Grrr...BIG Pharmacy Error | Arthritis Information

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So I go to the big chain pharmacy with the drive through window because I like getting coupons and buying magazines, other stuff at the same time.  There is a local pharmacist next door and I may switch soon (would he have injectible MTX right off hand?  I guess he could get it soon enough?) I love the guy but would prefer not to know the person handing me my ritalin, birth control, lexapro, etc. 

 
So yesterday I dropped off a paper prescription from my psychiatrist at the drive through window.  I thought it was odd that the guy usually behind the photo counter took it.  (I go there all the time...photos is another reason...but I am on 8 rxs and they all have different refill dates, I swear!) 
 
So now they can't find the d*mn thing.  In August my pscyh wrote me three prescriptions for a one month supply of ritalin--one for aug, sept, oct.  Dated accordingly.  I am going to have a fine time getting him to call in more if they can't find it, since it has street value, etc.
 
And I would have to go a fricking month without it, which would mean I'd have to start up my insane caffeine addiction again to make it through the day.  the ritalin is for add and helps my add but lord have mercy it helps me even more with fatigue from RA and MTX.  Not that I can't take it then take a nap (because I totally can--I know you all know that fatigue).
 
I am going to be SO MAD if they don't get this resolved.  My next door neighbor manages this store and I don't want to get into it with him.  But I think the pharmacist would be to blame here, not him--he probably has little to do with that end.  Maybe the psych will say "sure you can have some more ritalin" but I am wary and don't want the hassle
 
Argh!
Forgot to add that they are going through all the paper prescriptions they got in yesterday to look for it.  I can be flaky but yesterday I went because I was early to dinner at my mom's, and I know I dropped it off, I know the exact time, and I know who took it.  And they just have no record of it at all.  I should have never handed it to the photo guy!Sorry, but this isn't a BIG pharmacy error.  This is a pain in the a** and a mistake, but a BIG pharmacy error is dispensing the wrong med. 
PhatsI don't think you should be so concerned.  This is their problem, and they need to make it right, whether they need to contact the doctor, or they track down the original prescription.  That is the approach you need to take.  Considering this is a controlled substance, I think they need to be investigating their photo guy to see if he pocketed the script!  You can always offer to contact the police to help them investigate the matter!Yep - if the clerk did steal your script, you need to raise a stink so that he is stopped!  If he did it to you, how many others has he done it to?  And especially if he's targeting controlled substance scripts - there are lots of people who may not speak up for fear of being labeled as a drug-seeker. whoa, hold the phone.  You guys are talking about the photo guy stealing a script?  Do you know that for fact?  You are making some serious allegations here.  Come on guys.  Get your facts before you start throwing crap like that around.  Geez. [QUOTE=Phatgirl2]whoa, hold the phone.  You guys are talking about the photo guy stealing a script?  Do you know that for fact?  You are making some serious allegations here.  Come on guys.  Get your facts before you start throwing crap like that around.  Geez.[/QUOTE]

I said IF.  Diversion and fraud are huge problems in all pharmacies.  And IF something like that is going on here, then yes, law enforcement will need to be involved.  At the very least, she needs an explanation as to what happened to her script.  What if it was a script for insulin, blood pressure meds, antibiotics for acute bacterial infection?  It's not like a pack of hot dogs went missing... this is someone's license to take her physician-prescribed medication.
Whoa, hold the phone is right.  I didn't accuse anyone, and of course don't know what happened to the script.  Katie is all worked up and upset wondering what she has to do to get her medication, and I am trying to point out that this is a matter the pharmacy needs to investigate and take seriously.  And she needs to impress upon them how serious this is!  Theft of the script is a very real possibility, you have to acknowledge that fact!It could be.  I don't know.  I like that guy, and I know/like a lot of people at the store. I'm not friends with him or anything but he is really friendly to customers, he helped take a passport picture of my second son when he was 3 weeks old (this involved putting him on a piece of poster board on the floor--pretty funny). They called after checking everything/everywhere and said they couldn't find it.  They are going to call my doctor in the morning and see if he will write another.  But he wrote it way back in August so I don't know if he'll remember right off, etc...we'll see.
 
