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Pain Medicine Short by Pharmacy

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Posted 11/22/2017 5:11 PM (GMT -6)
I’m cringing while typing this because when I read about someone in my situation I admit that I am sometimes skeptical but I believe it can happen now. I was given a prescription bottle with half of the pills missing. That’s approximately 30 pills that were not in my prescription bottle when the bag containing it was handed to me by Walgreens pharmacy. I did not count them at the pharmacy like I’m reading people say I should have. I was under the belief that the machines they use to dispense rx meds was enough to keep my rxs safe from theft. I am not going to ask my Dr for a new prescription. It’s going to be a very rough week until my new prescription but I will not give my Dr any reason to doubt me. The pharmacy manager claims the machine count is accurate and the prescription was filled with the 60 prescribed pills but he’s either lying or pills were taken after that. I have contacted my attorney, filed police report, filed complaint with Pharmacy Board and left a message for Walgreens corporate office to call me so I can make formal complaint with them.
Has anyone dealt with this large of a discrepancy in how much pain medication they received compared to what they were prescribed? It’s disgusting how a theft like this can turn someone’s world upside down. I’ve moved all of my daughter’s and my prescriptions to a pharmacy other than Walgreens since Walgreens was the pharmacy theft occurred at.
Posted 11/22/2017 5:14 PM (GMT -6)
I didn’t mention that the medication they gave me only half of was Oxycodone 10 mg. I know how tightly controlled this is so I realize my word against the pharmacy isn’t much but pharmacy board will be doing an investigation and hopefully catch whoever stole them.
Posted 11/22/2017 5:58 PM (GMT -6)
So sorry to read what happened. You are correct, unless you stand at the counter & count the pills its your word against theirs. When did you notice you were short? I can tell looking at a new bottle if it were to look off. For some reason I look at my bottles when I get them home.

Hopefully you will get some sort of an answer on this. Take care.
Posted 11/22/2017 7:39 PM (GMT -6)
So sorry to hear that happened to you, and thankful, that you reported it..maybe they will catch the person, if its a theft situation.

I guess if this happened to me, i would give my dr . A chance to believe me? But you know your situation best.

Hoping you will find ways to cope as you get through this.

Lj
Posted 11/23/2017 8:09 PM (GMT -6)
The pharmacy board isn't going to do an investigation on one complaint. If enough complaints are filed within a time frame they will.

Why did you contact your attorney? Your doctor may find out about it. Even though you don't notify him. So if he asks you about it don't let that surprise you.

Not all Walgreens use machines to count medication. Some still do it by hand. Of course that does not mean pills aren't shorted.

You were wise to talk to the Pharmacy Manager. And not just the pharmacist on duty.
Posted 11/24/2017 5:12 PM (GMT -6)
I had the same thing happen at the same drugstore! Now, I use a small 'mom and pop' pharmacy with no such problems.

Have you checked the 'refill' section of the label? Sometimes, they are short on your med and give a partial without telling you. This happens a lot with my daughters meds from ShopRite pharmacy.
Posted 11/24/2017 6:28 PM (GMT -6)
pitmom, a Schedule II drug usually has a short time frame the remainder of the prescription can be obtained. If the pharmacy doesn't have the remainder for any reason. The patient has to get a new prescription from their doctor. That is why pharmacies rarely do partial fills on,Schedule Ii prescriptions. Each State has laws that govern partial fills of Schedule II prescriptions.

Since the OP has talked to the Pharmacy Manager and made a complaint. I doubt this is a partial fill situation. But, it never hurts to check.
Posted 11/26/2017 4:30 PM (GMT -6)
So sorry this happened to you! As if pain patients don't have enough problems. I have used the same pharmacy for 17 years (big chain pharmacy)and never been shorted. The one I go to keeps all CII meds in a safe so I know they are counted by hand. Well, took my script in day before Thanksgiving and when I got home I took the lid off and it was so full pills started spilling out. I just knew there were too many. After so many years of getting the same drug, same pill shape, same bottle you can kinda tell. There were 30 pills too many! I immediately called the pharmacist and let him know because I was afraid he would see the error and not know where the missing pills went. The pharmacists at this store have always gone out of their way to help me with whatever I needed. He sounded mortified when I told him. I put the overage in my last months pill bottle and took them back. The head pharmacist had come in since I left and he said they decided they would just put the bottle I brought them back in back in the safe and dispense them to me next month with the additional 60 I should get.

I think I will start counting my pills before I leave now because it could have just as easily been short instead of long. Again I am so sorry this happened and you are forced to go without.

Have you been seeing your Doctor for along time where you have trust built up? I really think my doctor would try to figure out something to help me because I have always done the right thing. I mean he could write you a few of something similar to what you take or maybe give you a few of the same thing but different strength just to get you thru. All doctors offices are different so you know what will work with yours and what won't. I know some of them just don't budge no matter what.

Wish there was something I could do to help you. Will keep you in my prayers.
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