Medications.

WOW, I'm glad someone finally chimed in on medications. However, we all know that the FMCSR's are not specific and leave a lot of room for error. I guess they write them that way because people like TT DOT NURSE are in demand and there's just not enough of her to go around. So a lot of times we have to leave it up to our local doctors and the truck drivers to quote the FMCSA. My biggest complaint is the driver that hears something in the truck stop then spouts off " oh you don't need to do that " when clearly it's wrong. Show the doctor the requirements, if he is not aware, and let him make the decision. Then ask him for a letter and take that letter to the company. Don't try to hide or lie about what you do. Actions like these will show the court that you took good faith in what you've done and they will not hang you the first day of your trial.

 

I have actually stood shaking with anger at how stupid and ignorant the DOT/FMCSA are with rulemaking. If you take the time to go look you will start to see where one regulation totally contradicts another one. Either the FMCSA should go drug by drug approval or not to be used or stay out of it and let the MEs decide. They have got stupid with the drug testing too. Sometimes drivers don't know if they are coming or going. This also places a huge strain on the carrier's Safety and HR depts as well. All I can do is quote the rules and what is printed in the FMCSA MEs handbook.

 

You're right. They have taken a complex situation and tried to make it easy across the board. It's almost an impossible task that I would not want to take on. The drug testing alone is an monumental task. You write the regulations for a test and you've got 100 companies out there selling products on how to beat the tests. So what can they do. I kind of feel it's our responsibility to back them and help with their regulations when we can. Sure we could never clean up the problems but maybe we can minimize the bone head mistakes the drivers are making. And believe me when the military start test way back in the 70's I was one of those boneheads.

 

I hope that you stick around TT DOT NURSE. We need you to advise a lot of drivers. I know over the years drivers have lost their jobs because their dispatcher told them to go and take a piss test and they got there when the place was closed. So they went home. Questions on medication come up all the time and you would be an asset.

 

First I didn’t google anything. You know what they say about assuming right?

 

I have always been under the impression that (any) substance that requires a prescription is a "controlled substance"! Sometimes I think we use controlled substances and narcotics interchangeably and I don't think this is correct to do. I (googled) that drug and what I saw was the (R only) for the legal status. Sounds like a low level controlled substance to me. Not a narcotic, just a prescription pill.

 

At the risk of starting a nasty debate, I would also highly advise YOU to also stop dispensing medical advise until you have actually examined a person and took a medical history. I'm not a medical professional but I do know (from painful personal experience) that some drugs are contraindicated. Besides a driver can't "just" change a medicine without their physician saying OK. In the end that Physician knows that patient a heck of a lot better then you do. How about let's pull back a bit on this, OK?

One more thing, I have used google many times over the years to research some of the medications I have been prescribed OR advised to see about getting my physician to prescribe for me. Not one thing wrong with using the internet for this purpose, just be smart about it!

 

I'd like to see @Texas Trucker's DOT Nurse stay on the forum.
We have a genuine need for a trained medical professional to help us with timely advice.
She could be a valuable asset if she's truly here to help.
What we don't need are any more self appointed and poorly informed "experts" with no real training in any of the medical disiplines who dispense advice that's outdated and could potentially do more harm than good.

 

What we don't need also IS anybody claiming to be a medically trained person. I always will hold judgment on these issues until I can see their clear bona fides have been checked out. To do otherwise is dangerous! I said my peace in post 36 and 37 and I stand by those posts!

 

I agree. Will can train her the trucking part!!!!