My pharmacist asked why the two different antibiotics and I told him about my struggle with Borrelia and also Babesia and Bartonella. I told him about my 5 months of Mepron and now taking abx. He seemed compassionate and understanding and wished me the best through this. However, he didact as if it was easily treatable, even though we all know the hell and time one must go through in hopes of successful treatment.
How do you all respond in situations such as these?
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
It really none of your pharmacists business why you take certain meds. That is private info between you and your doctor. I would just say its private.
Melissa
Posted by lymemommy (Member # 12495) on :
Interestingly enough, I've had the opposite reaction from pharmacists. The ones that we have dealt with have to deal with the insurance company refusals to cover medications, and they get annoyed because "don't they know that lyme takes a long time to treat?"
It seems like our local pharmacists are more lyme-literate than many of our mds. Those that are young/inexperienced are more likely to not 'know,' but they are open to learning.
As merrygirl said, they don't need to know why you take what you take, and you can always say, hey, that's what the doc wants me to take, and leave it at that.
Take care, kp
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I've had my pharmacist ask me several times if my doctor knows what he is doing!
He asked for the second time last time I picked up meds. I finally told him that my doctor is highly respected in his field and that he knows what he is doing or I wouldn't bother going to him since I have to get on a plane to get there.
I told him that I see my doctor often and we talk on the phone between times just to check in. I wanted him to know that the doctor keeps a close eye on me.
I told him that this doctor has cleared some symptoms that I've had for a long time that no other doctor has been able to figure out.
I didn't tell him what I have or anything else. End of conversation.
Basically, he was trying to make sure that I know that the treatment is unusual. He has some responsibility to his customers if he feels uncomfortable with the prescriptions he is filling. I appreciate his concern but would not appreciate any intervention on his part.
In my view, he is doing his job.
Terry
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
I am in the process of changing pharmacies due in part to a pharmacist who asked too many questions.
The straw that broke the camel's back, though was when they filled a 30 day zith rx with t-paks. They even ordered them and then gave me the paks, not individual pills!
At first I thought it was nice that he was concerned that I be getting the correct dose of abx, but then he continued on other rx's and it's really not his business why I am taking these.
To top it off, he asked openly so others could hear. What if I had something I didn't want broadcast to the world?
I felt it was very unprofessional. I've beenusing this local gorcery chain pharmacy sine i move to VA 31 years ago.
Now I'm switching to a national rx chain that is recently expanding into this area. I grew up with them! So far so good. They actually left my zith in the manufacturer's bottle, not in paks!
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
Where can I get some of those ILADS brochures???
[ 24. December 2008, 09:28 AM: Message edited by: richedie ]
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
riche, you can print them off from ILADS website.
click on LDA icon on left side, and i'm sure you will see ILADS website from there or about burrascano's lyme guidelines! Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
I'd interrogate the pharmacist about some inappropriate topic in return. Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
My pharmacist really raised an eyebrow when I came in with rx's for plaquenil and biaxin. He asked what I was being treated for. I told him chronic late-stage Lyme. Well a month later I came in for a 3rd rx - pennicillin. Later switched to Omnicef. Eventually he stopped raising his eyebrows and just filled them.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I had a Meijer pharmacist get quite rude about a 30-day supply of Malarone...trying to dig into my heath issues a lot. My wife was very, very upset at this person.
Posted by Geet3721 (Member # 15751) on :
If it got to the point where it made me uncomfortable I would just switch pharmacys we deal with enough ridicule from people in our lives whether not believing us or saying its easly treated etc
or I like what adamm said just start asking about their bms or something
Melissa
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
I work for a company that is self insured so I believe my company is the final approver on meds and docs, etc....so I have had no issues with filling meds, other than this one pharmacist asking questions. I will admit he was very nice about it, but we'll see after multiple refills. Luckily they have multiple pharmacists so I usually get a different one each time.
We checked with the pharmacy near my parents and the pharmacist said it is none of his business, and should just fill the prescription regardless! If I run into too many questions, I'll switch to this pharmacy since they fill the prescription and stay out of the conversation. Whatever happened to doctor/patient privacy???
Posted by tickedoffjan (Member # 15944) on :
My pharmacist has never asked questions. But sometimes I feel like telling him I have lyme disease but on the other hand I like wondering what he thinks is wrong with me. You know they have to wonder about it.
I am in that group of "but you look so healthy" so I know he is probably trying to figure out why I am on 3 different antibiotics as well as some fairly strong pain medication.
