Pharmacy Dispensing the Wrong Medicines

[Deleted]

I have a CVS within blocks of my house but don't even use it for over-the-counter stuff or cosmetics because they have been robbed at gunpoint so many times, a local woman witnessed a purse snatching in the parking lot 2 weeks ago, and there are more drug sales in the parking lot than in the store.  Ditto the closest Walgreen's because they don't use trespass warrants against the mentally ill homeless camped in the parking lot so it's incredibly scary.  I had to go to that one last year to pick up a friend's meds when she was down, and it's the only time I've carried my gun in my purse in years.  The Walgreen's about 10 blocks away is a hot spot for the local gangs, but that keeps the rest of the lowlife under control.  Unless there is a drive-by between the SWC and the SPPK or some other alphabet soup boys in the parking lot, I'm safe there.  

[jerseygirl]

Sept 8, 2020 15:44:37 GMT -5 @donethat said:

I have a CVS within blocks of my house but don't even use it for over-the-counter stuff or cosmetics because they have been robbed at gunpoint so many times, a local woman witnessed a purse snatching in the parking lot 2 weeks ago, and there are more drug sales in the parking lot than in the store.  Ditto the closest Walgreen's because they don't use trespass warrants against the mentally ill homeless camped in the parking lot so it's incredibly scary.  I had to go to that one last year to pick up a friend's meds when she was down, and it's the only time I've carried my gun in my purse in years.  The Walgreen's about 10 blocks away is a hot spot for the local gangs, but that keeps the rest of the lowlife under control.  Unless there is a drive-by between the SWC and the SPPK or some other alphabet soup boys in the parking lot, I'm safe there.  

Your posts are scary about your location, like LifePart2 before she thankfully sold and moved
Why do you stay in your location?

[Deleted]

Sept 9, 2020 11:05:39 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Sept 8, 2020 15:44:37 GMT -5 @donethat said:

I have a CVS within blocks of my house but don't even use it for over-the-counter stuff or cosmetics because they have been robbed at gunpoint so many times, a local woman witnessed a purse snatching in the parking lot 2 weeks ago, and there are more drug sales in the parking lot than in the store.  Ditto the closest Walgreen's because they don't use trespass warrants against the mentally ill homeless camped in the parking lot so it's incredibly scary.  I had to go to that one last year to pick up a friend's meds when she was down, and it's the only time I've carried my gun in my purse in years.  The Walgreen's about 10 blocks away is a hot spot for the local gangs, but that keeps the rest of the lowlife under control.  Unless there is a drive-by between the SWC and the SPPK or some other alphabet soup boys in the parking lot, I'm safe there.  

Your posts are scary about your location, like LifePart2 before she thankfully sold and moved
Why do you stay in your location?

We stay because inner city Houston is amazing.  We've done smaller cities and they have a lot of crime too, usually aided by corrupt local law enforcement.  We lived in a smaller Texas community until 1991.  I boarded my horse at a stable and the adjacent property had a dirt airstrip that only received planes at night; the planes dropped off bales of "hay" which were collected by pickup trucks without  plates.  Houston is a state of mind, yes hurricanes, heat, traffic and crime but also culture and cuisine.  We made a choice at retirement in 2001 to stay here and it works for us.  We know our turf and our risks and work with that.  My civic engagement allows me to see crime in real time and know what's happening where and when.  I'm not excusing the criminals in any way but I've learned how to keep us relatively safe during daily life. 

[Deleted]

chiver78 I’ve been meaning to give you an update since you went out of your way to give me info on the issue with the pharmacy. 

First, I named the wrong prescription, it was gabapentin, not cymbalta. I got the manufacturer off my Mom’s bottle. When I called them, it was the most frustrating conversation I can remember having, EVER. She had a thick accent that I couldn’t understand and I guess she couldn’t understand my Southern accent. We couldn’t understand each other. At one point, I was like, just never mind, but she wouldn’t let me hang up lol. Anyway, I gave her all the information I had, and also gave her my Mom’s name and phone number. She gave me a case # before we (finally!) ended the call. A call that should’ve taken maybe 10 minutes, was closer to 40 minutes.

I was so frustrated with that call, I decided to not even bother with the blood pressure medicine manufacturer.

The state pharmacy board didn’t have a way to file a complaint online, so I called, and was transferred to someone’s voicemail. Left a message with my contact info and briefly, my reason for calling (to file a complaint about a pharmacy).

Then I went ahead and called a number I found for CVS to complain. I gave them all the information, including the date in February that they gave her the wrong blood pressure medicine. I also told him that because of the way things were (not) handled in February, this time I’d also reached out to the state pharmacy board and spoken with the manufacturer. He said he was forwarding everything to the district leader, who would call me within 2 business days. No call yet.

But that evening, the pharmacy called me. It was the pharmacist that had filled the prescription, who’s also the pharmacy manager, Joshua. I guess corporate or whoever had contacted him.... he didn’t sound too happy. Well, I wasn’t happy either. He wanted to know when I could bring the medicine back and get the correct medicine. I told him the next day when I got off work.

The next morning when I was at work, the pharmacy called again, it was a lady saying the pharmacy manager had asked her to call me to ask when I could bring the medicine back. I told her I’d told him the day before that I would bring it that afternoon when I got off work.

When I called my Mom to tell her I was on the way to pick up what she had, she said the manufacturer had called her wanting the number for the pharmacy (which I’d given them the day before).

