Why Controlled Substances Are Not Prescribed Through This Practice
At Your Best Life Medical eClinic, controlled substances are not prescribed through this practice. This policy is designed to support patient safety, appropriate care, and responsible prescribing.
What are controlled substances?
Controlled substances are medications that have a higher risk for misuse, dependence, addiction, sedation, overdose, or serious interactions. They are regulated under federal and state laws.
Examples may include certain medications used for:
Pain
Anxiety
Sleep
ADHD
Muscle spasms
Cough suppression
Certain neurologic conditions
This does not mean these medications are never appropriate. It means they require careful evaluation, monitoring, and follow-up that may not fit the scope of this telehealth practice.
Why this practice does not prescribe them
Controlled substances often require a higher level of monitoring than routine telehealth care can provide. Safety considerations may include:
Risk of dependence or withdrawal
Risk of sedation or impaired driving
Risk of overdose
Interactions with alcohol or other medications
Need for in-person evaluation
Need for urine drug screening
Need for prescription monitoring review
Need for close follow-up
Need for specialist or primary care continuity
The FDA has emphasized the serious risks of opioid pain medicines, including risks related to long-term use, and continues to require updated prescribing information to help patients and clinicians make informed decisions.
What this practice can do instead
Depending on your symptoms and situation, telehealth may still help with:
Non-controlled medication options when appropriate
Lifestyle and self-care recommendations
Lab review when indicated
Referral guidance
Supportive care planning
Education about when in-person care is needed
Evaluation of mild to moderate concerns within telehealth scope
Examples of situations that may require other care
You may need primary care, urgent care, behavioral health, pain management, psychiatry, neurology, or emergency care for:
Severe pain
Chronic opioid management
Benzodiazepine management
ADHD stimulant management
Complex psychiatric symptoms
Substance use disorder
Withdrawal symptoms
Severe insomnia
Severe anxiety or panic symptoms
Safety concerns or suicidal thoughts
Safe medication storage and disposal
If you have unused opioid pain medications or other high-risk medications at home, safe storage and disposal matter. The FDA warns that keeping unused opioid pain medicines in the home can be dangerous and provides information on safe disposal.
When to seek urgent help
Call 988 for mental health crisis support or thoughts of self-harm. Call 911 or seek emergency care for overdose symptoms, severe sedation, trouble breathing, confusion, chest pain, severe allergic reaction symptoms, or any life-threatening symptoms.
Final thought
Not prescribing controlled substances is a safety policy. It allows this telehealth practice to focus on appropriate virtual care while helping patients understand when a different level of care is needed.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, signs of infection, severe allergic reaction symptoms, trouble breathing, or a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
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