I actually throught that a pharmacist was not allowed to question what is wrong with you. Am I wrong?
Posted by Lymepool (Member # 15827) on :
Just to be clear - the info below is my experience/opinion and I am NOT a medical practitioner.
As I read through this thread, I can see that we have a lot of different experiences with pharmacists and differing opinions on a pharmacist's responsibilities. Here is a link to an article that describes the pharmacy profession pretty well: What is a Pharmacist?
For a more technical explanation, google search for the Board of Pharmacy in your state. (For example, the codes that define the duties are posted on-line for California.)
In short, pharmacists are one of the front-line medical practitioners. Some can help you locate the appropriate doctor for your problem or select appropriate drug therapy. They can be particularly helpful if you see more than one doctor. The pharmacist may recognize that medicines prescribed by different doctors may interact or worsen one of your conditions.
Unfortunately, many pharmacists act as little more than specialized clerks in our current medical system. Just as there are doctors who have poor "bedside manner" or are unprofessional, you will find the same in pharmacists, nurses, etc. All must respect your medical privacy under HIPAA.
Just as we've shopped for the right LLMD, we may have to do the same for a pharmacist that can meet our needs. (Some of us want a hands on medical partner, some may want a pharmacist to just dispense the drug.) In my experience, you can't really tell what quality of pharmacist you will get based on whether it is a big chain store or an individual ownership.
I too am rethinking whether to change pharmacies. My current one is making a lot of dispensing errors and often doesn't have common drugs in stock. They refused to deal with Mepron outright; had to find a second pharmacy for that drug. (I think the refusal was cost related.)
Best Wishes to all for better health in the coming year!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
my pharmacist, gerald, at walmart, knows i have medical issues. but he would never, ever question me.
he's always courteous and responsive to my needs. he does comment when i get something that's contraindicated with something else i'm taking.
no complaints here.
Posted by astriapage (Member # 17120) on :
Right now I am just being treated with Doxy and a whole bunch of other stuff to keep me comfortable.
My pharmacist is very understanding and will do anything for me but one time she did ask me are they just going to treat with Doxy.
I told her a I am waiting to see an LLMD who can treat me properly.
Posted by ladycakes (Member # 12619) on :
The very first time I had to pick up antibiotics, I was questioned by the pharmacist. But he was very professional about it, he came out and spoke to me so I wouldn't have to yell my medical history over the counter to him.
He was concerned because in his own research, the dose I was being prescribed was four times the usual dose. He called my doctor to verify that it wasn't a typo or a mistake, and has been fantastic ever since.
I think it's good to have another person that these things go through, because what if it had been a mistake? Or there's a miscommunication and I end up taking things that are contraindicated?
There is, however, a difference between honest concern and nosiness.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
To the last poster...4 times the typical dose? That seems a bit excessive. Not trying to be nosy . Hopefully it's OK. Merry Christmas!
Posted by Liz D (Member # 16739) on :
My doc says there is no lyme here and only precribed abx because I bullied him and made him talk to Canadas retired lyme doc. At the pharmacy the pharmacist asked me really quietly why I was taking such drugs (zith and mepron) so I told her. She repllied that they are getting lots of people in with 'that' .... So doc says no lyme and pharmacy treating lots of people. wierd how that happens... I didnt mind telling her.....
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
I got a three-month supply of Mepron from the drug company to treat babesia. When I picked it up, I had a beastly time at the pharmacy -- none on hand, hand to send out, then was offered some that was out of date. FINALLY they got it in, insisting on calling the doctor first to be sure I should really get that much.
My LLMD's secretary told me later they asked her if I had AIDS.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
It's none of the pharmacists business! It's their job to make sure the Rx is correct and that you don't mix anything dangerous!
Posted by Phil M (Member # 16135) on :
quote:Originally posted by merrygirl: It really none of your pharmacists business why you take certain meds. That is private info between you and your doctor. I would just say its private.
Melissa
Thats right! I have a nosy pharmacist. I have no problem telling him to mind his own business!
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Michelle, Sheeesh!!! What we have to put up with!!! Your diagnosis is NONE of their business.
I think it would be a violation of your rights if anything was divulged that they don't need to know.
We've missed you around here. I hope you are doing well.
