![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 12 to 36 of 42. Go back in thread:
Posted by Abajo on October 17, 2001, at 5:25:35
In reply to Re: Big Sissy At The Pharmacy » Abajo, posted by kazoo on October 17, 2001, at 2:24:17
kazoo....In my state a pharmacist can refuse to fill a script. There is a lot more to the story than I revealed because it wasn't pertinant to the final outcome. Trust me, my doctor had words with her and I had a yelling match with her. There were other patrons in the store so in the interest of civility I decided to leave. I knew my pdoc would call in another script at another pharmacy so really the whole issue of me getting my script was never out of my hands. I never considered that she might use them for herself. I hope she enjoyed them if she did. I'm kind of curious about your heading for your post. What did you want me to do, jump over the counter and fill the script myself. I did talk with her supervisor and he said he would not overrule her decision. I just viewed it as another learning experience.
Posted by Poppy on October 17, 2001, at 9:02:10
In reply to Re: Big Brother At The Pharmacy » Elizabeth, posted by Cam W. on October 17, 2001, at 3:28:37
I just realised recently how lucky I was. I live in australia and after reading many posts regarding difficulty in getting prescriptions and the cost of some, and the trouubles in refilling early, I cant even imagine the extra stress thta actually aquiring the medication would put on people. I pay $3.50, around 1.75 for a script of effexor xr 150mg, and recently because i was on such a high dose i was eligable to recieve twlo scripts (56 tabs) for the $3.50, and I dont have any trouble getting extra scripts to save time, or if I am going away( i am a student so I have a health crae card for these benifits). I just took all this for granted. I wish everyone the best of luck in getting their medication. My meds are a neccessity and I cant imagine how it would feel to have to pay so much for them. So good luck, I hope everyone who has trouble getting their meds finds that things get easier, take care of yourself.
Posted by Wendy B. on October 17, 2001, at 11:30:15
In reply to Big Brother At The Pharmacy, posted by Gracie2 on October 16, 2001, at 1:39:38
Hello, fellow sufferers,
It's amazing that things like this happen. I have a relationship with my pharmacy like the one Cam describes, they all know me, they've seen me come in with red, puffy eyes from crying for an hour, immediately after therapy, scrip in hand for years.
xanax,
zoloft,
efexxor,
wellbutrin,
neurontin,
(think that's it.)As I say, when I've called in a refill (or do it online, RiteAid uses drugstore.com), or the pdoc calls it in, I walk down the pharmacy aisle, they go and reach for the filled scrip under B. I haven't needed to tell them my last name for a couple of years. They already know it and know me. When I had a bad mix-up on a neurontin scrip, the pharmacist just upped the amount without even calling the doctor.
As for a controlled substance like xanax: most of the time, my pdoc prescribes way over the amount I might need. For ex: she gives me 30 X 1 mg a month. I may need half that (I take it on an as-needed basis). So I never get a hassle when I need more. Wouldn't that be a solution for some of you, having the doctor prescribe *over* the amount you actually need, so you never run out. Explain the situation to the doctor, they should be able to do this for you, if they know and trust you, and if there aren't any issues with suicidal ideation, or attempts, etc.
With Xanax I have to have a *written* scrip, in triplicate, and physically take it to the pharmacy. Doesn't everyone else? The scrip says specifically, NO REFILLS. i.e., the doc has to *write* a new one whenever I need one. So I don't understand the question about refills. My doc cannot call in a refill on xanax. It has to be a brand-new scrip, as with valium, and other regulated drugs. Are there different regulations in different states? (I'm in New York)
Just wondering...
Wendy
Posted by Ted on October 17, 2001, at 13:14:31
In reply to Re: Big Brother At The Pharmacy, posted by JohnX on October 16, 2001, at 23:31:30
I, like Gracie, have to get my refills on schedule. However, I found that if I go to the pharmacy *BEFORE* I leave on vacation, my insurance will authorize a "vacation advance" of my meds. They will provide enough to cover my absence plus a couple of days. I then have to get the remainder of my refill when I return.
Try it -- you might have the same undocumented benefit. If your pharmacy says 'no', then ask them to actually call the HMO for permission.
Another option many HMOs offer is mailorder prescription refills. You get a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply. They usually also give a discounted copayment. Of course this is not a good idea if your meds change often.
BTW: I use Walgreens too.
