Prescriptions

[seniorsam67]

Hey, I have a friend that has said he thinks I might have this sleep thing, apnea? And my camping buddies have made mention (won't go into what they said-ha) of all the snoring and noise I make on our fishing trips. So this friend let me use his extra cap machine, and I did feel better after a couple nites. So I called my md. and he said I need to do a sleep study and get hooked up to machines to see if I have this, and if I do he will give me an RX for a machine. Is this for real? Do I need an RX for a machine that blows air? And are these machines expensive? He wouldn't tell me what he paid for his.

Help me out here!
Sam

[RLooney]

Yes, you gotta have that RX, just like you were buying some medication. So doctors won't write an rx without the sleep study...its a set cycle that everyone follows. Machines are cheap online, about 1/3 the price you would pay at a local company that your doctor would send you to. I would say you could buy a great machine for $350.

Hope that helps!

[SleepyTimeGal]

The F.D.A. regulates the medical industry, and cpaps are medical devices. They cannot be dispensed without a prescription. That's why they are illegal to have on internet auction sites.

SleepyTimeGal

[SleepyCurt]

Most helath insurance plans will pay for a CPAP machine, but you are required to do a sleep study to "prove" you have sleep apnea. I found that the people at the sleep clinic tried to scare me by saying sleep apnea can be fatal and having me sign a waiver every time I go to the clinic. Once you get used to sleeping with the machine, it'll change your life. The other thing you can do is loose weight, which is probably something we all should do anyway. It is supposed to significantly reduce the sleep apnea if you drop some pounds.

By the way, I found a CPAP machine identical to the one my insurance bought me on EBay for $100.00. Saved me from having to cart the thing to my boyfriend's house everytime I wanted to spend the night. Just make sure you get it checked at a sleep clinic or if you know a Respiratory Therapist that can check the pressure for you, make sure it's set right is calibrated.

[SleepyTimeGal]

You may have been lucky in getting a cpap machine for $100.00 on the internet auction site that is working. Again, it is illegal to dispense a machine (even used) without a prescription. The saying "buyer beware" really comes into play here. And Ebay will cancel an auction of medical equipment that requires a prescription. Again, be careful.

SleepyTimeGal

[MI]

I bought a good used cpap on yahoo auctions for under $60 including shipping. My understanding is that ebay will no longer carry them. I find it odd that some feel that you need a script for a device that is nothing more than a fancy air pump. I didn't think air was a controlled substance.

[snoregirl]

To the original poster.

The answer to your question is a qualified yes. You do need a prescriiption to legally buy a cpap machine in this country. Can machines be had without prescription? Of course, as can prescription drugs and toilets that are not low flow etc.

A sleep study can be very useful to rule out other causes of your sleep issues. Does everyone have them? I think most but not all. Is treated sleep apnea with a used, nonprescription machine and no sleep study better than untreated apena? Your call. Used machines (as well as you older prescription purchased machine) can be checked for accurate pressures with a small inexpensive device (don't need a DME to do this).

It is your body, your health, do what you will.

There are dangers that a glorified air blower blowing too much at the wrong person can cause central apneas which would show up during a sleep study. So there is some minute danger for self treating without the benefit of a sleep study. How much danger? I am not a doctor and don't know.

If you have good insurance definately have that sleep study. Much better way to go if possible. Any decision you make is up to you.

[texasred]

Most helath insurance plans will pay for a CPAP machine, but you are required to do a sleep study to "prove" you have sleep apnea. I found that the people at the sleep clinic tried to scare me by saying sleep apnea can be fatal and having me sign a waiver every time I go to the clinic.

Apologies for 'jacking the thread...

ALL insurance companies will pay for a CPAP machine.

The sleep study is also to titrate the correct pressure for you.

You sign the same type of waivers any time you go into the hospital. It CAN be fatal (Google OSA and heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, etc) and if it can happen at your house, it can certainly happen in the lab. It's a CYA thing for them...not a scare tactic for you.

C.J.

[Guest]

The sale of PAPS require an ORDER, not a PRESCRIPTION.

DME are not licensed to diepsense Rx, they are licensed to fill an ORDER.

Yet people still do not realize the important difference.

If you call a place that sells PAPS etc and aks if you can fax over your Rx and they say you can, then they are not filling a prescription.

A Prescription may not be faxed in and be filled in a pharmacy that is following the intent of the law. Some will if they do not realize that a person with an rx for pain pills could fax in their rx to every store in town and have all the pain pill they want.
Think about it
It does not work this way, Sorry
tomjax

[snoregirl]

You may have a subtile difference between order and prescription, however, the fact is that without that "order" he will not get a legally operating DME to give him anything, much less insurance to pay for it.

And I think that was the real point of the original question.