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Do you count your pills?

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Posted 12/7/2016 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
When you fill/refill your prescription and pick up your pills from the pharmacy, do you count them? I just got to the end of my bottle of Mezavant and was left with one pill. I take two per day. I supposedly started with 180. I could see forgetting to take them one day ... or forget I took them and take two doses... but I'd still end with an even amount. There's no way I'd take just one. So they must have shorted me (or maybe I got a bonus one, who knows!).

I counted my new bottle just now and ... I have exactly 180. Waste of time. Not sure I'll bother counting them in future.
Posted 12/7/2016 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Can't say I've ever counted them before. You can always call the pharmacy and ask when your prior refill date was and then subtract refill dates, to see if you were short a pill or given an extra.
Posted 12/7/2016 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
I did it...once in last 5 years, it was correct.
But 20+ years ago (pre-UC) I got an RX from a small local pharmacy and was shorted. Went back and got the full count. I don't know if it was on purpose or not but it was not a pain-killer. This was before pill counting machines but I still see pharmacists doing counts manually.

I get 270 pills per order/month, yikes, what if they are interrupted by a question or a phone call?
I'm sure there are strict controls in major pharmacies about # pills in-house vs. # pills dispensed and it better match closely.
Posted 12/7/2016 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
iPoop, good point. I know the refill dates already so I can do that calculation myself. If I feel like doing some math. LOL.

Ima, I didn't know they had pill counting machines. I don't know if my pharmacy does it by hand or machine. I would expect it would be a mistake rather than trying to rip me off. I guess you never know.
Posted 12/7/2016 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Just realized that I can't do the calculation.... I know the date I refilled the prescription but not the date I started the new bottle last time. I order the next refill before I run out of pills from the previous refill. So the new bottle sits around for some random length of time before I have to open it.
Posted 12/7/2016 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
LOL, no i don't. but i am sure i've ended up with an odd one before so it's not always perfect :(
Posted 12/7/2016 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Okay. I thought I was going to get a bunch of replies saying "Of course I count them, everyone does, don't YOU??" So I feel better now, LOL.
Posted 12/7/2016 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes it's a closed bottle. When I get Lialda, it's a full bottle usually, not in a pharmacy bottle, manufacturer branded and sealed. I haven't picked up anything in so long.
Posted 12/7/2016 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
I don't for my own scripts, but I do for my son. He takes Ritalin and you can only fill that script every 30 days so running short is not an option. I have never had a problem with the counts being off, however.
My lialda comes in the bottles from shire, the pharmacy just sticks a label on it with my name, etc.
Posted 12/7/2016 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Well it's not sounding like it's a big issue. Must have been some kind of fluke.
Posted 12/8/2016 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
When I get my Apriso. It's a closed bottle, sealed and everything and usually I get the proper amount. However, I take an OTC sleep aid and I always have an extra pill in the bottle. Not sure if this is how they work or not but I'm not complaining lol
Posted 12/8/2016 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
An extra pill, no I wouldn't complain about that either! :)
Posted 12/10/2016 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
After 25 years of asacol Rx I didn't start counting until a few years ago and I'd say 4 out of 5 mail orders were short (never over)! Count every time now!
Posted 12/10/2016 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
only when experiencing pred induced insomnia smilewinkgrin
Posted 12/10/2016 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Really UC Prisoner! 4 out of 5 are short. By how much? And what happens when you complain, do they compensate you?

LOL, soynomore. Yeah, that's kind of why I don't want to do it anymore...
Posted 1/3/2017 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, really serenity!
Mail order always sent additional pills. The most recent time they were a little more reluctant but I did receive the 3 (out of the 360) missing pills. Said they'd have to do an investigation ... of course I'm skeptical of their "investigation" and suspect that their pill counter/scales are off intentionally (too much corruption with Rx drugs in our country and I watch too many conspiracy movies😉)
Posted 1/3/2017 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
LOL! Well it does seem suspicious if they are always short. At least they do send you the additional pills. And conspiracy theory or not, I don't put any stock in the "investigation" either.
Posted 1/4/2017 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Not always short but NEVER over. If they are counting pills this is a red flag that something suspicious was going on.

My drug coverage has since changed - I'll be watching the new provider very closely 😉
Posted 1/4/2017 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
At $7 a pill they better be precise...
Posted 1/15/2017 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Regardless of the price (although that just adds more to the injustice). The pharmacy despenses Rxs - it's their business to be accurate - inexcusable!
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