Ted
Posted by susan C on October 17, 2001, at 20:57:58
In reply to Re: Big Bro At The Pharmacy -- Vacation Advance, posted by Ted on October 17, 2001, at 13:14:31
Another thing to keep in mind is Emergency Preparedness...having a two week supply of essential meds on hand. You can slowly accumulate these over time...keeping two weeks ahead of yourself so to speak.
I keep all my meds in a bag, with a list with my doctors names and phone numbers and addresses. Also, even though I am big on this it has been taking me years to get to the point to be actually prepared. The water from 2000/Millenium is still in the closet. I keep a supply of prepackaged food that we like and now there is my collection of medication.
I live in the NW, so everyone here knows the BIG ONE is due any time, which would mean/could be up to two weeks of regional shut down.
We all know about what happened Sept 11.
We all know about the hurricanes in the south.
Just a note to keep in mind, we can all do little things in advance that help ourselves.
Mighty Mouse on the Microphone
susan C
Posted by Gracie2 on October 18, 2001, at 2:42:17
In reply to Re: Big INSURANCE dictates to The Pharmacy » Gracie2, posted by kazoo on October 16, 2001, at 1:59:20
I went to the doctor today to complain about the pharmacist's treatment. The doctor was disgusted, said that the pharmacy should have called him and he would have okayed the early refill. He had precribed only one 0.5 mg pill of Xanax a day,
not knowing my tolerance for it, but he knows I'm having personal problems at home right now and I'm kind of brittle. He tripled my prescription (after I promised to see a psychiatrist) and suggested I might try another pharmacy for a refill. So Walgreens is history - I'm tired of their crap.
I went directly to another, smaller pharmacy and was treated with the utmost courtesy instead of suspicion and disrespect. What a difference!Happier now-
Gracie
Posted by Ted on October 18, 2001, at 10:47:28
In reply to Update on Big Brother, posted by Gracie2 on October 18, 2001, at 2:42:17
Good for you, Gracie!!
> So Walgreens is history - I'm tired of their crap.
Funny! I dropped Long's Drugs in favor of Walgreens. Long's was making me c-r-a-z-y! They wanted ID to sell ibuprofen (generic advil)! It was *very* difficult to get them to actually *sell* prescriptions to me. Walgreens has been the greatest for me.
> I went directly to another, smaller pharmacy and was treated with the utmost courtesy instead of suspicion and disrespect. What a difference!
Well, of course! Small places are usually the best for service. This is true not only of pharmacies.
Ted
Posted by NikkiT2 on October 19, 2001, at 11:54:39
In reply to Update on Big Brother, posted by Gracie2 on October 18, 2001, at 2:42:17
I lways use smaller independent pharmacies!! I like giving my money to people that need it rather than corporations!!! and they're so nice at the one nearest me :o)
I;m pleased you found somewhere you like
Nikki
>
> I went to the doctor today to complain about the pharmacist's treatment. The doctor was disgusted, said that the pharmacy should have called him and he would have okayed the early refill. He had precribed only one 0.5 mg pill of Xanax a day,
> not knowing my tolerance for it, but he knows I'm having personal problems at home right now and I'm kind of brittle. He tripled my prescription (after I promised to see a psychiatrist) and suggested I might try another pharmacy for a refill. So Walgreens is history - I'm tired of their crap.
> I went directly to another, smaller pharmacy and was treated with the utmost courtesy instead of suspicion and disrespect. What a difference!
>
> Happier now-
> Gracie
Posted by stjames on October 19, 2001, at 14:18:12
In reply to Re: Big Brother At The Pharmacy » Elizabeth, posted by Cam W. on October 17, 2001, at 3:28:37
> Elizabeth - I wish I were a "cool pharmacist". In some cases I will fill controlled drugs early unless the doc absolutely specifies an interval.
James here....
This is my experence, too. I get my Dex at the same place every time. I can fill it a little early. I find that when one takes Scheduled meds
it really helps to go to the same place, so they get to know you. One time I by mistake handed the
tech 3 months scripts and he filled all of them !james
Posted by Gracie2 on October 19, 2001, at 15:58:42
In reply to Re: Big Brother At The Pharmacy, posted by stjames on October 19, 2001, at 14:18:12
I think that a small pharmacy is the definate answer, where you are treated like a patient instead of a customer (or a criminal) like Cam said. It would be nice to see the same pharmacist all the time and have him get to know you. I never saw the same pharmacist at Walgreens. I also believe that it's better to give your business to a small locally-owned establishment where your business is important to them. The pharmacist at the small place was so nice, he chatted with me, told me not to drink grapefruit juice with my Xanax, all kinds of stuff...I was very greatful to be treated so well instead of looking over my shoulder for the cops-the way I felt like doing at Walgreens, as if I had walked in there with a script for 2 pounds of morphine.
