Follow-up to Ambien prescription woes [View all]

I got a refill. When I called it in, I asked for a 90 day refill. I picked it up today, and once again, it was for 30 days. I emailed the new nurse practitioner and told her I hoped it was a miscommunication. I don't want extra trips to town. I use the pharmacy at Giant Eagle, but their grocery prices are about the highest around, and the store is downtown. I use their pharmacy because of my insurance. Anyway, I try to avoid driving for several reasons. I also have plans to travel and the free time to go. I don't want to have to come back to town every 30 days if I am somewhere else.

Before I emailed her, I checked Ohio laws on controlled substances. I wanted to see if she's complying with state laws or just trying to hassle me. She says I have to come in every 3 months to keep getting the prescription. The wording in the laws for controlled substances is confusing. I need to read it again to see if I can understand it. With my old dr/N.P. I saw them once a year and they refilled the prescription every 90 days without rigmarole. I asked my old N.P. last year when she said she was retiring, if I should find a specialist in geriatrics. She said based on my health, no. If I have to go in every 90 days, that is costing me and my insurance more money. It isn't a medical necessity so far. Except for trouble with sleeping, I don't have problems.

I'm going to call my insurance company and get their explanation. If I find out that the new staff is padding their schedule, basically not being honest with what we all need to do for compliance, I'll switch practices. I'm not sure what I will do if there are guidelines that my old doctors didn't follow, or new guidelines that have been put in place recently. I'm wondering how I go about that without seeming to doctor shop.

I've been on Ambien since the 90s (I think) I haven't abused it, and have adapted my habits to comply with using it safely. I was under 60 when I started using it, and I've used it as a senior since 2017 with no changes in my mental status or whatever they seem worried about. I think times like this is exactly why I hate change.