My Brother, the Addict; Now I am trying to figure out what to do/say/think.

So the pharmacist reports back to the doctor, rejecting the Xanax px, and the doctor makes enquiries about who's prescribing the Ambien for her, and in this way your brother's unethical (at least) practice will come to light.

You can't have this going on, not for your mother's safety nor for that of other patients your brother may be fraudulently prescribing for. It wants reporting to your brother's professional licensing body, but the report will have more weight coming from other professionals. If it comes up again, don't ask your brother to fix it. Follow procedure.

Report him. As a PA he's working under the license of a physician. He's either taking the ambien himself or has a side hustle.

Buckwheatsmom, I love your name, buckwheat was my favorite character on the lil' rascals.

I totally understand how difficult this situation is but, what happens when mom is hospitalized and their computer shows meds she doesn't take? That could literally kill her, to much or not the right thing or a combination of stuff.

I can understand our frontline workers needing something to help them rest and get out of their own heads right now but, the way your brother is dealing with this is illegal and dangerous, it truly indicates that he has an addiction. He needs an intervention to save his life.

Prayers sent that he gets the help he needs.

You absolutely must report him. Do not hesitate, and do not delay.

Report him. You will be saving lives, as who knows what else he is getting, selling, mixing to others that certainly could OD on inappropiate combination of opiods and who knows what else.
Pretty common in the medical field for this kind of behavior. Physician's Health Program "PHP" is in many states. It's a monitoring, recovery program for nurses, PAs and doctors. Very strict too. They have zero tolerance for people in the program who think they can scam their way through it. But, are pretty good at helping people help themselves, get on their feet, into medical professionals focused recovery programs and offer support after leaving the PHP program. There was a person from the West coast came here, getting help in the program. Others will find different states to get the help they need in line with their careers and home lives if where they are is not going to offer the best solution to their addictions. 'Cause, dollars to doughnuts, he's likely drinking too and may have a few other issues to deal with. Stuff like this is never just one thing, it's the proverbial "combo platter". I've had a lot of exposure to addicts, junkies, alcoholics over the years, and once that switch has been flipped, it will stay that way. Hence the perfect mantra "one day at a time". The addicts, alcoholics who remain clean and sober never, ever forget that. Also, don't expect your brother to have a miraculous recovery and have that "come to Jesus" moment. There will be re-lapses and it gets ugly. Depends on how much either one of you want each other in that process. If he says no-ok-step back and hope for the best. All you can do.

I was wondering how a physician's assistant is allowed to write out prescriptions like that without the physician he works for signing off on them.
Your brother will probably not lose his practicing license. If it's his first and only offense it will more likely be suspended and he will have to complete a drug rehab program. So don't feel so bad about reporting him. It's the right thing to do.

Oh--I didn't catch that. Well....he's gonna lose his job, for sure.

I have a DIL who is an anesthesiologist and we were talking one day about WHO all the 'opioid' abusers were. She said "Oh, it's people in the healthcare industry, hands down. "regular people' have to practically beg their docs for pain relief meds.

Your brother is committing a very serious crime. He'll lose his license to be a pharmacy tech, for sure.

I have to take benzodiazepenes and one month when I went to refill my scrip, the tech insisted I had already filled it and picked it up. Uh, no, I had not. There were a few days while I let the pharmacist who runs this pharmacy figure it out. Luckily I have a very distinctive and CLEAR signature and the person who 'picked up' my meds didn't even try to make the signatures match.

I let the pharmacy deal with it. I do not know which of the techs it was, and I don't care, but it made me lose a LOT of trust in this pharmacy team. These are the same people who won't refill a controlled substance 12 hrs early.

I am sorry but you need to report your brother to the Board of Nursing. They will take it from there. He is clearly an addict or worse yet, selling narcotics, and the harm he is doing to OTHER patients is of massive concern. The Board will take up the investigation from there. This isn't a matter of bad blood. If your brother isn't in need of help then his patients certainly are. I was a nurse who had to report other nurses who were addicted. Leave this to the board of nursing.

I know this will be hard but you need to report him to the doctor he reports to. Tell him you found out when you took Mom to the Drs. that Dr. found out that Mom was on Ambien and he wouldn't prescribe Xanax. Her PCP had not prescribed the drug. Mom does not have it in her home. You feel its your brother prescribing it.

The Dr. will ask your brother to do a drug test. If found the drug is in his system, he may lose his license to practise.

If you don't want to go this route then you will have to confront your brother and demand he stop writing prescriptions for Mom. If he doesn't, it could mean his job because you will make his boss aware of it. Its serious when someone in healthcare abuses their position.

Xanax was the suspect medication that caused my hands, feet, and lower legs to itch. A tiny rash broke out.
Just another medication, tried and failed.
Many years ago.

WOWi think i was in this position and i found this out whether i had a good relationship or not he is in the health care industry and abusing it and IS commiting fraud i would have to report him it is just the right thing to do.

Report him to the police, just like any other scammer/thief (which is what he is). Nothing is going to stop him until he hits a brick wall, and you are that wall. Hopefully.

You have nothing to lose except a loser brother who causes trouble to his own mother, his family, and who knows who else.