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pharmacy shorting me?

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Posted 2/15/2009 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
I've come up short on some of my meds the last 3 months. So I bought a lock box and guess what I'm still short grrrrrrrr! If I count them in the car will they belive me? How do you make sure you get all your meds without making the pharmacy mad?

thanks jennifer
Posted 2/15/2009 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
You don't, you count the pills in front of the pharmacist. Its your word against theirs counting them in your car. Next time count them right there at the counter, just explain how you have been coming up short.....Susie
Posted 2/15/2009 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
OMG do you just open 6 bottles up one at a time and count them I'll run out ot fingers and toes. They are just going to love me this month.

thanks jennifer
Posted 2/15/2009 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, open them up one bottle at a time and count them. If they get an attitude too bad. Just tell them how its bad for you to run out of medication early and keep counting,lol...Susie
Posted 2/15/2009 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
I counted out a rx for vicodin at pharmacy about 10 years ago it was just for 20 but it came up 2 short the pharmacist was so rude i'm not looking forward to this.

thanks jennifer
Posted 2/15/2009 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Jen,

if your pharmacy is a "chain", maybe you could look for a smaller pharm? One like The Pill Box, or something like that. I do all my meds at the hospital medical arts building pharmacy. I know the owner very well from all my yrs there . He knows all my meds, and know i have come up short before. For me, he has pharmist #1 do it, then phar #2 recount, and then i count when i pick them up. There is NEVER a problem and never any weird looks. I would NEVER go back to a big chain like Walgreens ever again!!!!!

Maybe you could pull the pharmisist aside and explain and tell them that you would like to do a count at every pick up. Maybe talking directly with him/her ahead of time might help them feel less trusted. GL
Posted 2/15/2009 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
yea it was a chain I have no insurance I can't afford the mom and pop pharmacy right below my Dr. They have always been right on the money.

jennifer
Posted 2/15/2009 7:40 PM (GMT 0)

Yes you need to count them in the pharmacy, or have them count them in front of you.  The big chains have those machines that dispense the pills via computer...but computers are run by humans, therefore mistakes still happen.

 

I am just as bad as you are about not wanting to cause friction...but I have been coming up short and I think I need to be my own advocate and ask them to count for me, I only have 2 scripts so it won't be as bad as 6 bottles..but who cares what they think, it's not their medicine.

 

And I think they would do the same thing..

 

Me.

Posted 2/15/2009 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
You know I guess I am the lucky one here. It takes 30 minutes for the Walmart Pharmacy here in Pratt to fill my Kadian script. The Pharmacist stands there and counts them not only once.....not only twice but three times to make sure she has the right amount. Then she has me stand there and count them in front of her to make sure that there are exactly 112 capsules in the bottle. Same with my Percocet and my Robaxin because they are such a large amount. I've never had a Pharmacy do this before. My old pharmacy would short me all the time and it was a blessing to have this pharmacy do that to ensure that I had the right amount of medication.

I am truly sorry that you all have to go through this. Gentle Hugsssss

Scarred
Posted 2/15/2009 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
I think I will explain to the Pharmacist that I've come up short that I don't know where the loss is but would they please count them in front of me. I can't just count all those pills 2, 4,6 um where was I ?

thanks
jennifer
Posted 2/15/2009 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Jen,
I think that's a good start. Be nice but explain it's been happening regularly now and you've got to figure it out. You don't have to blame them - and I would ask to speak with the head pharmacist. If this is happening to you this regularly something is going on. Their computers should be picking it up if it's an error. They may have some internal diversion going on (one of the things we can get blamed for!).

I'd have difficulty counting all my meds on site, too, but you may need to. Try to bring someone with you, and maybe a clear container you can place them in as you're counting. And a notepad you can mark say, every ten pills. Yes, it will take time, but someone's going to get the point. And usually a pharmacist or tech has to sign off on each prescription. You may be able to look at your bottles and see if it's the same pharmacist each time. If so, I'd try going at a different time - maybe a different shift.

You're not imagining this. I'd also let my doctor know if it was me, so it's documented.

PaLady
Posted 2/15/2009 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I know its not me I've learned to be very careful one discrepancy is reason to lose my Dr. I have had nightmares that I have misplaced my medicine and wake up in a cold sweat. I've become very OCD especially since I joined the forum and learned that I and only I have to take control of my medicine. if I screw up its not just me that looks bad it's bad for all of us. I'm going to approach the head pharmacist and be very nice I don't want any confrontations. At least this month I don't have to worry about a pill count because they schedualled me 35 days after my last app't.

thank jennifer
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