# Worried about meds. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095 "2016-04-13T17:56:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/1 "2016-04-13T17:56:26Z")
So, I take Daytrana patches for my ADHD. I’m down to my last patch. A guy from my pharmacy said on Monday he got more ordered, and should arrive Thursday, but no guarantee. What do I do if it doesn’t come? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/2 "2016-04-13T18:13:43Z")
Contact your prescribing physician for their recommendations as how to deal with being off the med unintentionally. Said physician is your best resource in this regard, knowing your history, dosage, and other medication intake. Withdrawal from the patch is less likely to cause significant problems than withdrawal from methylphenidate in oral form, however. The biggest concern is generally depression, but that takes more than a day or three to develop. But your mileage may vary, so address this with your prescriber. QtM, MD (and yes, I have detoxed people from stimulants before. More than once. A lot more.) ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/3 "2016-04-13T18:16:16Z")
But what are the chances of it coming?u ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/4 "2016-04-13T18:48:44Z")
How could we possibly know that? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/5 "2016-04-13T18:48:47Z")
> [@CastletonSnob](#): > > But what are the chances of it coming?u There’s no way for anyone on this board to know the answer to that. ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/6 "2016-04-13T18:51:36Z")
After tomorrow, when I have my last half patch, I have some expired half-patches. What do I do? I don’t wanna go without it for a whole weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/7 "2016-04-13T19:36:30Z")
> [@CastletonSnob](#): > > After tomorrow, when I have my last half patch, I have some expired half-patches. What do I do? > > I don’t wanna go without it for a whole weekend. Ask your prescribing practitioner what to do. They’ll know the answer far better than random internet posters, even when they’re physicians like I am. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/8 "2016-04-13T20:27:50Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > There’s no way for anyone on this board to know the answer to that. Not with details this patchy. ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/9 "2016-04-13T20:28:31Z")
I called Wal-Marts around my area, and one has 2boxes , and the other has one box. I need 3 boxes. What if they dont’ have it by tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/10 "2016-04-13T20:41:48Z")
**Qadgop** told you want to do. Call your doctor. I know you’re panicking but s/he’s your best resource here. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/11 "2016-04-13T20:51:19Z")
Also, halve your vegetable intake. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/12 "2016-04-13T21:28:58Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > Also, halve your vegetable intake. OK, I laughed, but probably not appropriate for a thread by a new user who has a fairly urgent medical issue. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/13 "2016-04-13T22:24:04Z")
> [@CastletonSnob](#): > > What if they dont’ have it by tomorrow? You’ll survive. Withdrawal from methylphenidate (especially the topical form) is rarely health or life-threatening. Any reason you won’t contact the prescriber for advice? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/14 "2016-04-13T22:31:20Z")
[QUOTE=CastletonSnob] I called Wal-Marts around my area, and one has 2boxes , and the other has one box. I need 3 boxes. What if they dont’ have it by tomorrow? [/QUOTE] If you normally get this med through a Wal-Mart pharmacy, your usual location should be able to work it out internally that you can go to one of the other locations that has some and get a partial fill to ensure you don’t run out, then get the rest when the shipment arrives at your usual pharmacy. You’ve already done their legwork to find where the stuff is, so their job of calling the other location will be that much easier. ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/15 "2016-04-13T23:09:25Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > You’ll survive. Withdrawal from methylphenidate (especially the topical form) is rarely health or life-threatening. > > Any reason you won’t contact the prescriber for advice? I still live with my parents because of a brain injury. My mom said he’ll probably call tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/16 "2016-04-13T23:21:09Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > You’ll survive. Withdrawal from methylphenidate (especially the topical form) is rarely health or life-threatening. From experience going without plain Ritalin and similar medications, OP may be extra sleepy and hungry. Driving might require caution. But nothing too scary should happen. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worried-about-meds/752095/17 "2016-04-13T23:49:56Z")
Since this is asking for medical advice it should go to IMHO but Dr QtM already gave the only real answer already. No need to keep this open. Call your doctor.