Support the small business owner!
-Gracie
Posted by Neal on October 20, 2001, at 0:36:23
In reply to Re: Big Brother At The Pharmacy, posted by Gracie2 on October 19, 2001, at 15:58:42
Yes, I go to a small local pharmacy. It's great. No waiting in lines. They know me by name and get my medicine off the shelf as I approach the counter. They help as much as possible with the insurance beauracracy. If I'm short a few pills with the weekend coming on, I ask them if they'll give me ten or so, and they do. I didn't find this kind of service at the big pharmacies.
Posted by Elizabeth on October 22, 2001, at 10:53:38
In reply to Re: Big Brother At The Pharmacy, posted by Gracie2 on October 19, 2001, at 15:58:42
> It would be nice to see the same pharmacist all the time and have him get to know you.
When I was in MA, I always went to the same pharmacy, a KMart in South Boston (the only place in town that took my out-of-state insurance). There were two pharmacists working there. One of them was always nice to me, knew that I was a student and what classes I was taking (seriously!), knew that I take 20mg/night of Ambien and that the buprenorphine was for depression (and that I'm not a drug addict), trusted me when I said stuff like "yes, my doctor did prescribe amoxapine and Parnate together and it's okay," etc. The other fellow treated me like a number rather than like a person, and he gave me a hard time every time I brought in one of my left-field prescriptions. He would do stuff like insist on calling my doctor about anything slightly out of the ordinary, even when it was something that he'd filled for me dozens of times before (like the Ambien #60). It took about 45 minutes for me to get to that pharmacy from Cambridge, so I didn't want to just leave a script there and then come pick it up later or the next day. But often that guy would make me wait for an hour or more because he insisted on talking to my doctor before filling a prescription.
Cam seems to treat patients as individuals -- and that's what I meant by "cool."
> ...I was very greatful to be treated so well instead of looking over my shoulder for the cops-the way I felt like doing at Walgreens, as if I had walked in there with a script for 2 pounds of morphine.
I think it would probably be a script for 1000 grams of morphine (1,000,000 mg, or about 33,333 MSIR 30mg tabs -- yeah, I guess that is a bit much).
-elizabeth
Posted by Gracie2 on October 23, 2001, at 17:44:56
In reply to Re: Big Brother At The Pharmacy » Gracie2, posted by Elizabeth on October 22, 2001, at 10:53:38
Elizabeth-
The referral to morphine comes from a real story.
I worked for a doctor who did his residency in the
"combat zone" - a welfare hospital in a tough part of the city. One day he got a call from the hospital pharmacy - they said, "We have a prescription here with your name on it and we're not quite sure if it's legit - would you come on down here and take a look at it?"
So the doctor goes down to the pharmacy and they handed him a script that said:
MOFINE, 2 LBS.
They all started laughing so hard, they were gasping for air and nearly in tears.
The doctor loved that story.
-Gracie
Posted by allisonm on October 23, 2001, at 18:39:26
In reply to Big Brother At The Pharmacy, posted by Gracie2 on October 16, 2001, at 1:39:38
I got a call last month from my drug store chain saying that my scripts hadn't been refilled and wouldn't I want to have them refilled, and they could put in the order right there electronically while we were on the phone so it would be ready today... I'm on Wellbutrin and Serzone.
(My pdoc and I had been testing a different Serzone dose, and he had been giving me samples of said drug in a different dose to see if it would help.)
I told the guy I'd do it myself when I needed to, thanks, bye.
Talk about Big Brother...
Posted by JohnX on October 23, 2001, at 19:08:39
In reply to I've had just the opposite, posted by allisonm on October 23, 2001, at 18:39:26
Ahah, good example, here's where the
pharmacy doesn't have john-q-law stopping them
from soliciting business!regards,
john
> I got a call last month from my drug store chain saying that my scripts hadn't been refilled and wouldn't I want to have them refilled, and they could put in the order right there electronically while we were on the phone so it would be ready today... I'm on Wellbutrin and Serzone.
