July 22, 2008 - 8:45am
Hello,
Recently I had a very bad experience at a very well-known pharmacy chain. They completely lost a prescription of mine... it was a pain killer, fortunately non-narcotic, so the phone wasn't slammed down in my face when I called numerous times to straighten the problem out. Here is basically what happened:
My family doc gave me Ultram for several months before referring me to a specialist... I had a script with a refill called into a store near the office, but had it transferred within the same chain near home. Picked up the script... later, I went to my specialist who also gave me Ultram. Later, I called pharmacy to get the refill on my last script, but was told I had no refill... so I went to the pharmacy and turned in my new script... Returned and was told very rudely that I was going through them too fast and I wasn't going to be able to pick up for like 2 weeks... confused, yet not arguing, I waited and went back the day I was told. I was then told I had 2 scripts of the same thing ready to pick up...the "refill" from my family doc that magically was available now and filled plus the new script from my specialist. They asked which one I wanted now, so I took the "refill" and left the new one. two weeks later I returned to pick up the second, which all of a sudden was not available, and according to them, they had no record of it... So after explaining the situation to the so-called head pharm, I was laughed at, and told that I was the first problem he had in months, and there was nothing they could do. That led to my fury of proving myself right, so after about 6 phone calls, the pharm finally admitted they were wrong, and that they had "deleted" my script info... they gave me half of my script and told me there was nothing else they could do b/c they didn't have documentation...
So how can they admit they were wrong to me, but not do anything to fix the whole problem... how did they know my info was "deleted"? If it was deleted, they wouldn't know right? I even had medical records of my family doc send documentation that my script was indeed e-scribed to the pharm... idiots we put in charge of our health, if u ask me.
So now, my specialist has given me a script for a narcotic, and I'm scared to drop it off at ANY pharmacy for fear that it will be lost. I guess I will have to just stand there until it is filled, but even if I tell them "look, I had a bad experience with scripts being lost, so I wanna make sure this isn't", they are going to think I'm weird or a druggie or something. I know I'm prob over-reacting, but I do not trust incompetent people... and I cannot call my doc and say "oh, they lost it, please send another one", b/c we all know that will not happen...
anyone else had bad experiences like this with a 3-letter pharmacy?
do u think its stupid of me to say something along the lines of "don't lose it this time"? :)
July 22, 2008 - 9:57am
#2
I really do not see what you
I really do not see what you are so upset about. A real sytemic problem with a pharmacy is one thing, but I think you are being overly sensitive.
They misplaced the record indicating that you had refills. When they found it, they corrected the problem, courteously anticipating your need for the medication, went ahead and filled it. They only neglected to call you to tell you that they had found the script. Perhaps they forgot. When you presented a second script later that day or the next day, the one you recieved from the specialist, the computer record showed that you had already had the first script you called for (the refill on the script from your PCP) filled the same day or the day prior when you first called for a refill.
Rather than trying to figure out the problem you left. If you were in so much pain that you needed a narcotic analgesic, I have to wonder why you went two weeks without pain meds without trying to resolve the problem at the pharmacy or with your doctor's office. You could have asked, "when was my last script filled, and what doctor wrote it, and do you know when I picked it up?"
Tramadol (ultram) is a narcotic and it does have abuse potential and it is reportable to my states controlled substance prescription data base. It is completely legitimate for the pharmacy to be concerned if you are recieving scripts from two physicians for controlled substances and if you are getting a script filled early, especially from a second physician.
If you tell them: "look, I had a bad experience with scripts being lost, so I wanna make sure this isn't", they WILL think you are quite rude and will indisputably treat you accordingly. It sounds like your desire to prove yourself right and the pharmacy wrong is interfering with your care.
July 22, 2008 - 11:51am
#3
First of all, how do you
First of all, how do you misplace a computer record...
To avoid a seriously long post, I left out many details...one, they said that I had the script transferred out of the chain, two, they then changed it to say that I had transferred it to a third store within their chain at another location, and that I picked it up (which I haven't been to that location in about 6 months), three, they changed it yet again and said that it was deleted. They kept saying they would call me back, but never would. They called previous AND new doc and asked for a "refill", even though I told them that I did NOT want to involve the doctor over their mistake b/c it would make me look bad and I had to sign somethign saying I wouldn't do that... they said it was ok since they did it and not me, and thankfully my doc said she recently had a problem with them too and was not angry.
I wasn't mad at first, Dr. Lois, and that is why I went 2 weeks without... I'm not one of these, "oh my God, the medicine rules my life" kind of people... I delt with it and moved on... I didn't get mad even when I went back after the date they set and had 2 scripts! It wasn't until I went back for the one I left and they had no record of it did I get a little irritated... and I didn't get mad until I called the head pharm and he laughed at me.... and I didn't get irrate until I had to talk to all those unconcerned people who get blaming each other....
And you are the first person who has ever told me Tram. was a narcotic... all the pharmacists and assistants said it was not... my doc at the old practice, his nurse... my new doctor... and all the research I'm doing online says it is not. I understand it has potiential for abuse, but the pharm. never acted as if they thought it was a case like that... it could have been viagra for all they cared, they just didn't want to admit they were wrong, until wayyyyy down the line after repeated phone calls.
