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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alohashirt on November 20, 2005, at 21:04:32
How would you deal with the following?
In Mid October I picked up two prescriptions for a new medication:
60xdrugA
30xdrugBAFter two weeks I realized that I had less than 50% of drug A.
I counted the remainder and saw 12 ( six days) total. This didn't make sense - I figured that maybe the pharmacist had made an error and called them. I spoke with the pharmacist an dhe assured me tha such a mistake could not be "Focalin XR is a controlled substance so we have a strict double count process that avoid errors. It is not possible tha we made such an error."
"Nevertheless, can you please look at the amount you have on hand and the amount your records suggest and see if they match?"
It coyuldn't see how I had mafe an error and called back a few hours later, the pharmacist said that there was no overage.Two weeks later I pick up my next scrip. I am shocked to see that the container for the 60xdrug A is twice the size of the other container - twice the size of the size of the prior container that had been marked 60. Clearly there is no way that 60 capsules could have fit in that container. I called the pharmacist over and explained this.
"Do you have the empty pill container?"
"No why would I have kept this?"
"Well I appreciate what you are saying but without that container there is nothing I can do. If this weren't a scheduled medication I would just hand you the 30 capsule son your say so. i can't do ytat in this case. I can iensure that when you pickup this med in future that we count them in front of you. How does adding ten minyutes per month help me?
I explained that was not acceptable to me. That based on the visual evidence that the container i had been given could not have contained 60 capsules it was clear to me there wa san error and I expected him to investigate it, detrmine cause an drectify. After 15 minutes of heated debate he agreed to do an "inventory" this weekend and review each order of this (new)medication reconcile prwescriptions an dstock book and see if he could work out what had happened.I think I am getting the run-around. I am sure that pharmacists deal with custoemrs who try to scam them on a daily basis. Taht doesn't mean that honest patients should pay a price for that. I think I did everything I could eb expected to to resolve this issue (except keep teh empty pill container.)
What are my choices at this point?
What would you do?
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2005, at 21:38:07
In reply to Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do?, posted by alohashirt on November 20, 2005, at 21:04:32
My pharmacist told me a lot of people count out all their own tablets when they pick up a prescription before walking out the door. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on November 20, 2005, at 23:59:15
In reply to Re: Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do? » alohashirt, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2005, at 21:38:07
It sounds like you do have enough meds to take what you need though, right? (Forgive me if I'm wrong, but that is what I got from your post). If you don't have enough, call your doc (who does know you and will believe you) and tell the story and ask for an additional rx. Of course, this is more $$, but you might just have to eat this one. A bit of bad luck. You can't prove anything, so I'd imagine that you are stuck. :(
Not to be overly suspicious, but I wonder if a pharmacy tech pocketed the extra pills (esp if the pharmacy's #'s do add up). If you don't trust them, you might consider a new pharmacy.
Sorry this happened and I hope you have enough meds to get by this month.
Best,
EE
Posted by med_empowered on November 21, 2005, at 1:22:30
In reply to Re: Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on November 20, 2005, at 23:59:15
OK..sometimes pharmacies will make mistakes. It happens. But..repeatedly? And..their numbers add up? I've known a couple people who worked in pharmacies--as pharmacists, pharm techs-- and some of them abused pills. "Pharmacy errors" could sometimes happen conveniently w/ certain customers--especially old ones, people who might not notice or tell anyone. A local pharmacist around here actually did that A LOT and then sold the pills on the street...he's no longer practicing, thank goodness.
I think you should first call the pharmacy, and tell them you are telling EVERYONE what happened. Then ask if they'd like to rectify it....
Then, switch pharmacies. Chain pharmacies are probably the best. Be nice to your pharmacist and pharm tech.
Posted by Laurie Beth on November 21, 2005, at 7:11:38
In reply to Pharmacy Error, posted by med_empowered on November 21, 2005, at 1:22:30
but there's no reason that they can't refund you the money, just on your "say so".
An Eckerd's once gave me the wrong needles for an injectable med (not a psychiatric med!). I didn't realize this until I'd opened the outer package. I did have the Rx, and it was clear that they had made the mistake. When I took it back, some flunkie told me that she was sorry, but she couldn't do anything. She sait it would be against the law to allow me to "return" the needles. I got the boss out and pointed out that, while it might be illegal for them to resell the needles, it of course wasn't illegal to refund my money!
