Need some advice, thinking about switching pharmacys - Pain Management Message Board

sammyo1 · 01-22-2008, 08:19 AM

Ok you guys have been such a great help to me so I am going to ask for some advice. I am really thinking about swithcing pharmacys for my narcotics. Just tired of the attitudes where I currrently go for my scripts, I can appriciate they have a job to do but I am tired of being treated like I am a crimanal or something, if they only knew how much I hate taking these things. I have been so careful about taking them & take only what I need to get through the pain. For example a script that is wrote for 30 days usually last 35 or 40 days, I have had my times where of course I have gotten it filled at the 30 day mark but not often at all, it does not seem to matter I still get the attitudes & that bothers me especially in front of my daughter. I don't even want to ask any questions anymore.
There is a small pharmacy located in the same building with my primary so I thought perhaps I would try smaller pharmacy. Surgery is due at the end of the month & it is important to me to find a pharmacy that I can relate to & feel comfortable with. I know I am going to have questions when weening off the perocet & oxy. I can't see myself dealing with the current pharmacy I am at now. Tired of the attitudes. I plan on letting the new pharmacist know why I am switching over.
Do you all think its ok to ask the pharmacist about the generics they use for the narcotics prescribed? I am due for refills this week & with the surgery ahead I don't want to end up with meds that don't do their job. I am on the percocet-endo brand which works pretty quickly, does not always last but I have not taken anything to compare it to. The oxy is the Teva brand, which I am unsure of, it does not last & takes along time to work but better then taking nothing(learned the hard way)I only take that at night so I can get alittle more control of the pain & makes the morning alittle easier, lately not working that great. I don't know how pharmacys would respond about being asked questions about the narcotics they carry. For that matter I don't know if they carry more then one brand & which brands to be weary of. I personally think it should be one's right to interview a pharmacy & make sure you are given the best meds for you, I just don't know if a pharmacy would see it that way, since it is narcotics. Any advice or suggestions would be great, I am nervous about pain control with the surgery & wish I would have switched before this. Since I am really unsure on how to approach this I would really appreciate some advice. Sammy

Luvmypugs · 01-22-2008, 08:53 AM

Sorry for your problem with the pharmacists at your current pharmacy. I would indeed complain to the manager of that store or ask who is in charge of the pharmacy and let them know how you have been treated as I'm sure you are not the only one.

Also, they can order any generic out there. I have asked before and they had it by the next morning, no problem. Please don't suffer in silence. Speak up and be heard.

Take care and have a great day

!!

Arthr Itis · 01-22-2008, 09:10 AM

Sammy. Don't even hesitate, go for it! When my wife started down her path with cancer the pharmacy started playing games. This was a Target pharmacy in the store where she worked. I would go to refill some of her drugs and every time they would send me across town to another Target pharmacy. We were on a first name basis with these people. We knew them before she got sick. What really did it was one time I brought my wife home from the hospital. She was very sick and I didn't want to leave her alone but had no choice. Rushed to the pharmacy with a handful of scripts and stood there while the people played around. They were taking personal phone calls the whole bit. Oh and this was the head pharmasist! Well they could only fill a few of the scripts so they called the Meijer pharmacy across the street. They filled all of them and I only waited a few minutes! Needles to say the next day I changed all scripts , hers and mine, to Meijer. Target lost some major money but I don't care. I've had to go to another Meijer only a couple of times and they always treat me well. Pretty sad when complete strangers treat you better than your "friends".
Good luck on your surgery. Remember us cp'ers when you are completely healed.
Fred

sammyo1 · 01-22-2008, 10:31 AM

Well Fred, it is indeed target that I am currently filling my scripts at, before I was put on narcotics everything was fine,its a shame there a several pharmacists there but only one who will go out of her way or does not have the attitide. I just don't think it is worth having to go through all that just to pick up scripts. I have always held pharmacists with the up most respect, still do, but I just want to feel comfortable & know I am getting the best pain control I can along with be able to ask questions. As always Fred good to hear from you & take care with all this cold. Sammy

Executor · 01-22-2008, 12:26 PM

As I posted in another thread, I highly recommend that you find an independent pharmacy in your area. They are almost always owned by the main pharmacist and essentially, the person is a small business person running their own business. These people are usually well entrenched in the area.

With that being said, it's important to develop a relationship with your pharmacist when on these type of meds. The problem with the "chain" pharmacies is multiple: (1) The pharmacist usually change like the wind, which isn't good for your situation, (2) Many of the techs are college students or young people who don't know much and often jump to conclusions, and (3) They are regulated by higher ups who are paranoid about narcotics. Because there is so much variation among them, I avoid them at all costs. Target may be good in one area, and bad in another....Same with CVS and etc. I think what it comes down to is the pharmacists at each store....If they've been there a long time, things are great. If not, then just the opposite.

Conversely, because the independent pharmacists runs his/her own business, they call all the shots. They WANT patients because they make $ off each script. They almost always have the best customer service. I feel like my pharmacist is an extension of my doc.

Good luck!