>
> (My pdoc and I had been testing a different Serzone dose, and he had been giving me samples of said drug in a different dose to see if it would help.)
>
> I told the guy I'd do it myself when I needed to, thanks, bye.
>
> Talk about Big Brother...
Posted by allisonm on October 23, 2001, at 22:30:35
In reply to Re: I've had just the opposite » allisonm, posted by JohnX on October 23, 2001, at 19:08:39
Yeah, my pdoc was incredulous when I told him about it.
>
> Ahah, good example, here's where the
> pharmacy doesn't have john-q-law stopping them
> from soliciting business!
>
> regards,
> john
>
>
> > I got a call last month from my drug store chain saying that my scripts hadn't been refilled and wouldn't I want to have them refilled, and they could put in the order right there electronically while we were on the phone so it would be ready today... I'm on Wellbutrin and Serzone.
> >
> > (My pdoc and I had been testing a different Serzone dose, and he had been giving me samples of said drug in a different dose to see if it would help.)
> >
> > I told the guy I'd do it myself when I needed to, thanks, bye.
> >
> > Talk about Big Brother...
Posted by Jane D on October 24, 2001, at 2:51:25
In reply to Re: I've had just the opposite » JohnX, posted by allisonm on October 23, 2001, at 22:30:35
Did anyone else received a letter from their drug store (paid for by Eli Lilly) inviting them to switch to Prozac weekly just before the Prozac patent expired?
Jane
Posted by maximillian on March 17, 2002, at 5:24:32
In reply to Re: Big Brother At The Pharmacy, posted by Gracie2 on October 23, 2001, at 17:44:56
this is unreal. i, too, have had a couple of run-ins with my pharmicists. i called in a refill on effexor xr and ambien. the ambien refill was five days early. when i went to pick them up, i was given the fifth degree in front of all the other 'pillheads' that were behind me and the other clerks in the store. the pharmy said that next time if i wanted a refill, my nd would have to call them in. i asked why and he said because 'you are picking them up to early'. i was stunned, i'm fifty years old and i have been thru a lot of s--- in my life and i think i know how to handle meds. my family and i have been doing all our business there for 3 1/2 years. i was so p----d when i got home, i sat down at my comp and proceeded to draft a letter to cvs letting them know what happened and telling them i was going to sue. heard nothing and two weeks later i called in another perscrip on the ambien(three days early), this a-----e called my home and spoke to my 16 yr old daughter and told her i would not be able to get my refill because 'its too early and i shouldn't be out'. i went in to speak to this 'professional person' and he literally made me feel as if i were abusing theses drugs. son of a bitch! he wouldn't giive it to me. if i wanted illegal drugs i could buy anything on the street for cheaper and easier than what i get charged. i called my lawyer the following day...this piece of pro work by the 'drugbuster' is called in legal terms "invasion of privacy". a week later the regional director called me to apologize and attempted to offer an eplanation about the refusal , which i didn't accept. he said he would follow up on it. he did...the next time i went in there were no hassles, the pharmicist, steven squires didn't say a word to me. now, i guess i have to worry about what 'mr magoo' will put in my meds. lousy, pissy ass, mofo....the pharmacy is 'cvs. sorry about the length.
max
Posted by beardedlady on March 17, 2002, at 7:07:02
In reply to big brother is everywhere, posted by maximillian on March 17, 2002, at 5:24:32
This happened to me a few times, too. It may surprise you (or not) to know that it's probably not the pharmacy but your insurance company. When the pharmacist types in your refill, the insurance company will only accept it if it's been something like 28 out of the 30 days. (If you felt like paying for the refill out of your own pocket, I bet the pharmacy would let you pick it up early!)
Here's one solution: talk to your doctor about getting him to write the prescription for a higher dose than you should take. That way, you can refill before you run out.
Here's another: have the pharmacy call your insurance company while you're standing there. You can talk to them and tell them that you will be out of town when the prescription runs out and that you are leaving tomorrow. This has worked for me every time.
If you don't have insurance, then all this is moot, right? And you really are being watched!
beardy ; )>
Posted by IsoM on March 17, 2002, at 14:16:01
In reply to I've had just the opposite, posted by allisonm on October 23, 2001, at 18:39:26
All the above threads show how important it is to pick a pharmacy, not for the store or chain, but for the individual pharmacist. Look at Cam W, a wonderful pharmacist in my opinion, but the place he worked at, stinks.