Posted by alohashirt on November 21, 2005, at 17:17:53
In reply to Re: Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on November 20, 2005, at 23:59:15
> It sounds like you do have enough meds to take what you need though, right? (Forgive me if I'm wrong, but that is what I got from your post). If you don't have enough, call your doc (who does know you and will believe you) and tell the story and ask for an additional rx. Of course, this is more $$, but you might just have to eat this one. A bit of bad luck. You can't prove anything, so I'd imagine that you are stuck. :(
>
> Not to be overly suspicious, but I wonder if a pharmacy tech pocketed the extra pills (esp if the pharmacy's #'s do add up). If you don't trust them, you might consider a new pharmacy.
>
> Sorry this happened and I hope you have enough meds to get by this month.I do have enough meds and if I didn't would have enough of prior meds that worked kinda fine so it doesn't stop me from treating myself. I just don't liked "being gypped" and if a busines sprocess is broken I have a peverse desire to fix it.
Posted by paulbwell on November 22, 2005, at 23:16:29
In reply to Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do?, posted by alohashirt on November 20, 2005, at 21:04:32
> How would you deal with the following?
> In Mid October I picked up two prescriptions for a new medication:
> 60xdrugA
> 30xdrugB
>
> AFter two weeks I realized that I had less than 50% of drug A.
> I counted the remainder and saw 12 ( six days) total. This didn't make sense - I figured that maybe the pharmacist had made an error and called them. I spoke with the pharmacist an dhe assured me tha such a mistake could not be "Focalin XR is a controlled substance so we have a strict double count process that avoid errors. It is not possible tha we made such an error."
> "Nevertheless, can you please look at the amount you have on hand and the amount your records suggest and see if they match?"
> It coyuldn't see how I had mafe an error and called back a few hours later, the pharmacist said that there was no overage.
>
> Two weeks later I pick up my next scrip. I am shocked to see that the container for the 60xdrug A is twice the size of the other container - twice the size of the size of the prior container that had been marked 60. Clearly there is no way that 60 capsules could have fit in that container. I called the pharmacist over and explained this.
> "Do you have the empty pill container?"
> "No why would I have kept this?"
> "Well I appreciate what you are saying but without that container there is nothing I can do. If this weren't a scheduled medication I would just hand you the 30 capsule son your say so. i can't do ytat in this case. I can iensure that when you pickup this med in future that we count them in front of you. How does adding ten minyutes per month help me?
> I explained that was not acceptable to me. That based on the visual evidence that the container i had been given could not have contained 60 capsules it was clear to me there wa san error and I expected him to investigate it, detrmine cause an drectify. After 15 minutes of heated debate he agreed to do an "inventory" this weekend and review each order of this (new)medication reconcile prwescriptions an dstock book and see if he could work out what had happened.
>
> I think I am getting the run-around. I am sure that pharmacists deal with custoemrs who try to scam them on a daily basis. Taht doesn't mean that honest patients should pay a price for that. I think I did everything I could eb expected to to resolve this issue (except keep teh empty pill container.)
>
> What are my choices at this point?
> What would you do?Hi ya dude!!!
My friend at the pharmacy, on one occasion gave me an additional box (Sch 11) of 30 10mgs Ritalins.I have also received fron this pharmacy MANY additional Valiums-5mgs tabs(than scripted) and stuff!.
There has never been a pboblem!!-you find a pharmacy you like-and all is sweet dude, you build up relations, and they assist you!!!.
Cheers
Posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2005, at 23:27:09
In reply to Re: Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do? » alohashirt, posted by paulbwell on November 22, 2005, at 23:16:29
Paulwell, I wish you would babblemail me. That way I could give you my E-mail address. Your babblemail light is not on. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by paulbwell on November 22, 2005, at 23:39:03
In reply to Re: Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do? » paulbwell, posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2005, at 23:27:09
> Paulwell, I wish you would babblemail me. That way I could give you my E-mail address. Your babblemail light is not on. Fondly, Phillipa
I have chated with you with some time now, we both take 3x 5mgs valiums daily, and i would be happy to chat,
i don't know how babble mail works, but i could add you to my MSN list?
I have a long following with your posts and feel comfortable, about doing so!!:)
Cheers Phill:)
Posted by Phillipa on November 23, 2005, at 17:37:34
In reply to Re: Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do?, posted by paulbwell on November 22, 2005, at 23:39:03
Phill, I never do this publically. but since it will be changing in a week or two it's [email protected].
Posted by alohashirt on November 24, 2005, at 22:00:49
In reply to Re: Pharmacist error, controlled med, what to do? » alohashirt, posted by paulbwell on November 22, 2005, at 23:16:29
I called the pharmacist back and he siad that he had tabulated every transaction for the past 30 days and had concluded tha he had 30 capsules on hand than he should have. He apologized profusely and gave me the missing capsules.
I was pleased to get the meds but much more relieved that I didn't have early-onset Alzheimers. It would eb easier if all medications were OTC.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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