When I got to the pharmacy, I explained that my Mom had picked out the ones that were correct and had been taking them, there were only a few of the correct ones left, and they were in the bottle I handed her, with the others. She said Joshua was expecting a full bottle and I told her my Mom has the prescription for a reason and she needed to take her medicine. She called Joshua (who conveniently wasn’t there) and he wanted to know if my Mom had taken any of the wrong ones. I told her it was at least a day before she realized there were 2 different pills in the bottle, so we don’t know which ones she took before then.

So I got the correct medicine for her, idk if the manufacturer actually contacted them, I do know that corporate contacted them, because we didn’t contact the local pharmacy at all, but they called me twice, and I still haven’t heard back from the state pharmacy board. And my Mom will NOT be using that particular pharmacy again.

I really appreciate everyone that pointed me in the right direction, and especially you chiver, for the information you gave me. 

While I was in the pharmacy, I wanted to tell the people waiting to make sure they got the correct medications, but I didn’t. But if Joshua had been there and his attitude was as stank as it was when he called me, it would’ve been a scene and everybody in the store would’ve known that they can’t be trusted to give you the correct prescription medicine.

[chiver78]

thank you for making that first call. ❤ I encourage you to also follow up on the second. like I said, I don't believe the mislabelling angle at all, but it forces an investigation bc the mfg is required to follow up. not ideal, but it will get done. I'm actually kind of curious to see if CVS ever ultimately does anything.

I'm so sorry you guys had this experience, and I'm glad that you are changing pharmacies. make sure you get Joshua's full name, so if you ever see his name listed as the pharmacist of record where your prescriptions are filled, you can preemptively make another change.

[Deleted]

Sept 16, 2020 18:39:54 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

thank you for making that first call. ❤ I encourage you to also follow up on the second. like I said, I don't believe the mislabelling angle at all, but it forces an investigation bc the mfg is required to follow up. not ideal, but it will get done. I'm actually kind of curious to see if CVS ever ultimately does anything.

I'm so sorry you guys had this experience, and I'm glad that you are changing pharmacies. make sure you get Joshua's full name, so if you ever see his name listed as the pharmacist of record where your prescriptions are filled, you can preemptively make another change.

I do have Joshua’s full name.

I don’t think my Mom even realized how dangerous this could be (imo, of course) until I was talking to her today about what could have happened if she’d taken that blood pressure medicine, I’m not a Doctor, but it seems that taking too much could’ve lowered her blood pressure too much. And this happened just a few days after one of my younger coworker’s Mom died and the coworker said her Mom’s Dr had just changed her blood pressure medicine and her Mom was saying she didn’t feel good, didn’t even go to work, and then her husband found her dead. So I was really freaked out about them giving my Mom the wrong blood pressure med. And then I was angry that CVS gave her the correct medicine, but at the same time basically said she was a liar.

We didn’t have proof after I took the first medicine back, but this time, I have pictures.

Anyway, once again, I really appreciate your help. I plan to follow up, and I will let you know what happens.

[kadee79]

Ok Pink...I used to manage Rite Aid drug stores...so let me give you some info that "might or might not" help you decide to take this further....I would.
This is how some pharmacy techs & pharmacists steal drugs...either use them themselves or sell them.  This can also be what happens when either of them working back there are drunk or high or both.  
If you can't get thru to the state board on this...go to your Federal Rep & Senator's offices to see what they will do.  Also, contact you state rep & senator for further follow up.
If you still don't get satisfaction.....talk to you local news media...newspapers & tv & radio.


Just remember that you may not ONLY be saving your Mother's life...you may end up saving your own and other folks too.
And Dr.s also make mistakes....an example....a lady picked up her script, got about half way out the store before she came back to the pharmacy counter....told the pharmacist, "Read my directions."...which were to take 2 pills twice a day.  Problem was, her script was for a cream in a tube for vaginal use!!!  We all got a good laugh out of that one and the Dr. had to be called for the correct instructions.
One other thing you can do is make the pharmacy empty all script bottles & count the pills again prior to accepting them and/or paying for them.  This will give you a chance to eyeball them to see if they look 'right' too.  Yes, they will hate you, but it may also cause them to improve.
CVS seems to have had lots of problems recently...especially since they started getting more healthy & quit selling cigarettes & some other stuff.  I think they are feeling the "costs" of those things no longer being offered.  I used to go there for cigarettes when I still smoked and might pick up a couple other things while I was there...but haven't been in one since they stopped selling those items.

But whatever you do, PLEASE don't let this go...keep after it.
As far as pharmacies changing manufacturers often...that's pretty much political...talk to your federal folks about that! 

[JustLurkin]

Sorry I missed this thread last week--I'm glad you followed up with the state pharmacy board. Honestly, the last time I dealt with CVS was several years ago when I filed to be reimbursed for my son's medications after his Medicaid application went through. The claim was denied by CVS because the CVS claim form did not indicate their federal pharmacy number--I have to tell you *your* number...because...you don't know it?   Then I checked out their Facebook page, where many people had complained about the exact same thing.

Anyway, once Walgreens gave me twice as many pills as I was supposed to receive for my son's script--I told the pharmacist either I didn't understand the script or had received too much.  He asked me to wait in the seating area while he took care of it.  I knew the manager had been called back, but didn't think much of it at the time.  Later, I found out the pharmacy had shut down for 24 hours and a full inventory had been performed.

I wish I could be shocked by CVS, but I'm not.  If I were you, I wouldn't return.