Even though I get my meds from a large Canadian chain store that doesn't have a good reputation, I know the two pharmacists who work there & they're the best. They'll hand me the CPS (large medication book) to look through, give me extra if I've ran out & the doctor's booked solid for a week (except for controlled meds - they can't for those), & even order speciality OTC meds or vitamins that they don't normally carry. It's the *person* you deal with that's important - at least here in Canada where's there's no insurance problems.
Posted by Reneeb on March 18, 2002, at 20:26:50
In reply to big brother is everywhere, posted by maximillian on March 17, 2002, at 5:24:32
> this is unreal. i, too, have had a couple of run-ins with my pharmicists. i called in a refill on effexor xr and ambien. the ambien refill was five days early. when i went to pick them up, i was given the fifth degree in front of all the other 'pillheads' that were behind me and the other clerks in the store. the pharmy said that next time if i wanted a refill, my nd would have to call them in. i asked why and he said because 'you are picking them up to early'. i was stunned, i'm fifty years old and i have been thru a lot of s--- in my life and i think i know how to handle meds. my family and i have been doing all our business there for 3 1/2 years. i was so p----d when i got home, i sat down at my comp and proceeded to draft a letter to cvs letting them know what happened and telling them i was going to sue. heard nothing and two weeks later i called in another perscrip on the ambien(three days early), this a-----e called my home and spoke to my 16 yr old daughter and told her i would not be able to get my refill because 'its too early and i shouldn't be out'. i went in to speak to this 'professional person' and he literally made me feel as if i were abusing theses drugs. son of a bitch! he wouldn't giive it to me. if i wanted illegal drugs i could buy anything on the street for cheaper and easier than what i get charged. i called my lawyer the following day...this piece of pro work by the 'drugbuster' is called in legal terms "invasion of privacy". a week later the regional director called me to apologize and attempted to offer an eplanation about the refusal , which i didn't accept. he said he would follow up on it. he did...the next time i went in there were no hassles, the pharmicist, steven squires didn't say a word to me. now, i guess i have to worry about what 'mr magoo' will put in my meds. lousy, pissy ass, mofo....the pharmacy is 'cvs. sorry about the length.
>
> maxMax, you should never worry about the length. Hey, whatever it takes. Isn't it great you have somewhere to go that we all understand.
Take care,
Renee
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 18, 2002, at 23:53:12
In reply to big brother is everywhere, posted by maximillian on March 17, 2002, at 5:24:32
Posted by chiaratara on March 19, 2002, at 1:19:56
In reply to big brother is everywhere, posted by maximillian on March 17, 2002, at 5:24:32
thanks for the message. i sometimes wonder about those people behind the counter.
Posted by fachad on March 19, 2002, at 3:04:16
In reply to Big Brother At The Pharmacy, posted by Gracie2 on October 16, 2001, at 1:39:38
Yep, my 78 yr old mother got busted by the pharmacist for trying to refill a script too early.
She takes a *lot* of meds, blood pressure, Percocet, Ativan, etc.
So what kind of shameful drug abuse did the pharmacist uncover and scold her for?
She was self-medicating and self-escalating the dose of her...prescription laxatives!
I was furious at the pharmacist...Jezzz, she just wants to go to the bathroom...let's see how *your* bowels work when you are 78 yrs old.
I guess it's a definite sign that you are old when your drugs of choice are stool softeners and laxatives.
Posted by deeanne on March 19, 2002, at 12:04:05
In reply to Re: big brother is everywhere » maximillian, posted by Reneeb on March 18, 2002, at 20:26:50
I just want to clear up something here -- there is a greater than 95% chance it's NOT the pharmacist "picking on you" for being a "pill head". If you have medical insurance, THEY are the ones who regulate how often you can refill. If you buy a 30 day supply, it should last you 30 days...you should be able to refill within a reasonable amount of time prior to needing 30 more pills, but it's not the pharmacist making the call...it's the insurance industry. I have gone through the same thing, with many medications, including something as benign as birth control pills. Don't get so worked up -- it almost sounds like you're paranoid about someone calling you a pill head. ease up a little. Life's too short to go around pissed off and trying to sue people.
God Bless, and have a good day!
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.