My issue is I have read how pharmacies with drive thrus have more errors (like this and more dangerous) b/c everyone is so distracted.  And I totally saw it yesterday.  I was 4 cars behind at first and the car at the window circled through and the next to the car that was then first and was making all sorts of gestures trying to communicate with someone inside about a prescription.  And then they are ringing up rxs plus all the other crap people buy (me included).  I do know the 2 pharmacists (what they look like at least) and they are always focused but it can be dangerous!
 
I would hate to think that kid or anyone else stole the prescription. However, when I was talking with whoever called me, she made reference to the "narcotics log" and the safe.  So it's something they are quite cognizant of.   I didn't accuse, I was just frustrated.  Probably more than I should have been but a lot of it is just the frustration of having to manage so many prescriptions that run out at different times.  Seriously, one of these days I am going to take a 2 week vacation and skip all my meds so I can have them all filled at once.  Yes I am totally kidding, I could not do that.  But I am at that place constantly!
 
So issue may be resolved but it's still frustrating.  What if it was a painkiller rx for a surgery I just had, etc.
Sorry. I hope they can fix it. My son used to take ritilin so i know of the problems you can run into.
They used to tell me to keep him home from school if he ran out. The doctor went on vacation once without refilling his script and the school made him stay home two weeks.
Maybe you can stay home. A nice thought but not a realistic one I know.
The pharmacy and drive-thru areas most likely have cameras - most pharmacies do.  They should be able to tell what happened to the script - did it fall through the cracks somewhere?  Did it get handed off to a pharmacist/pharmacy tech?  Did it get put in the wrong pile of paperwork? Did it get handed off to someone else?

Schedule-II scripts are tightly-controlled (as you know!) so even if someone did make off with the script, chances are that they will be busted if they're dumb enough to try to fill it.  Of course, that doesn't get you the meds now...

Call your doctor's office in the morning.  I'm sure you're not the first patient to lose a script. Not sure this will help--being drugs, etc.--is there a camera on the drive throu window?  Could they check it to see you handing the script to someone?  Then they could follow up with the paper trail after that or discuss the issue with the person who took the script to see what happened to it. 
 
Well they are apparently satisfied that (1) I am not lying (2) they found out or don't care what happened to it.  They called the doctor for me this morning to explain.  His nurse said he won't be in until tomorrow but seemed to tell them she was sure he would write it again (?).  So I can drive out there tomorrow to get it. I was like, huh?  She explained they can't call it in, fax it in, etc., I have to drive (30 minutes out of my way) to the doctor to pick up the prescription.  About an hour of my day gone (and I bill by the hour so that is esp. frustrating).  Seriously if I had a 9-5 where I can't leave that sucks even more.  She was apologetic.  I know it made it inside, I saw him take it to the computer.  The rest is up to them.  That guy is young (19?) but always super nice to my kids in a way you wouldn't expect a 19 year old to be, very customer-oriented.  I hope they don't blame him if it isn't true but they seem to have accepted that it's just gone. Weird.I've never used a drive-through pharmacy.  Going to the counter and making sure all is done correctly might be worth the time.  A thought for the future.[QUOTE=Jan Lucinda]I've never used a drive-through pharmacy.  Going to the counter and making sure all is done correctly might be worth the time.  A thought for the future.[/QUOTE]
 
You are right. Unfortunately, going inside is probably the only way to do it. 
[QUOTE=KatieG]Well they are apparently satisfied that (1) I am not lying (2) they found out or don't care what happened to it.  They called the doctor for me this morning to explain.  His nurse said he won't be in until tomorrow but seemed to tell them she was sure he would write it again (?).  So I can drive out there tomorrow to get it. I was like, huh?  She explained they can't call it in, fax it in, etc., I have to drive (30 minutes out of my way) to the doctor to pick up the prescription.  About an hour of my day gone (and I bill by the hour so that is esp. frustrating).  Seriously if I had a 9-5 where I can't leave that sucks even more.  She was apologetic.  I know it made it inside, I saw him take it to the computer.  The rest is up to them.  That guy is young (19?) but always super nice to my kids in a way you wouldn't expect a 19 year old to be, very customer-oriented.  I hope they don't blame him if it isn't true but they seem to have accepted that it's just gone. Weird.[/QUOTE]

Prescriptions for schedule-II drugs like Ritalin are subject to very tight regulations - that's why you have to bring in the physical prescription.  That's out of the hands of your doctor and the pharmacy staff.


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