So sorry that happened to you. I hope you can find a pain clinic near to your home. there are shortages of medications going on. Mrs. D was correct in telling you who to contact. If you cannot get the meds. toward when you run out, don't hesitate to use your local hospital. You can documment what happened, times and dates, location of the pharmacy. I know what it is like to be in pain. I have not had this happen to me, and I wouldn't like it if it did. I live in Fla. and the controls are very tight. I do go to a pain management doctor. I wish you all the best. ginnie

I ask my pharmacy to count my Schedule II meds in front of me. I pay for the prescription, check the label to make sure all is well, then ask the cashier to hand the bottle to the pharmacist. I do everything out in the open, being sure that the camera can see my actions - I don't let the prescription bottle get anywhere near my body, so no one could say I made a swap. I sometimes have to wait 10 minutes or so for the pharmacist to be available but that's no problem. Then the pharmacist counts out the pills in front of me. They never have seemed to mind doing this - I tell them I have to keep a log for each pill I use, so I always want to be sure I'm starting out with the right amount. I left Safeway because some always seemed to be missing and then started doing the pill counts at this new pharmacy. Haven't had any problems since the changing pharmacies.

That's a good idea. If they have nothing to hide then they shouldn't mind recounting the pills.

Counting pills publicly sends a message to other customers who see this in action. It tells THEM that this store has "problems".

I think they'll mind.... plenty, even if they won't admit it. Especially if it's a busy pharmacy with people waiting and some (facetiousness intended) blankity-blank customer tying up a pharmacist counting out pills. It's like waiting in line at the bank while an eccentric counts out their pennies one at a time.

I agree with mrsD , even though some customers are apt to get a different message - that the pill counter is just a crank. Nevertheless, there really isn't a better way of assuring accuracy (whatever the reason).

I've been called a crank (and worse) for asking for a receipt when I return a video at the local video rental, but several years ago, at what was touted as a "fool-proof" computerized scanning system, I got called TWICE (different incidents) claiming I'd not returned movies, and had to drive the 10 miles to the place to prove to them that I had - both times it was right on their own shelves, but they were too sure of themselves to go check. They offered me a free rental as apology, but I argued them up to 5 for my time & mileage.

Cuss what anybody thinks. Count the pills (though I wouldn't hold out any hope for free meds or even a discount). If the pharmacy has a problem, it'll get fixed when it starts effecting their bottom line. If the shortages can be proven & documented, an investigation is more likely to change things.

Doc

I know this post regarding getting shorted on pain medicine is a bit old, but just wanted to say that this has also happened to me. I went back to the pharmacy immediately and reported this to them and they told me the same thing about them being double-counted. Even worse, they then refused to fill any more prescriptions for me...as if I had done something wrong! I would have thought they would want that information in order to keep an eye on their techs. As it turned out, I have noticed that years later the tech that filled my 'short' prescription was no longer working there and has bounced to 2 other pharmacies in a few years. Living in a very small community I also know that tech had pain problems herself. The point of my story tho is to suggest that you request the pharmacy to fill you prescriptions in the sealed original bottles whenever possible, and count the others in person before you leave. It DOES happen that they can be short--even at very reputable places. Good luck to you; I had to learn the hard way too! MissTT

I am so glad I found this thread even though it is old because I have been shorted 60 oxycontin on a 90 pill prescription - I immediately called the pharmacy and asked to talk to the main person in charge.

I told them that I was missing 60 pills and that this kind of mistake with a highly regulated drug concerned me and that I was calling the police because I thought they should be involved.

I didn't mean to threaten the pharmacy - it was a Walgreens and I had been doing business with them for over 10 years with my Oxycontin prescriptions and never had a mistake - so I was truly concerned about someone taking the pills who might need help etc....

The pharmacist (a new guy I had never worked with before) told me not to call the police and he would have the pills ready as soon as I wanted to pick them up.

I told him that was fine but asked about tracking and that the total count at the pharmacy for Oxycontin 10mgs should show that there are 60 pills over -

He kept telling me not to call the police and was very afraid - I could tell from his responses.....

Then I had another run in with this guy when he filled my short acting oxycodone prescription and I found several oxycontins mixed in with the 5mg oxycodones - I didn't know what to do -

I also had picked up my Oxycontin prescription on one day and three days later went to pick up different prescription and they gave another, duplicate Oxycontin prescription - I gave it back immediately and told them it was a mistake....

I also was supposed to get a prescription for flexeril and when I took the bottle out of the bag it was a prescription with my name and address etc for Exalgo 12mg tabs -

So something is going on at this pharmacy - and although I do not like to make assumptions - it seems to happen with just the one pharmacist -

So in all the years I have been getting prescriptions at Walgreens I have had no problems until last year when this new pharmacist started and since then I have had so many issues with highly regulated drugs....

In retrospect I think I should call the police and just let them know what has happened - even though I don't have proof - just to make them aware in case anyone else has had problems -

If this happens to anyone taking highly regulated medications - I think the first phone call should be to the police - even if it is only three pills - that is alot of problems for people who need these meds daily/hourly etc.

Any thoughts on this - calling the police and letting them know what has been happening?

Thank you - K from WI

When this type of thing happens in a pharmacy you should report it to the State licensing bureau. They will investigate errors and esp Controls like this.

It is best to take a photo of the error bottle, or at least keep it,
for evidence.

This experience of yours is fairly extreme and uncommon. Something should be done. The police can only enforce criminal laws. They don't really have juristiction over professional behaviors unless you die, or are approached outside for illegal sale etc. I would contact Walgreen's customer service, completely bypass the store managers etc, and report this behavior, so Walgreen's can put in their cameras, or turn them on etc. Most big chains have secret security that can tape employees on the counter. Then they have evidence to proceed.
If you threaten the employees, pharmacist or manager, they will stop their stealing and be harder to catch. By going around them, you can set a wheel in motion to fix the problem a different way.

Be organized in your complaint, have photos of the bottles, initials of the pharmacist, dates, times etc, so they can go back on the schedules to see who was working at which time.

Mrs. D is right about the state, but I would also let the police know that something is not quite right. If you should ever be in this situation again, they would have a record. Also from now on, don't leave the counter, and look and count the meds you get right in front of them. You are right they are regulated, and doctors don't give new scripts if something happens to them. It may be honest mistakes, but you need to cover your hind end. I go to walgreens too, trust my pharmacist of 10 years to a max, but I look at all meds before I leave. Take care. ginnie

I went to CVS to have a script filled. They told me it would be 24 hrs because it's a compound. I came back 3 days later and they hand me a cream(not a compound) I asked if it was a compound and they said no. I said it was incorrect and they said it was correct. I asked why the person said I would have to wait 24 hrs and they said they do not know. I called the doctor and she confirmed it should have been a compound. The doc called CVS to have it filled correctly. Had to wait 24 hrs again. Went in 3 days later and they charge me again even though they did it wrong at first. They claim they can't take medicine back. When I get home to apply the cream it looks noticeably different than what I'm used to seeing and it seems like it's not an ample amount of the active ingredient(steroid) I want to know if there is an agency to measure the ingredients in my script?