My desire to prove myself right is interfering with my care? What are you even talking about? That's like if you had a problem with a bank losing your money, and I said your desire to prove yourself right by getting your money back is interfering with your finances.
July 22, 2008 - 12:25pm
#4
I don't KNOW what happened
I don't KNOW what happened with the pharmacy. They may not even know what happened. Whatever explanation you got it may or may not be the right one. The goal is to get your medication with the mimimal amount of hassle right? It doesn't matter who was right or wrong, what matters is getting what you want. I know I get in avenging angle mode and want to smite down all those sinners who lied to me and demand justice be done, but it really is the long hard way to go about getting what you really want.
This is from the PDR (2008 ed.):
"Ultram ER is a centrally acting sythetic opioid analgesic. Although it's mode of action is not completely understood, from animal tests, at least two complementary mechanisms appear applicable: binding of the parent and M1 metabolite to the mu-opiod receptors and weak inhibition of reuptake of norepinephrine and seratonin."
July 22, 2008 - 1:16pm
#5
I will admit that I tend to
I will admit that I tend to get angry easily... that's my mistake... so I guess its not too big of a deal... I just expect people to know what they are doing, b/c in my line of work, I cannot afford mistakes, and I work very hard to not make them... when I do, I try my best to correct it, I never blame the computer for my mistakes, or say "there's nothign I can do"... if I cannot help, then I find someone who can, and fast... so when I see flaws in the health system (and boy do I see A LOT), then I get very upset.. it's not so much the mistakes, it's the lack of concern. I'm in my mid-twenties, but I feel like I should be in my fifties saying "what's with the world today, and it's blasted computers, no one cares anymore, so on, so on"
Well... either way I just got my 60 hydros successfully which will last me 4 months if I even took everyday, which I will not, so hopefully I won't need to worry about it for half a year... least I hope not...
July 22, 2008 - 1:26pm
#6
I am not instigating here but..
I'm not instigating here but sometimes it's very easy to think of the recent war on drugs and the way chronic pain patients are being treated, etc.... And have that seep into what problems we experience at the pharmacy. Not every situation having to do with narcotics or prescriptions have to add up to what is going on right now with the war on drugs. Its easy to think and become defensive when a problem comes up with our pain medication. But not EVERY situation adds up to the "war on drugs" against us. I defiantly hear both sides here but the issue is getting the medications you very much need.
July 23, 2008 - 7:51am
#7
Yeah, I don't think it
Yeah, I don't think it had anything to do with it being a pain killer.
There was no narcotic involved.
I think I would have gotten the same treatment reguardless of the medication.
July 25, 2008 - 5:56am
#8
Losing Battle
Dr. Lois is trying to tell you nicely that you are fighting a losing battle. Just because your bottle says you have one refill on it, DOES NOT mean that you are guaranteed that refill. As a physician she knows that can change at any given time. Especially if the pharmacist gets upset enough to phone your doctor and notify him/her that you are recieving the same med from different physicians. All the MD has to say is "cancel" the refill and dont fill any more scripts for this person from me, and it is done. Look, doctors and pharmacists are human, and as long as you treat them as one, they will understand most situations, but you have to realize that EVERY day they are forced to deal with drug seekers who seem to have amazing gall to pull some of the stunts they do just to get their meds. Now, I dont consider someone who is in legitimate pain and needs their medications because of the pain getting upset at a mistake, but I can assure you that it is not typical practice for pharmacies to make mistakes, they are in the business of accuracy. So cut them some slack.
July 25, 2008 - 7:34am
#9
FYI, I also was always told
FYI, I also was always told that tram was not a narcotic. I have cronic pain everyday all day long. Due to the fact that I have little children I can't afford to be in the narcotic haze (and I this point I thank god that the tram does do a fine job for me at dulling the pain) I told my Dr. this and thats why he chose to use tram. Dr. Lois is also the only Dr. I have heard (read) saying it was a narcotic. I do know that it has the potential of being abused, but a narcotic, I did not. Hey ASh, I hear you loud and clear. I had nearly the same thing happen to me at the same chain. I also just had a hard time getting my insulin needles filled from the same chain. To keep it short, I use two types of insulin, one is on the form of a pen and one in a vial. Meaning I need two types of needles, they made me feel as if I was selling them on the street or miss-using them. Hang in there, I feel your pain!
July 25, 2008 - 12:17pm
#10
Wow, I am really impressed
Wow, I am really impressed with myself that I know so much more than all these other doctors!
In almost 20 years I have been prescribed class 2 narcotics and have never experienced anything of that magnitude. I have had pharmacists steal narcotics , had them refuse to fill them, and a few other problems but that is over the line. I would try to find a pharmacy and if possible stick with them. I would also call the store manager or even go further up because as everyone knows it is a very competitive buisness. I have never had any pharmacy lose one but I am sure it happens as you now know. I now have a pharmacy that I stay with and all over the country my info is in every one of their stores computers. Best of luck