Would You Give Me Samples?

Mimi asks “Would You Light My Candle?”

Note: This is an old post, lost in the site crash and re-posted today.

We have a new Drug Sample Policy here. It requires drug reps to make appointments rather than walk in unannounced. They must log in their samples. I must adhere to certain guidelines regarding storing, labeling and recording the samples I dispense. Also, we are officially no longer allowed to accept anything, not even pens. And no drug lunches, of course.

I believe this is a good thing.

These are a few things I have noticed since the new regulations (which I helped write) went into effect.

1. There are less samples in the closet. But I seem to have all I need.

2. I think twice. Because it is more work for me, I now think twice before handing medication to a patient who has a good drug plan and can get it at the pharmacy anyway. I still give out samples to those for whom it makes a difference financially.

3. More rep face time. This was unexpected, but really when you think about it, should be no surprise. Before, although reps may have shown up unannounced, I was also really good at avoiding them. Now, they get a fixed slot in my schedule to come to my office and pitch. And I’m not happy about this.

So last week, in a burst of righteousness, I turned down a whole bunch of Imitrex samples from the drug rep who visited. Because the truth is, the only person using the Imitrex samples in my office was me. The reps know I get migraines, and that I can’t accept gifts, so I decided that they must have been using the Imitrex to worm their little way into my heart (and my prescription pad). So I turned their dirty drug samples down.

But now I have a migraine, and no Imitrex, because I didn’t get my act together enough to get my own stash from the pharmacy. I think I’ll head down the hall to my friend the neurologist, who keeps a stash of Imitrex in her exam room closets. At least I won’t have to use the fire escape.

Category: Second Opinions
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COMMENT-AUTHOR:medstudentgod, May 03, 2006
Well done!!! I’m glad to hear that there are offices out there that are taking the drug rep situation under control. Being a student I have seen them weasle their way around the office, act genuinely concerned about MY well being (despite having never met before) and dishing about all their samples to students. All of this is done, no doubt, to decrease student security safeguards when they become actual physicians. Therefore they are more apt to prescribe certain, expensive, new drugs without really knowing why. Thanks for your continuing discussion on this important topic.

COMMENT-AUTHOR:mchebert COMMENT-DATE:May 05, 2006
I am not as concerned about pens and lunches as you are, I guess. Drug reps are not the enemy. They just need to be counterbalanced.

But I have to ask the question, you use the passive voice here, as in “we are officially no longer allowed to accept . . .” Does this mean, TBTAM, that the decision was made by you, or do you work for someone who made the policy?

COMMENT-AUTHOR:TBTAM COMMENT-DATE:May 05, 2006
The new policy was handed down from the powers to be. I was asked to help write our department-specific guidleines following the new policy.

And you are right – they are not the enemy. I get a little carried away sometimes…