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Advice on pharacy mistake

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Posted 5/24/2008 6:31 PM (GMT -6)
Hey guys, I could use a little advice here on this one.  I got my refill on my meds today from my pharmacy, which is a mail order pharmacy from a few states over from where I live.  Usually, I count my medications right when I get them because mistakes do happen; and, it is not unheard of for some pharmacy techs and pharmacists to have sticky fingers. I usually get a 30 day supply at a time.  One particular medication that I recieve, I take 8 a day of.  So, over a 30 day period, this is 240 tablets which is what my doc prescribes me. Anyways, I went to count my meds and did. To my surprise, my prescription was actually OVER by ten additional pills.  What should I do?  Should I leave it lie, and just thank my good fortune, or should I contact the pharmacy and send the remainder back to them? I just don't know. Any advice is appreciated.  Thanks, All.  
Posted 5/24/2008 7:51 PM (GMT -6)
Myself, if it was a local pharm, I'd report it but a mailorder pharm? Nah, I'd just let it go. The one that I deal with is so screwy I doubt that they would ever know the diff and they have no reason to try to "test" u or anything. Just MHO :-)
Posted 5/24/2008 8:03 PM (GMT -6)
Hmm....I think I tend to agree with Muzz on this. I've never used a mail order pharmacy, though. Does anyone know if they tend to test you? Actually, I've never heard of anyone being "tested" by any pharmacy. Is that just our fear? Because unless it was being done under some controlled experimental procedures, I would think it would be ilegal for a pharmacist to arbitrarily give someone more pills just to see if they returned them. Has anyone here ever been tested - where it's not just been an error?

I also don't know if they have any way to track their errors, where if someone noticed it they could trace it and know you hadn't returned it. Like Muzz, if it was local, I'd return them, but I wonder if returning them via mailorder would end up red flagging you in the long run even though you were just trying to be honest. I'd probably keep the pills in my little "stash" for a rainy day.

PaLady
Posted 5/24/2008 8:06 PM (GMT -6)

PK, once they send them to you and you opened them, they won't take them back.  If it was me, I'd call and let them know and they'll probably just say thanks and leave it at that.

Melissa

Posted 5/24/2008 11:23 PM (GMT -6)
I think I might call them also just to let them know. My thinking would be, if a count is done and there are pills missing, they may think they were stolen from a worker or something and they may be fired.
Thats only my thinking. Of course that may not be what would happen but usually places are very careful when handling narcotics, i'd imagine even mail order places.

Hope it all works out and if you call they just say thanks and you get to keep them!

Freya
Posted 5/25/2008 12:15 AM (GMT -6)

Hello H.W.

I would use the extra pills for the very last and If by then you dont hear anything, well, rainy day it will be.....

Besides by then your next shipment should be there??????

I need to start using that system. Can they ship opiods and Musscle Relaxers?

                     Hope Everyone has A Pain Free Day!!!!

                                                mike

Posted 5/25/2008 1:05 AM (GMT -6)
Mike, I don't know about painkiller's mail order pharm, but we have Express scripts and they mail Soma and Darvocet. Some is a muscle relaxer.

Posted 5/25/2008 11:43 AM (GMT -6)
Personally - I would just let things sit where they fell. Pharmacy's have no right to expect you to count your pills when you get them - we SHOULD feel comfortable enough in the fact that we are going to get the right amount. Just my opinion.
Posted 5/25/2008 12:50 PM (GMT -6)
I had the exact same experience with a Canadian mail order pharmacy I use regularly. I called them & they said it was a "frequent flyer" customer reward porgram. SO I guess after so many prescriptions I get an extra 10 - they did specifcally say it was 10! I say good deal! They have also sent me discount coupons before. Now I always ask for the coupon price.
Posted 5/25/2008 3:15 PM (GMT -6)
Id call just in case someone got in trouble for it.
Posted 5/26/2008 4:50 AM (GMT -6)
i wouldnt worry unless they call u. tdoern is right. phramacy shouldnt expect u to count pills. bad enough we have to get treated like druggers and count pills just to know its not shorted. their mistake is to store up for when they mess up next and u dont get enough.

caryf, i think ur pharmacy lied just to cover their butt. i dont think its legal to give out more pills just for a bonus of u being a good customer even in canada.
Posted 5/26/2008 5:05 AM (GMT -6)
I tend to agree that the pharmacy cannot just hand out 10 extra pills for being a "great customer"........

This just happened to me about 2 mths ago my doc had D/C my Oxycontin and I got 90 morphine 100 mgs ...well called to get the Repeats I had coming up ( on other meds) and lo and behold there was a bottle of 60 .20 mg Oxy's in there..

I decided to post about it and was given great advice ....I did tell pharmacy and took them back yes they took them .......yes in Ontario,Canada......

I did not know IF I was being tested ot not and I know I will not lose my doc nor my pain meds over something like that but this was from a town pharmacy.......
I earned a bit more respect by doing this IMHO and glad I posted and did ask,got my receipt plus a note which I then took to doctor about mix up ..he was not happy with pharmy but happier with what I had done in the long run

I know it is different then Mail order but us CP'ers
seem to have to watch our backs for anything ya know.....

I would do as you feel is right ......just my opinion .......

Take care
Have a pain free day........LYN

Posted 5/26/2008 8:30 PM (GMT -6)

My vote is for calling the pharmacy and telling them of the mistake.....It's what you would have done if you had been shorted 10 pills, right?  You can then walk away with a clear conscience knowing you've done all you could. 

Do unto others...... 

Posted 5/27/2008 3:59 PM (GMT -6)
I stand by my original thought on this. I've never counted my pills so I wouldn't know if they sent too many or not enough. Trusting soul, eh? :-)
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