Terry
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi All
Personally I think most of the LLMDs that start getting hassled by state medical boards are Ratted Out by some pharmacist -
When questioned by the pharmacists I tell them that I have both Lyme and Babs -
I explain to them that large doses of ABX are now needed because doctors had no clue what was wrong with me for many years --
So Now I have to take big doses of several ABX to kill off these germs--
I Always End the conversation by telling the pharmacists that I --- Feel Much Better Now --- Jay -
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
When my pharmasist asks questions, I play real dumb. I look innocent, shrug my shoulders and say "I dunno". They buy it.
Posted by soleil16 (Member # 16326) on :
It's interesting to read everyone's experiences with pharmacists because my husband is one. I had him read this thread and he was appalled at the nosy or rude PharmD's out there.
That said, he does try to ask patients questions. It's good to have them to double-check what the doctor is doing, not to be nosy but to make sure that patients are well taken care of.
Also, they are the drug experts. A lot of doctors I have seen, even my LLMD, does not know nearly as much about how the medicine works as a pharmacist does.
They can be an equally important part of your medical team, but that is IF you have the right one!
If they make you uncomfortable or are just not professional, there are plenty of others out there who will help you.
I feel lucky that my LLMD actually considers my husband's advice in planning my therapy! I think that's a great model of how a pharmacist and doctor can work together for the patient's best interest.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Yes soliel
I agree with you. My pharmacist has been a great resource for me many times and way more accessible than my doctor.
But with lyme treatment, I worry they will turn my doctor in, so I play stupid.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I CANNOT believe many of you think the insurance companies aren't fully aware of exactly who the LLMDs are. lol. The can run a report in 5 minutes and detect that. Let's not be too naive here and believe are LLMDs are 'cloaked' from the powers that be.
Let's see.....run a simple report showing the number of antibiotics Rxed per patient....geez, we just found our mysterious LLMD list.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
My LLMD did call the pharmacist once and everything went OK so they seem to work well together so I am hopefull. Plus, I haven't had one peep from the insurance company about fillinf meds. I have been paying into health insurance for years, the least they can do is fill my meds for a while, during this treatment! In my opinion, treatment should really come down to you and your doctor, but I appreciate if the pharmacist has concerns but doesn't get in the way. I will say, I have been feeling better.
Posted by njlymemom (Member # 15088) on :
one of my abx is also 4x's what is usually dispensed - but it is needed and it is helping
I was also questioned by our pharmacist some time ago. After a chat, he has been on board with all that needed to be filled.
With our plan, any long term meds should go through a mail order company. They were badgering me with mail and phone calls. They already knew that my family was on long term meds, and with this plan we would be penalized if we did not switch over to mail order.
So we did.
The first 3 mos supply for me took over a month to process. They contacted my doctor to verify that the dosages were correct, but also wanted medical proof that it was necessary.
The second 3 mos supply was ordered, this time they said that they were going to deny me my meds. It took over 2 weeks to straighten this out. My doctor again had to step in and send info to them. They complied, but I was told that next time I would probably be denied. I told the pharmacist on the phone that I should not have to prove to anyone there how sick I was. That missing dosages threatened my life. She was compassionate, somewhat.
She went as far as telling me that if the mail order company denied my meds, that they were under contract to share that info with my insurance company. Then the insurance company would not have to pay for any meds too. Invasion of my privacy, you bet. Sounds criminal to me.
So what are my choices? Do I return to my local pharmacy for now and pay 2 to 3 times for my meds. Or do I take my chances with the mail order and a possible denial which could leave me without any abx at all? The questions that they asked were very personal. The stress that this caused was too much. Set me back for weeks.
Posted by billclo (Member # 12939) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyme ED: The pharmacist is just doing his job.
Pharmacists DO have a responsibility for patient safety, and are supposed to be a "second check" on doctors. They have an obligation to make sure that prescriptions do not contain mistakes, etc. that might be harmful to patients. (Doctors make mistakes sometimes!)
Hence if they see a script that strikes them as unusual or outside the normal prescribing doses/durations that they typically see, they will ask about it to find out what it's for. They will note in their files that they talked to the patient and documented the reason for the script. -- that's to protect themselves against liability as well.
Their motive is usually just patient safety and protection themselves against liability. They aren't trying to give you a hard time.
I can vouch for this, as my wife is a pharmacist. She's caught many DR errors; it's her policy (and company's as well) to double-check anything that seems unusual. She has saved a couple people from DYING due to prescription interactions that the Drs didn't catch. If she didn't catch something, she might get sued (thus she has excellent insurance just in case).
But there's a difference between double-checking and sheer nosiness or saying that the doc is wrong, etc.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[lol]](graemlins/lol.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)