Hi everyone, I finally found the new brain talk 2, wow, that was kind of rude of the other brain talk to just up and leave like that no matter what the reason. I was under the name there DDC. Live in North Florida. I have Syringomyelia, chronic pain disorder, and a total of 6 areas fused in my spin, I have a thorasic shunt at T10-T12, I just had a 4 level fusion May 2nd this year. I have had a total of 14 surgeries over the past 12 yrs so I am in a great deal of pain for one thing or another on a daily basis, my neurologist handles all my medications, I don't see a pain management doctor. I take several medicines on a monthly basis, vicodin being my only pain medicine. I take Hydrocodone/APAP 10/660 4 times a day or as needed.

Last month I noticed I ran out of med's with three prescriptions, two were short two pills and one was short 1 pill, they were not controlled med's but my bloodpressure med's. I got my Hydrocodone refilled as I do every month at the same pharmacy, today I opened the bag and counted the pills, I counted them three times with my husbands help, it was short 9 pills, I called the pharmacy and asked who filled it, the lady who filled it was not there. The guy said I would need to call back tomorrow and talk to the lady who filled the medicine. He said the robot thing that they are using may be mis- counting. I don't know what to do, I asked him how will that help the 9 pills I am short this month, he said it really wont. Do any of you have any suggestions on how to handle this? I have about 40 pills left over from the past three months so that is not really the point, but if they are shorting me how many other's are they shorting?

Would you guys change pharmacies?

DD

HI, Glad to see you found us here.
I have run across the problem of the missing meds several timea, the worse was when it was my pain meds and there was no chance of getting them replaced.
I did find out in my situation that there was a person in the pharmacy stealing the meds and was rotating who they stole from each month so they didn't hit up the same person every month and it took some time for this person to be caught.
As for your problem I can only suggest that you begin to count your meds out at the phamacy every month before leaving the counter area to be sure your not short changed, which I know is a real pain in the *** as I have had to do it and when you have a lot of scripts filled it's a real pain.
Also if changing stores is possible you can also do that, I have to say though I have found this to be a problem more then one place, even if it is just a error and not theft it still creates a big problem ad hassle.
I wish I had some better advice for you and I'm sure others wil be a long that may.
In the meantime I'm happy you found this site and wish you the best of luck.
LindaM(suede)

Hi Linda;

9 pills is an awful amount to be short. I would report this to your doctor's office and ask the nurse to call the head pharmicist (sp) and see if that will help. Doctor's offices can put a dent into their business if they don't recommend them as a pharmacy for their customers. If that doesn't work and this pharmacy is a chain, go on their website. You should be able to find either a corporate phone number or a complaint form to fill out for a call back. Also, each state has an online Better Business Bureau link. Go to: www.BBB.com There will be a link to find your local office. This method is a great one to use as the BBB holds
a lot of power over businesses. But, it won't be a fast resolution but you'll get an answer. Send me a PM if you need any help.

I'm sorry this has happened to you. Good Luck!

nancy-h

Hi DD. I'm glad you found this forum. I came from the old BT too but I am perfectly happy with BT2, if that is what Dr. Grohol decides to call it. I plan to stay here if the good Dr. decides to keep us.

I have had the problem you are experencing and it is a real hassle and can cause a world of grief. I have 10 to 12 script's each month. I have tried to keep them on the same day, but when I start running low and sometimes out completely the red flags start flying.

A big part of mine are for blood pressure and anti-D.'s I have 2 controled drugs. A boat load of meds, I know. I have been shorted on about all my meds. at one time or other. Just recently I started getting low on my Inderal. One a day--120 LA. I can about look at that bottle and see if they are all there. Well, I ran about 5 days recently, I HAD to have them, it was a mess, but they finally GAVE me 5 extra's That was a joke, they NEVER GIVE you anything.

I was still being shorted 2 or 3 every month. Thats when I began noticing all my meds and the pattern was the same. Short this one this month, that one the next etc. The Inderal is Brand name, generic does not work for me on that drug.

All this time was talking to the drugest about the "short scripts." I finally started taking all new scripts home and scanning them before getting them filled., that way I had proof of refils and such. Yes, I have been shorted refils!!
I then asked the drugest or assitant to count them in front of me before I even touched the bottle. They were very unhappy with that, too busy they said. You can imagine that many scripts at one time how many pills that was to count. Finally they just flat out said they would not do it anymore.

I said fine. When I went in to pick up meds, I took each bottle, copied refils and stood there and counted the dang pills on the counter. I did one bottle at a time. can you imagine the horror the employee's were feeling? I think they thought I was with DEA.

Well, I had one or 2 short, but not at the rate it had been going. The next month they counted them in my presense. When I thought they had gotten the massage I told them to discontinue the counting for the time being, that I had stopped missing a few pills here and there.

I still count them myself at home and I still make a copy of all new Script's, but have not had this problem again.

That was a lot of work on my part, first, driving or riding 60 to 75 miles both ways was a killer on my back and spine as well as other problems. It takes about a month to get to feeling decent from the day it takes to see Drs. and get meds. I don't have much choice on Drug stores. I go to Wal-Mart, I don't like it but all things considered it is the best way for me to go.

DD, try asking them to count them in your presense, before you even touch the bottle. They won't want to, but if they have any sense at all they will know you do have some recourse. I wouldn't threaten them with reporting them to DEA, but they know you could and that would be very bad for them.

It sounded like your druggest or whomever you talked with was saying, "tough luck". Let them know you can get help with it. It does sound like some one plucking a pill here, there and by months end if they are doing this for meds someone doesn't want to buy. I can't just assume this is whats happening, but it is not a secret that some people do this.

This was rather long. Sorry for that. Don't just "suck it up" and take it".Remind them you have options if needs be.

Good Luck, Jo

I agree...sounds like somebody at the pharmacy is steeling medication. I liked the idea of talking to your doctor and seeing if he will take the issue up for you. But...I also think that you should definately change pharmacies. Nine is just a little too much to be short.

sally

You mentioned a shunt, I imagine to drain CSF to your abdominal cavity. How large was the syrinx when they decided to shunt? Did you get relief? Did the syrinx return? We may have talked before, I dont know. How do you deal w/ the pain w/ hydro??? My thoracic pain REQUIRES more aggressive meds. I hope you can share more info, as I have had SM for ~4yrs and my son has it as well. However, he is asymptomatic! I have developed a claw-hand from RSD and I believe it is just the progression of the disease.
PS- Demand those missing meds! E