posted
Has anyone ever had the pharmacy question a prescription?
I took 4 to the pharmacy in Walmart today and they filled 1, 2 will have to be compounded elsewhere (I didn't realize this ahead of time)and the final prescription, 1 for Nystatin, they said was too high of a dose so they wouldn't be filling it.
They want to speak to my doc and then will go from there. Really? Does this often happen? They had no problem filling my gigantic dose of antibiotics last month, why this script?
I truly despise Walmart and this just solidifies my original opinion. I could go to CVS--our only other option in town but they tend to charge more for the same meds. Ugh!
Just curious if this has happened to anyone else!
Melanie79
Posts: 52 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2010
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
I take my prescriptions to different pharmacies, but I'm in a large city with lots of options, and my co-pay is the same no matter which pharmacy I use.
It is very common to have your prescriptions questioned by pharmacists. We take multiple antibiotics/antifungals at high doses. This is very outside of the medical norm.
Let your doctor know ASAP! Pharmacists can report to the Department of Health if they think a doctor is overprescribing. Don't put your doctor in jeopardy!
posted
Thank you. I planned to call first thing in the morning, just to let them know that the pharmacy would be calling with questions.
Posts: 52 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
Hmmm...I never thought about this. I am new to Lyme so this is all new to me. Is it a good idea then, to have prescriptions filled at different pharmacies? If so, is there any good rhyme or reason to what to have filled where? (like break up the antibiotics between pharmacies or have anrifungals filled seperately elsewhere?
Are there any states where this isn't a problem and we can just fill everything at the same pharmacy?
-------------------- Untreated Lyme for 25+ years. Two kids, too much pain & fatigue, no hope of ever being able to treat. Posts: 310 | From Northeast | Registered: Mar 2010
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
It is easier for me to fill all my prescriptions at the same pharmacy.
Sometimes pharmacists will wait to verify a prescription with a physician if they think that the dosage is unusual. So many doctors are rushed and their handwriting is illegible. The pharmacists just want to make sure that you are getting the proper treatment for your condition.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
MamaBear - splitting up the antibiotics between pharmacies is a good idea. Especially with Mepron. I turn in that one by itself. Docs outside of Lyme wouldn't prescribe Mepron with 3 other antibiotics and antiparasitics!
One antibiotic and one antifungal at the same pharmacy won't raise any eyebrows.
There is so much competition in a large city that pharmacies just want my business. I've had no problems, but I'm cautious anyway.
Lyme patients in my area have the biggest problems with the HMO pharmacies that are connected to large medical groups.
Filling prescriptions at drugstore pharmacies has been pretty easy.
posted
Your pharmacy is supposed to protect you and check up on things like giving meds that shouldn't be mixed or unusually high dosages. It may be annoying, but it means they are doing their job.
Posts: 526 | From NJ | Registered: May 2007
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posted
My scripts were computer generated with a handwritten signature and when I gave them to the pharmacist, he told me they weren't real prescriptions and then told me they didn't fit the proper pharmaceutical criteria. That was annoyance number one.
He then called and said that the dose was way too high, which made me think the guy was just being a jerk.
But I do see how that is looking out for the patient and it makes perfect sense. I will be more understanding in the future.
Like MamaBear, I am new to all of this as well. So much to learn!
Thanks again!
Melanie79
Posts: 52 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
Sammy brings up a good point. The pharmacists are (usually) looking out for our best interests. With the problems some people have had with doctors' handwriting on prescriptions, I have always trusted my pharmacist to double check every prescription to make sure no errors have been made and that I'm not already taking something else that shouldn't be taken with the new medication.
Now, it seems, we have to place more trust in our Lyme doctors and release some of the reliance on our pharmacists. Are we justified in doing this? Do our LLMDs know enough about meds, proper dosages and possible contraindications that we can trust them more than the pharmacists and have our scripts filled at multiple pharmacies where the pharmacists won't know about other meds we're taking?
-------------------- Untreated Lyme for 25+ years. Two kids, too much pain & fatigue, no hope of ever being able to treat. Posts: 310 | From Northeast | Registered: Mar 2010
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
It is a good idea to keep a current list of all your prescription, OTC meds, and supplements. Save one on the computer and print one for your wallet.
When your doctor prescribes a new medication run your list through a drug interaction checker like the one at drugs.com. If you use drugs.com you can save your list and modify it when your meds change. Makes it easier/ more convenient to update and check for interactions.
Since we are the ones taking the medication I believe that it is important for us to understand what, when, and why we are taking them.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
If they fill it after verifying with your doctor, there is no problem. If they don't, I would go to the other pharmacy. It's not unusual to have a high dose verified.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I certainly don't trust a LLMD over a pharmacist with meds.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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littlebit27
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24477
posted
When I dropped off my nystatin prescription at the pharamcy they were all dumbfounded. But the pharmacist said we have the liquid-I know no pills please-she said we'll order it and you can pick it up on Monday. That was at CVS.
I only go to Wal-mart if I have to get something else filled that I don't want them to see, because CVS can be quite snotty-especially one pharmacist there.
All pharmacists are different. Some just are over the top and some just fill it and let you be on your way.
Many pharmacies will price match though-so if you don't want to go to Wal-mart ask CVS if the price match. Or my CVS has a discount card system they can run the script through. I needed one filled and it would have $57, the girl ran it through a discount card and it came out to $16, same script-lower price-much better.
posted
You can also use mail order pharmacies, if you have no real choices in town. They will require a prescription it they are legitimate. Some of the major big box stores have pharmacies with a mail order division. You just mail it to them, or your doctor faxes it.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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