topic Re: Please count ! in Wellness

Please count !

Jo1313 — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 13:37:35 GMT

Please count your prescription pills as soon as you get them home..No matter from the pharmacy or mail order pharmacy..

I always do a count..I was short 4 pills that are controlled substances.My pharmacist took days to get back to me..she said with controlled substances they have to count all pills of that brand..The gov't is very strict about them.

After all that my count was correct.He gave me the pills I was missing.

The pharmacists usually have help behind the counter(just clerks) who count out pills..they are small and easy to "palm" and easier to re-sell on the street or for personal use.

The same thing happened to 3 friend's of mine at the same pharmacy. That person was finally caught.

In another part of the state someone I know had 10 pills missing from a very expensive prescription..So it happens more than you might think.

So please count, count,count..

Re: Please count !

meallen616 — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 13:48:42 GMT

I picked up prescriptions one day and didn't check them for several days! My one prescription was for 90 days and they gave me 30 days. I knew right away from the size of the bottle they were in. Called and they said they made a mistake, no kidding! Went back and picked up the remaining 60 pills!

So @Jo1313 is correct, please count!

Re: Please count !

drizzellla — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 14:06:39 GMT

Good point.

It happens. I remember my friend telling me that his sister that was dealing with a drug problem was trying to get a job as a pharmacy tech. He was saying that she kept saying how that was her "dream job''. And she was going to continue trying.

But it also happens because of human error. When my son was a little guy, he had an ear infection. I got his precription filled and started giving him the antibiotic. The first day, I noticed there weren't many pills left. Went back to the pharmacy and got the correct amount of pills. She admitted she read the number of days the prescription was to be taken and filled the prescription with 10 pills.

Re: Please count !

manny2 — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 14:24:38 GMT

@Jo1313 wrote:
Please count your prescription pills as soon as you get them home..No matter from the pharmacy or mail order pharmacy..

I always do a count..I was short 4 pills that are controlled substances.My pharmacist took days to get back to me..she said with controlled substances they have to count all pills of that brand..The gov't is very strict about them.
After all that my count was correct.He gave me the pills I was missing.
The pharmacists usually have help behind the counter(just clerks) who count out pills..they are small and easy to "palm" and easier to re-sell on the street or for personal use.
The same thing happened to 3 friend's of mine at the same pharmacy. That person was finally caught.
In another part of the state someone I know had 10 pills missing from a very expensive prescription..So it happens more than you might think.
So please count, count,count..

@Jo1313 My father used to count his pills and we laughed at him. That was many years ago, and he caught a lot of mistakes. I am going to start counting.

Re: Please count !

patbz — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 15:31:51 GMT

When my son was a baby a hospital pharmacy filled his prescription with the adult dosage! Fortunately I realized it immediately and exchanged it tor correct dosage ( can you imagine if I hadn't caught that mistake).

Re: Please count !

gizmogal — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 15:42:54 GMT

I always count and I have caught occasional errors. A couple of my prescriptions are two a day, so with a 90 day refil I do have to count 180 pills. I find those more likely to be short one or two because perhaps the clerk loses count or just gets it wrong. Medicine is expensive and necessary for health; I expect to get what I paid for and to have the proper supply. If I have to check, so be it. It's in my own interest.

These mistakes are not often but I do bring the entire refill back, let them recount and, of course, they then provide the missing one or two. If I just come in without the entire vial, then they won't turn over the missing quantity. But if I bring it for them to recount, I get it resolved quickly and courteously.

It's only a couple of times a year so I'm not dismayed, but I reinforce the OP's point to advise everyone to count their pills soon after getting them from the pharmacy.

Re: Please count !

Laura14 — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 17:17:29 GMT

As a former pharmacy tech (not a clerk ), we are required to double count and initial any controlled substance counts. And for Schedule II drugs, my pharmacist did his own counting.

We were not really allowed to count out the "good" stuff too often unless it got crazy busy which it does his time of year with everyone on vacation and holiday and socializing.

My advice is to count before you leave the pharmacy if you can. We will always replace no matter what but you don't want to get on a 'list' if there is someone behind the scenes doing something they shouldn't and not you. It's easier to ferret out the bad guy if you have an honest customer in front of you.

And just FYI on a few points:

1. We do a random inventory check every morning before we open to verify our own inventory count before it's even dispensed

2. Those 'clerks' are state licensed and sometimes nationally certified technicians which means a minimum year of pharmaceutical training, an externship, background check, drug testing, and a possible nationwide certification test.

3. The pharmacist is personally liable not the drug store for any drug dispensing issues so don't feel bad about counting in front of them. They appreciate you looking out for their livelihood and personal finances all day every day.

Re: Please count !

