Is passing out yesterday still an emergency today?
December 15, 2009 2:01 PM Subscribe
Where to get 2nd medical opinion as soon as reasonably possible about the medications one is prescribed by county hospital in Dallas?
An acquaintance here in Dallas told me just now that his pharmacist said he was being overmedicated. My acquaintance mentioned that he passed out and fell twice yesterday and has mental confusion at times. He says his blood pressure fluctuates between very high and extremely low.
He is uninsured and the Dr(s) at Parkland Hospital have him on the following: losartan, plavix, potassium chloride, amlodipime, isordile, lasix, carvedilol, and aspirin. He called Parkland to tell them he thinks he may be overmedicated and they responded that the first time they could schedule an appointment is in early February.
I told him he should go to the ER because IANAD and I would rather err on the side of caution.
My question: Where in or near Dallas could he get a free/low-cost 2nd opinion before February about his med dosages besides the emergency department of a local hospital?
An acquaintance here in Dallas told me just now that his pharmacist said he was being overmedicated. My acquaintance mentioned that he passed out and fell twice yesterday and has mental confusion at times. He says his blood pressure fluctuates between very high and extremely low.
He is uninsured and the Dr(s) at Parkland Hospital have him on the following: losartan, plavix, potassium chloride, amlodipime, isordile, lasix, carvedilol, and aspirin. He called Parkland to tell them he thinks he may be overmedicated and they responded that the first time they could schedule an appointment is in early February.
I told him he should go to the ER because IANAD and I would rather err on the side of caution.
My question: Where in or near Dallas could he get a free/low-cost 2nd opinion before February about his med dosages besides the emergency department of a local hospital?
Best answer: In order
losartan - blood pressure
plavix - anticoagulant
potassium chloride - potassium replacement
isordil - blood pressure
lasix - diuretic
carvedilol - blood pressure
Until you can find an urgent care, please ask your pharmacist if they have access to Facts and Comparisons. They can give you a list of all cross-sensitivities and side effects by plugging in the medications and some personal information (age, weight, etc)
posted by asockpuppet at 2:53 PM on December 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
losartan - blood pressure
plavix - anticoagulant
potassium chloride - potassium replacement
isordil - blood pressure
lasix - diuretic
carvedilol - blood pressure
Until you can find an urgent care, please ask your pharmacist if they have access to Facts and Comparisons. They can give you a list of all cross-sensitivities and side effects by plugging in the medications and some personal information (age, weight, etc)
posted by asockpuppet at 2:53 PM on December 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
amlodipine - also blood pressure
posted by asockpuppet at 2:53 PM on December 15, 2009
posted by asockpuppet at 2:53 PM on December 15, 2009
Best answer: Take him to an urgent care. He's on multiple medications for hypertension, and if he's passing out or feeling dizzy, that could mean his blood pressure is too low. Some urgent care locations will treat on a sliding payment scale, so call a few and see. However, if he loses consciousness again, just take him to the ER. Make sure he brings a current medications list, with dosages, to the urgent care or hospital.
posted by bedhead at 3:01 PM on December 15, 2009
posted by bedhead at 3:01 PM on December 15, 2009
Best answer: There is no such thing as a free clinic in Dallas, and Urgent Care is basically Primacare, which has regular hours (IIRC, they all close by 9 p.m. on weekdays in the few locations that are still open). According to their site, they are 8-5 on weekends. It won't be free... it'll be closer to $80 or $100.
My suggestion would be to try Baylor off Hall near the historic Swiss district/Deep Ellum or Doctor's Hospital near White Rock Lake. If he walks into the ER at one of these facilities, and describes his symptoms, he may get treatment. I know you said no ER, but after months/years of trying to find something like a "free clinic" here, your friend is basically going to have to pick between Primacare and a hospital unless he's a student and can find help through the university's medical student care programs.
Parkland is well known for being the "indigent" hospital, but it's also the main trauma hospital, which means everyone without insurance who has the flu is getting put on hold to treat people with knife injuries, gun shot wounds and who were cut out of catastrophic car accidents by the Jaws of Life. A 22 to 40 hour wait is normal there. I
I didn't think anyone without insurance had an option to go anywhere but there, but I've taken friends to various Baylor facilities with 1/10th the wait time (if that... sometimes as quick as 15 minutes) and nowhere near the hassle.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 5:26 PM on December 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
My suggestion would be to try Baylor off Hall near the historic Swiss district/Deep Ellum or Doctor's Hospital near White Rock Lake. If he walks into the ER at one of these facilities, and describes his symptoms, he may get treatment. I know you said no ER, but after months/years of trying to find something like a "free clinic" here, your friend is basically going to have to pick between Primacare and a hospital unless he's a student and can find help through the university's medical student care programs.
Parkland is well known for being the "indigent" hospital, but it's also the main trauma hospital, which means everyone without insurance who has the flu is getting put on hold to treat people with knife injuries, gun shot wounds and who were cut out of catastrophic car accidents by the Jaws of Life. A 22 to 40 hour wait is normal there. I
I didn't think anyone without insurance had an option to go anywhere but there, but I've taken friends to various Baylor facilities with 1/10th the wait time (if that... sometimes as quick as 15 minutes) and nowhere near the hassle.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 5:26 PM on December 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: This would be a typical medication list for someone with ischemic cardiomyopathy. I would want to know what his latest echocardiogram showed and a current chem panel before making any medication change. If your friend goes to an urgent care clinic, he should bring a copy of his latest echo report. And any recent blood test results (or go to an urgent care that has on-site lab).
posted by neuron at 5:44 PM on December 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by neuron at 5:44 PM on December 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
An ER would be a really bad idea and a waste of both your time. Best case scenario you'll be waiting for hours (upwards of 8 if it's a busy one) and when you do finally see a doc they'll give you a funny look and give you a letter for a GP followup.
Mind you, if he's passing out it's a different story and he'll most likely get his medications changed slightly, but also with a GP followup for a proper medication change, and you'll still be waiting for hours.
posted by Silentgoldfish at 6:47 PM on December 15, 2009
Mind you, if he's passing out it's a different story and he'll most likely get his medications changed slightly, but also with a GP followup for a proper medication change, and you'll still be waiting for hours.
posted by Silentgoldfish at 6:47 PM on December 15, 2009
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posted by something something at 2:11 PM on December 15, 2009 [1 favorite]