amick1995 asked
I switched psychiatrists about a month ago. My old doctor gave me a script of ambien for insomnia. I have 2 valid refills left. I will run out of it soon, and will need to get it filled. Will my old doctor or my new doctor be able to see that I refilled the prescription? Can my new doctor access a list of my prescriptions and what I have filled from the pharmacy?
Answer
Yes, both your prior doctors and current will be able to see your controlled substance prescription fill history. Ambien (zolpidem) is a controlled substance and therefore each fill will be recorded in your states prescription drug monitoring program.
Prescription Monitoring Programs
All 50 states have some form of a "prescription monitoring program". The purpose of these programs is to monitor the controlled substance prescription fill history for individuals. This is done to prevent drug abuse and diversion. It is important to note that each state has their own program and they are responsible for it, not the DEA. In general, those whose who have access to their states prescription monitoring program do not have access to other states programs.
Reporting requirements for prescription drug monitoring programs vary by state but generally the following is reported and recorded in a central database:
- Name of the drug filled
- Directions of the drug filled
- Quantity of the drug filled
- Days supply of the drug filled
- Dispensing pharmacy
- Doctor who wrote the prescription
In most states, a variety of health care professionals (e.g. pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners), law enforcement, and licensing boards have access to the data. Some states even require prescribers to check the prescription monitoring program to before writing for any controlled substance prescription (New York for example).
So yes, your current doctor (and your prior doctor) will be able to see that you filled your Ambien prescription, as well as all your other controlled substance prescriptions, when they check the prescription monitoring program in your state.
