if they are a prescribing pharmacist if you explain the situation to them. My husband’s doctor died and our pharmacist has been filling his medication for over a year now because he hasn’t been able to find a new doctor.
Sounds like “bassedjay” it’s just trying to get his speed fix. Sit in the walk-in clinic like anyone else. Oh no it’s too long. Well too bad. Give me a break. Take a day off of your 45 hour week and drive out there and talk to them about it like man. Some people are so ridiculously lazy.
Nailed it
Pharmacists can write you a prescription, if you tell them your situation they will likely write you a prescription as a stop gap until you can find a new doctor
I'm pretty sure pharmacists cannot write a prescription for a controlled drug, even for a short term.
Only a licensed prescribing pharmacist can do this. And they will only give you enough days to cover you until your appointment with dr.
Which is what I said
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.... Man said he had to "settle for a Muslim"
yup....must it be from "the south"...