shorted on pain medication

Myours later husband went to the pharmacy to get my medication, a couple of hours l went to put my pills in one of those pill sorter things and was 10 short. I called the pharmacy and he basiclly called me a liar and said it was inpossible to have that happen, last month I ran out 2 days too soon, should I call my primary doc, (who is helping get into a real pain doctor) and ask his office to count the pills right after I get them from the pharmacy or ask for random pill counts so they don't think I'm taking more than I should be, That was the whole point to the pill sorter so I would never do that, What should I do? I don't care about the 10 pills I can cut some in half so I'm not getting an early script, but should I call the doctor too?Oh and the pharmacist was rude and said he never makes mistakes and they where counted 2 times also is there a way at the end of there shift he might see they did short me 10?

Sorry that you were shorted pills. This is one of those situations that most of the time people need to suck it up and just deal with it. Its your word against theirs, and when it comes to pain meds especially I really dont think you will get far.

Yes, the pharmacy should be able to tell by counting the bottle if there are extra in there but I doubt they will admit to it if there are, maybe I am wrong. Chances are these missing pills could have been pocketed by someone there. The pharmacy can make your life more difficult too, I find dealing with a small Mom and Pop place you tend to get more understanding.

You could in the future count your pills when there, its a pain but its your first defense, and you will have more ground to stand on if you havent actually left the counter with the bottle. I would definetely let your dr know. If you havent had issues and have never called for an early refill they may be willing to write the script early.

Its great that you are getting into a pain specialist, that is your best bet for a comprehensive pain management approach. Good luck with your upcoming appointment, hopefully it will be sooner than later.

Hugs
~Michelle

oh by the way, there is 1 new pharmacist and like 4 new tech, I have been on these pain meds for 10 mlems with themonths so far and never had a problem running out early until last time I filled there about 3 weeks ago and this time, I'm afraid to piss off that pharmacist because it's walgreens and they are open 24/7 and I have 3 kids and when you go to the er at 1am and they have an ear infection you want to be able to get them there meds asap, so I just don't know what to do, there is a smaller pharmacy, and a cvs and rite aide but I have read other post of people having problems with this happening with them too, I guess for the pain meds I could use a small one called care pharmacy or a different walgreens one town over?

about the best you do is file a complaint with Walgreens corporate office giving them the name of the RPH who filled it and like they said they are counted twice so there may be written initials by the amount. Make sure you include those as well.

They actually keep track of Shortage reported and see if there is a pattern.

Vickie

Most pharmacies, one you walk out of the store with the meds in hand its your word against theirs. So, what you do is stand there in front of them & count your pills. I think it stinks when we get shorted.Take care,,,,Susie

at all drug stores, they have to constantly inventory these meds, several times ago, and if you were shorted the 10 pills (and I totally believe you), then they would have to come up with 10 too many at a certain point in their constant inventory checks, especially if its a controlled med like most of our pain meds. I would stay after the head pharmacist where this happened, and ask them to check their records. true, they may never admit to it, but it would be worth a shot. as for me, I always open the drug bags, look at the labels, and the stated count of pills - before I ever leave the drug story, I make this a standard practice so I don't get home and have an unpleasant surprise like you did.

good luck,

david

I agree with those who advocate counting your pills while standing at the pharmacy counter since you have been shorted already at least once.

How good or bad any pharmacy is seems to really depend, just like any place, the quality of the people who work there.

Years ago I used to use Wal Mart exclusively because I always had good service and rarely ever had to wait to get a script filled then they got a new head pharmacist and several new techs and things went to hell in a hurry so I switched to Walgreens and was with this for many years until late last year when they hired a couple of new pharmacists and also hired in several new techs as well. While the head pharmacist did not change after these new hires came on board things went down hill quickly and after not getting some of my meds because they were always out and my other medications either being shorted or not being ready on time I ended up at CVS.

At the very least I ALWAYS look at the bottles before I leave the pharmacy. At times I count, although ive never had an issue at my current pharmacy.

It's gotten to the point where I can eyeball the bottle and know the roundabout count. If it looks strange then I stop and count before I leave.

It's really sad, but some people go into pharm jobs to have access to these pills, because unfortunately there is money to be made, especially for those that dont have use for the med themselves.

I've been shorted also...30 percocets. I counted them when I got home and immediately called the pharmacy, a mom and pop place.

They told me to come back right away and the pharmacist questioned the pharmacy tech, who had filled my script...she admitted she gave me 120 instead of my usual 150.

They did give me the 30 pills they owed me.

I now ask that the pharmacist or tech count the pills in front of me before I leave, as there's no place for me to count them out myself in the store...plus they could say that I pocketed some if it was short.

Natalie

The way I understand the post was her husband went to the pharmacy and can't really see them doing anything about missing pills someone else picked up. She was more concerned about how the Dr would view the shortage then getting the 10 pills back.

Thus my response to file a formal complaint with corporate versus another confrontation with the RPH whom I'm fairly sure wont document any calls she makes to him raising h*LLC over missing pills.

What he may do is flag her in the pharmacy computer as displaying signs of addiction and abuse.

Is this a fair assumption? Hardly,but it is what they do and it will follow you from Walgreens to Walgreens and that's something none of us wants or needs.

Filing formal serves two purposes,it alerts them to possible employee theft and leaves a record of complaint without risk of coming across desperate.

My Dr would replace them or okay early refill as long as this was a isolated occurance.

Vickie