Posted by wendy b. on December 8, 2001, at 13:16:52
In reply to Input Requested, posted by Cam W. on December 6, 2001, at 1:26:43
Hi Cam,
I guess I'm going to be the 3rd person to give kudos to Rite Aid. My local branch in central NY has been consistently good to me for 10 years. I may get one-off scrips like Xanax filled by whomever else when I'm in town, but my regular, everyday psych meds I get filled at a Rite Aid.
There's an older gentleman who's been there for several years, and a younger guy who I have a crush on... Now, I'm not going to praise him because he's cute, but, he did a VERY nice thing for me when my pdoc messed up my Neurontin scrip. I was out of town (in Rochester) last summer and had run out of the medicine. I called my pdoc at home, who was able to call the Rite Aid nearest to where I was staying. The pdoc mis-remembered the dosage, however, and I only got 300s when the real scrip is for 600s. So it only lasted 3 1/2 days when it should have lasted a week. I was annoyed, but I had enough for awhile.
So I get back home and go to my regular Rite Aid, and ask for a refill (there were a few months left on the 600s). I wait for 10 minutes, pay for the bottle, Young Dude Pharmacist steps out from behind the counter to go take his break. Meanwhile, I've checked the bag, and find it's another bottle of 300s. I am really upset and annoyed. I accost him and say, "I'm on the 600s of Neurontin, I needed that one refilled." He sits next to me on some chairs to check my bottle (I liked that part). Young Dude says he'll go back and look it up for me, which he does, types my name in, and says, the last one was for 300s. I ask how they know about the mistake one from Rochester, and he says they're linked to all the other Rite Aid stores, including the Rochester one. Duh, I should have known they share databases. Young Dude then looks up my previous scip from before that, and finds it for the 600s, doesn't even call my pdoc, just takes back the 300s and fills it for my regular, 600mg scrip. No problem, no hassle, the guy trusts me, besides, he knows I'm not trying to get high by doubling my Neurontin scrip. I pledge my eternal thanks, etc.
Sorry this is long.
Young Dude is always smiling and friendly. So is the Older Gentleman. With either, you ALWAYS get your meds within 15 minutes if it's something you are dropping off. It has never taken more time than that. The other day, I dropped off a xanax scrip, and told the assistant I'd pick it up in a few days. Young Dude calls over, "I can fill it for you right now if you want, so you don't have to make an extra trip." It was done in 2 minutes.
Most refills I do over the online ordering system, Drugstore.com (it's quite simple). Or I use the voice-mail answering system on the phone, which is also simple and quick.
The first time I had a psycho-type drug scrip to get filled, about 10 years ago, it was for xanax, written by my family dr. I was in a bad marriage, having the worst time, the doc prescribed it so I could just handle all the stress and anxiety. I remember walking in, wearing my biggest Jackie Onassis-type sunglasses to hide my swollen eyes, I'd been crying hard at the doctor's. I thought, here goes, I'm now entering the land of the living dead, I'm starting down the slippery slope, I'm on psycho-drugs, I'm going to become a zombie, etc, etc. Handed the Older Gentleman the scrip, he doesn't blink of course, he's a professional, seen a lot in his day, I'm sure. Even insane people like me, I think to myself. So I sit next to the blood-pressure machine, the only chairs are right there, I'm exhausted from the stress and the tears. Two people who look like they've ridden into the strip mall from the back of beyond, get their BP taken as I sit there. And I go even more berserk, because the computer-generated voice coming from the machine is SO freakin' annoying... ("Put your arm in the cuff, be relaxed, but hold still, etc.") Older Gentleman calls my name and I go up to pay. I can hardly speak. He asks if I've ever taken xanax before, I say no, almost in tears. He says, well, it may make you tired, so just experiment with it, etc. The dr says take it as needed, he says, so try taking it *before* you get into a situation where you know you'll be anxious, like busy traffic or whatever (but now that I think of it, the bottles have the warning about operating machinery, but I was on such a low dose, 0.25s, he probably knew it would be fine). In any case, I felt so grateful to him for talking to me in such a kind manner, and so matter-of-factly, like it was going to be ok if I took the stuff. Very professional and reassuring, no judgement.
The pharm assistants who've been there for awhile all know my name. When they see me coming, they go straight to the "B" bin to get the refill. And it's always friendly and familiar.
Sorry this is so long... I hope this has been useful, Cam, you're always so helpful to everyone else. We owe you a lot...
Take it easy,
Wendy
poster:wendy b.
thread:15042
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011207/msgs/15235.html