@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member insert alternative meds. most drs only do the meds and surgery teaching. the alternative meds (mostly diet and vitamins) is an extra class. 6-8 years without alternative meds vs (this is just a guess) 8-10 years with the alternative meds. dr don't know about the keto diet, actins diet, weed (or cbd with or without the thc), turmeric (curcumin), and hippie voodoo stuff like walking/running and yoga/meditation. i had surgery and i syill have seizures. it is not a cure all. i also had everything thrown at me before the surgery. this is my story about my surgery. enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DGzLgMYYwE&amp...

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A MyEpile...

I think one of the biggest problems people have is they forget that doctors are just “practicing” medicine. I don’t just take what they say as the right thing for my situation, I also do research. However, with so many being bought or threatened by big pharma some doctors won’t give you the right treatment even if you ask. I am lucky that the one my son sees is a physicians assistant…he has more options.

Hi. I live in Canada and Ihave no problem with refills. One time earlier this year (I do not have a family doctor so I go to a clinic for my refils)., there was a time. I believe he was so overworked that he completely forgot to send in my refill for my Keppra. I had calle dinto the clinic twice toremind them about the refill.

The pharmacist could tell something was happening. So the pharmacist was very kind and took it upon himself to adminstered an "emergency" refilll until he finally got the refill call from the clinic.

People now a days are not on top of their job. It all depends on the person..I'm on a waiting list for a new doctor who will be accepting new patients. I hope this will stop the refill problems.

My biggest issue is with insurance not wanting to pay for name brand meds. I don't do well with generic Dilantin.I always have breakthrough seizures. To get insurance to pay for real Dilantin, I take the 50 mg chewables. THere isn't a generic for chewables so insurance will cover those. I take 7 chewables every day but it's the only way to get insurance to cover Dilantin.

The key to remember when dealing with all of them is that it is YOUR LIFE, and thus they can have their rules and make their recommendations, but you get the final say. And the good doctors actually care about their patients. When the medical insurance was seeking to have me switched from the high cholesterol medication that was focused on lowering bad cholesterol to the one that focused on lowering triglycerides (because the latter is cheaper), he was glad (after he told me what the latter was focused on) when I said no. He needed me to do so because I am the patient. And if needed to, then either I ask someone from the pharmacy or doctor's office to contact the health insurance agency to explain the realities, or I do it myself.

Remember, just like the pharmaceutical companies and major doctors practices and the hospitals, the medical insurance companies do not like the negative publicity and the lawsuits, thus they can be persuaded to do the right thing simple because it will be cheaper in the long run for them to do so.

Economics is what brought about the change with regards to making sure that it is verifiable by the patient that the medication in the bottle is in fact what it the label indicates that it is. And with enough of us complaining (especially with the ally organizations that allow for more media access) and/or threatening or doing lawsuits, it will persuade the number crunchers at the medical insurance companies, pharmaceutical industry and even the national medical boards to ensure patient's rights.