bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
Hi folks...I'm curious what your favorite pharmacy is? I have been treating lyme & co for the past 16 months and have been able to experience several.
I originally started with CVS as they are the closest to my home. But...after a few months I noticed they would make mistakes, like putting the incorrect number of pills in a bottle, etc. So I switched to my local Supermarket.
I liked the people at my local Supermarket, but it was a very small Pharmacy and they often had to order my meds. This usually wasn't an issue for refills as I could order a few days in advance. But I also found it was a bit of a hassle to have to walk all the way in to the grocery store, back to the Pharmacy area, just to get my meds.
So...I went back to CVS as they had a drive through and it was more convenient. However, one of the Pharmacists there started to get a bit nasty, questioning my Rx's. I have no issue with a Pharmacist verifying my Rx. But the way this guy did it was borderline unprofessional. Also...it may sound funny, but I really dislike the CVS Rx bottles / labels. There is something very unpleasing about them. The texture of the label ``bothers me'' a bit when I hold the bottle. (Weird, I know.) So I moved yet again.
My new favorite is Rite Aid. It is a bit further away for me, but still convenient. They staff is very friendly at my local office. They are fast, have good technology (I can sign for my Rx's electronically rather than signing a pad like at CVS), and I find their bottles / labels very pleasing vs CVS.
So I'm at Rite Aid for now. So far so good. Their Wellness+ program seems very generous as you get 25 points per prescription. If Rite Aid doesn't work, I may try a local, private Pharmacy nearby. There is also a Walgreens.
Curious to hear what your favorite is and what you like / dislike about other Pharmacies you have tried.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I use the pharmacy at my local grocery store. It has a drive through and its own entrance to the pharmacy.
My husband use to use CVS and they gave him someone else's meds one time, so that was the end of that. Thank goodness we caught it.
I do often wonder if I could get my meds cheaper somewhere else. But I just keep going where I feel comfortable.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Walgreen's .. and it's funny you mentioned the bottles! The reason I stay with Walgreen's is their BOTTLES! seriously!
I love the caps on them! If I have to take a bottle in my purse, there is NO WAY it will accidentally open!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96220 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
We go to Walgreens now too. Our grocery store didn't always keep everything in stock and would have to order meds.
Also, there are Walgreens everywhere if your out of town and need your meds.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
boo to cvs I like my mom and pop local place. they have to order meds sometimes but it only takes a day or so.
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
I split my scripts between Walgreens and Costco. I love them both.
Dogsandcats
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28544
posted
wallygreens.....cvs messed up too many times.
-------------------- God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.
Billy Graham Posts: 1967 | From California | Registered: Oct 2010
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MannaMe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33330
posted
We normally get our prescriptions at WalMart since its so close.
But the newest meds were so expensive I checked around. Costco had the best price, so we went there.
Posts: 2244 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2011
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- they had a real nice pharmacist there,too, last time, who was very knowledgable about Lyme and nice to me!
- mostly for price and convenience
- and because I like costco already, for quality and price of items in general, and the way the store is run
- they offered child-proof or non-child-proof bottles, I got the non-child-proof and liked it
-------------------- Persistence, persistence, persistence!!! "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence... Persistence and determination are omnipotent." attributed to Calvin Coolidge Posts: 599 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2011
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Wish I had a Costco here! But I probably wouldn't switch from Walgreen's.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96220 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I think it depends on where you live. Walgreens is bad here.
A private owned pharmacy is good but wtg for them to get approved again for medicaid.
medicaid cut them off twice now due to them changing resources for their drugs. Kind of confusing to me??
Wehn I first came down sick it was a learning curve. I thought all pharmacies were a like. Wrong.
I think it was thrifty's that wanted me to come in daily to get a diflucan pill.
So, had to drive out of the area an hour away to get a month's supply at one time.
Another pharmacy in town would not provide what doc wrote a prescription for...again got it filled by going to the pharmacy out of town.
When I still had insurance through work, one pharmacy would charge me one price for the meds and another pharmacy would charge me a completely different price for the meds.
pays to shop around.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Sure drive on over for your daily Diflucan pill!! They're nuts!
Prices are definitely different everywhere.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96220 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Wish we had a costco. I looked up some of their prices and wow, they are so much cheaper. I think I need to shop around.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Tutu....there was a $20 co pay each day too. That was when diflucan was still under patent.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Many prescriptions can be purchased on the Wal-Mart $4.00 plan. Without this plan, many people would have had to go without their meds. I, for one, am thankful they provide this service.
