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and doesn't have enough medication with her. I don't actually know this woman...she's a friend's friend mom, but as a fellow diabetic, I was enlisted for help. Any ideas about where she should go for help? She's contacted the American Diabetes Association and the embassy, but does anyone else know of any place else she should go?
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Anonymous
Posts: 9,622I don't understand exactly what she needs help with. Is it getting the prescription filled? cost? -
She needs insulin, from what I understand, and can't get it without a prescription. Info is just coming to me in drips and dribbles...I'm sorry for the vague post! I probably should have waited a bit. I kind of sprang into action without all the info. I'll update as I find out more.
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Anonymous
Posts: 9,622Do you have a GP who will see her? Insulin is not a controlled substance (at least I don't think so), so I would think that as long as she can afford it (and perhaps she has health coverage in the UK who will reimburse her when she gets come), she can go to any GP who will see her here and get a prescription and then take it to a local pharmacy, paying cash for everything. I wouldn't think that a doctor would think that she's scamming to get insulin (especially if it's your GP as a referral patient) like somebody who is looking for Oxy or other drugs that addicts seek If this were my friend, I would call my GP and ask for help (my GP is on vacation this week). If that didn't work, I'd try a walk-in clinic. If all else fails, I'd imagine she'd have to sit in an ER. -
Thank you, Flexi, for the good advice. I'll give my GP a call tomorrow. Obviously, I don't do well with emergency situations--I was really flailing there!
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Anonymous
Posts: 9,6225x5 » Thank you, Flexi, for the good advice. I'll give my GP a call tomorrow. Obviously, I don't do well with emergency situations--I was really flailing there!
No worries. I'm pretty good in a crisis
(p.s. make sure you explain to your doctor's receptionist that the person is stranded here without insulin and that this can turn into an emergency situation if they don't get meds. That way if your doctor can't help, at least they should give you some advice and you can change course quickly) -
There are various walk-in clinics, aren't there on 34 st. manhattan, 23rd + 8th ave, manhattan... Couldn't a local pharmacy help too, or at least direct her to a physician? Even Duane Reade now has doctors in their stores during the day.
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I am not sure if it will work but does she have her medication with her prescription info on it (like the box with her name, address, etc.)? If so maybe her pharmacist in the UK to fax her prescription to a pharmacist here? Or have her doctor fax a new prescription to a pharmacy here. Unfortunately diabetes its a common disease here so I am sure she should be able to get some help rather quickly. Good luck.
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stacey » I am not sure if it will work but does she have her medication with her prescription info on it (like the box with her name, address, etc.)? If so maybe her pharmacist in the UK to fax her prescription to a pharmacist here? Or have her doctor fax a new prescription to a pharmacy here. Unfortunately diabetes its a common disease here so I am sure she should be able to get some help rather quickly. Good luck.
I don't think that will work. The doc has to be licensed in NY State. The friend just needs to see any doctor, and get a prescription for the insulin (and syringes, test strips, etc if s/he needs those too). S/he should bring the prescription, or write down the exact name of the insulin s/he takes as well as the dose. This is important, because some trade names might be different in the UK, so you want to make sure you get the right product. If you have the exact name (or the vial itself or a digital picture of it), the doctor will be able to find out what exactly it is if it's not a product sold here. -
Regular and NPH insulin is non-prescription. If your friend uses either or both of this type, it can be bought at the pharmacy counter, cash without a prescription. Prescriptions are necessary if insurance is going to pay. Some of the newer, analog type insulins, do require a prescription. However, insulin syringes are a prescription item.
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Oh, thank you for all the advice! Tnyc, you're right about NPH and Regular--I'm not sure which insulin(s) she takes, but I've passed along that info. Insulin syringes are a prescription item, but at a pharmacist's discretion, he/she can sell 10 at a time...your post reminded me that I'd read about that a while ago, so I checked out the Web site for NY State Health Dept, and this falls under their "Expanded Syringe Access Program." Carnivore, thanks for the reminder about UK/US differences--that's something I hadn't thought of. (But should have.)
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Call a local pharmacist (one of the friendly mom and pop ones--I like the guy at 8th ave and 8th st)....I would hope they can walk her thru it. Best of luck!!
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i need medicinal marijuana because of the iceland volcano.
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Get her to call her doctor in the UK, get someone there to collect the prescription and then mail it over with next-day shipping?
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PM » Get her to call her doctor in the UK, get someone there to collect the prescription and then mail it over with next-day shipping?
The prescription won't be valid in NY. Even if her doctor was in New Jersey it wouldn't be valid. You have to have a New York State license to write a valid prescription here. -
Anonymous
Posts: 9,622^ I think they are suggesting to overnight the medication rather than the actual prescription, although that wasn't clear from the wording -
Flexichick » ^ I think they are suggesting to overnight the medication rather than the actual prescription, although that wasn't clear from the wording
Oh, I get it. Surely it would be faster, easier and cheaper (and wouldn't impose on friends back home) to just go to a doc-in-a-box here and pick it up at a local pharmacy. -
Carnivore » The prescription won't be valid in NY. Even if her doctor was in New Jersey it wouldn't be valid. You have to have a New York State license to write a valid prescription here.
I'm pretty sure you can see a doctor in another state and have them write you a script in that state and have it filled in NY. I see a few doctors out of state and recall filling their prescriptions here. This state website also implies that you can do it - http://www.health.state.ny.us/professionals/narcotic/official_prescription_program/questions_and_answers_for_practitioners.htm (fifth question from the bottom) It is just that you can't have a doctor licensed in another state physically write you a prescription in NY - practicing outside of their licensed area and all that. Probably not much help for the OP, but... -
"Oh, I get it. Surely it would be faster, easier and cheaper (and wouldn't impose on friends back home) to just go to a doc-in-a-box here and pick it up at a local pharmacy." Sure, but the OP seemed to suggest that wasn't an option (i.e. contacting the embassy).
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Again, thanks to everyone for all your suggestions. The embassy came through for her, and as far as I know, she'll be OK. *Whew*
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