Kachina624 — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 17:08:31 GMT

When I had to use Caremark mail order pharmacy, I was forever getting pieces of pills. I often wondered if I was supposed to find the match for the other half. I never counted them to see if those pieces were counted as a whole pill. Never had that problem with any other pharmacy.

Re: Please count !

decaf — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 18:23:17 GMT

It happens to me often at Costco, they're too busy and just careless. I've never had the mistake be in my favor however, their mistakes are additonal profit for them.

Re: Please count !

CelticCrafter — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 19:18:38 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
As a former pharmacy tech (not a clerk ), we are required to double count and initial any controlled substance counts. And for Schedule II drugs, my pharmacist did his own counting.

We were not really allowed to count out the "good" stuff too often unless it got crazy busy which it does his time of year with everyone on vacation and holiday and socializing.

My advice is to count before you leave the pharmacy if you can. We will always replace no matter what but you don't want to get on a 'list' if there is someone behind the scenes doing something they shouldn't and not you. It's easier to ferret out the bad guy if you have an honest customer in front of you.

And just FYI on a few points:

1. We do a random inventory check every morning before we open to verify our own inventory count before it's even dispensed

2. Those 'clerks' are state licensed and sometimes nationally certified technicians which means a minimum year of pharmaceutical training, an externship, background check, drug testing, and a possible nationwide certification test.

3. The pharmacist is personally liable not the drug store for any drug dispensing issues so don't feel bad about counting in front of them. They appreciate you looking out for their livelihood and personal finances all day every day.

My husband gets a 90 day supply of twice a day metformin, we'd be there forever counting!

Re: Please count !

Laura14 — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 19:42:58 GMT

@CelticCrafter There is a machine in the pharmacy that will count for you. Don't be shy about asking them to double check with it. Not the same as hand to hand with a human but it's a pretty decent estimate if not dead on.

Re: Please count !

SilleeMee — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 20:52:16 GMT

There are two things that I always count before leaving the building...pills in my Rx bag and cash from my bank.

Re: Please count !

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 21:04:50 GMT

@Jo1313

I've counted now and then and have found two mistakes .... both in my favor. I got more pills than prescribed. I wonder how often that happens?

It's easy enough to catch people because the time of the actual filling is in their computerized system, and there is all those little round black cameras in the ceiling recording activity ... just like at the cash registers. Hope those recording are saved for a decent amount of time.

As for pill count "irregularities" I wouldn't think they would let anything slide ..... unless determined to be "an honest mistake".

Re: Please count !

santorini — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 01:14:38 GMT

I'm surprised a pharmacy would believe anyone who walked in and claimed they didn't get enough pills. I agree with the other poster who advised counting them in front of the pharmacist before leaving if you're going to do that.

Re: Please count !

Group 5 minus 1 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 13:52:17 GMT

Supose,just supose you got a few too many of a very expensive pill-would you return the extras?

Re: Please count !

happycat — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:03:05 GMT

Same thing happened to me. I'd told my dh I was sure my adderall pills had been short one month. He went with me the next time to pick them up. He insisted we count them when we got out to the car. Sure enough they were short several. We went back in and showed the pharmacist, who did make it right. There is no telling how often this happens.

Re: Please count !

Jo1313 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:49:25 GMT

@santorini wrote:
I'm surprised a pharmacy would believe anyone who walked in and claimed they didn't get enough pills. I agree with the other poster who advised counting them in front of the pharmacist before leaving if you're going to do that.

I have been using the same pharmacy for years..without any real issues..

A friend was missing 12 pills..that's 6 days of heart meds!

Will never if I can help it or will even pay more not to use mail order!..My mailperson won't come up the driveway with a dusting of snow..I have had to search for my mailbox when the snow plow takes down my mailbox..thank goodness there wasn't anything too important in it.

Re: Please count !

Group 5 minus 1 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:54:23 GMT

If there are complaints about pill shortage (enough complaints) the Board of Pharmacy will investigate.

Re: Please count !

Jo1313 — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 13:24:42 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
Supose,just supose you got a few too many of a very expensive pill-would you return the extras?

I have gotten extras also..tried to return them..The pharmacy is not allowed to take any prescription meds back once it leaves their register.

Re: Please count !

Nightowlz — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 17:36:10 GMT

I never check mine. Someone working in a pharmacy that gets caught doing that will have a hard time finding any decent employment. They would have to be out of their mind to steal pills. They also have cameras as far as I know so how they could do that without getting caught is beyond me.

Walgreen's filled my thyroid medication once that was for 180 pills but the cost was under $10??? DH picked it up & told them the price was not right. They rang it up again checked out the price etc still same price. They told DH there must be a glitch in the system. I figured they would have told him he would have to come back later but they just gave it to him for that price?