You might want to check to see what meds you take that are on this plan. Look under the pill bottles and click on "Prescriptions Medication List".
posted
Thanks for the reminder about walmart $4 stuff. Also, my local supermarket has certain abx that are free. Some of the ones (2) my dd and I take are on the list. The only thing is that you must only get 30 days worth at a time, no 3 months..for freebies.
I am on my 3rd pharm. in town. The first was good for several years and then I had several debacles with them so I switched to supermarket one. They have been really good; although as others have said they often have to order stuff. HOwever, recently they filled an Rx with wrong mg. so it ended up being an entire mess. And, the pills were from the pain clinic..
So, now I am at another pharmacy and they have been extremely helpful, but it seems they may be a bit pricey, so I'm going to need to compare prices just to see. I was under the impression with insurance the price should be the same anywhere?? guess maybe that isn't so..
We do have a walmart here, but it seems the pharmacy is understaffed when I've been in there. I will check out their prices online in comparison though.
-------------------- One day at a time Posts: 409 | From TX | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
just called costco for you'all and got this information:
"you can become a member and use the online pharmacy and have meds shipped to you from costo"
I have not tired it to see if it really works that way
but that's what they said
if you live in town where there is a costco, you may use the pharmacy without a membership, but if you want to do it through costco online, you have to be a member
that is what they told me - and the pharmacist double checked and had me hold - still, I have not done it to confirm how it really works and don't know how the cost compares on your meds
the membership is 50.- per year I think, so I don't know if that would be worth looking into for any of you
their phone numbers for their pharmacies should be online for stores closest to you if you want to talk to someone - they are usually helpful at my store
good luck and hope you can save some monies on meds as lonng as you still need them!!
I just got my prescription filled for minocycline today
-------------------- Persistence, persistence, persistence!!! "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence... Persistence and determination are omnipotent." attributed to Calvin Coolidge Posts: 599 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2011
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
--How much was it for mino??
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
$36.39 for 120 50mg caps - that is a month for me at 4 a day
is that a good price?
I don't have any insurance
-------------------- Persistence, persistence, persistence!!! "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence... Persistence and determination are omnipotent." attributed to Calvin Coolidge Posts: 599 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2011
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I use costco. They still have to order some meds that they don't have in stock. I have 2 insurance companies and they are one of the few pharmacies that will bill both insurance companies for me.
That said, they often forget and I have to ask them to re-bill but when I do they have the money waiting for me at the counter. Last month they owed me $70.
When I was on mepron and had to pay out of pocket, I could not find a better price. That applies to every prescription I've checked including levaquin.
I count pills sometimes just to check. They were only off by 1 pill once in all the years I've been going there.
Bi-Mart is also a good pharmacy. I think they are only in the Pacific NW though.
I like Rite-aid but they are a bit more expensive.
Fred Myers is pretty good but a bit more expensive than Costco.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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MannaMe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33330
posted
yes! We went in to Costco, asked for the Pharmacy and they sent us on back. We browsed the store while waiting on our prescription.
Getting out was no problem - held the bag from the pharmacy up and they waved us right through.
Posts: 2244 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2011
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quote:Originally posted by Alice In Lymeland: Can you really use the Costco pharmacy without a Costco membership if you go in person?
- By law, they have to allow you access.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96220 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
walmart for me. gerald knows me very well and has even called to wish me happy birthday.
he reminds me of certain meds i can't take and has called the doctor ahead of time and told them "no, not this one".
my sil came down one time and her diabetes test strips ran out. he handed her a handful. she was floored. she asked me "do you know how much these cost?" well, i didn't, but she did. she was so very grateful.
they have often rushed my meds (like these last two abx for diverticulitis), while i stood there and the call ins are super fast.
i went to one store one time and it was at least 6 hours before i got my prescription.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I have had the same issues described above about CVS at WALGREENS. MANY times and at different pharmacies! I now ALWAYS count my meds, they have shorted me many times. I was also treated extremely unprofessionally by a pharmacist there right after my surgery in Dec. I would really like to find a new pharmacy, but my problem is they are so darn convenient, plus open 24 hours. I just continue to ALWAYS count my meds. I did move from one Walgreen to another when that pharmacist acted that way. I also like the drive-thru when I am feeling weak.
-------------------- Best Wishes,
Hope
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."
~~The Shawshank Redemption~~ Posts: 234 | From Minnesota | Registered: Dec 2010
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