what should I do? - Pain Management Message Board

allieb · 01-26-2008, 07:05 AM

I have been seeing the same pm for several years.I fill the same perscription every month.this month I am short 7 80mg of oxycontion....I called the pharmacy and they put me off till monday, to speak with the manager. my perscriptions are locked away so I dont think they were taken.any ideas on how I should deal with this any help would be appricated. thanks

forginon · 01-26-2008, 12:09 PM

This is a real tough one.

Back when I was using the Duragesic patch I was shorted 6 patches. I know because I always count my meds immediately after getting home. I was real worried as to what to do as I was new to this pharmacy and didn't want to start off on the wrong foot looking like a drug seeker. So I called and asked to speak with the pharmacist who filled the script. I asked him if there was a way for him to know if he was 6 patches over, and he said yes. So I told him my fears about how I'd be perceived for even making this call and he told me not to worry and he'd call me right back. Sure enough he was 6 over and apologised for the mistake and to come in any time and get them.

So, luckily it worked out well and kind of cemented our early relationship.

I don't know if it's law, but my pharmacy has two folks assure the count on all ached II scripts, so it was very unusual that the miscount even happened. I think you just need to be real humble, and willing to forget about it if it isn't easy to resolve, even though it'll cost you some discomfort.

If you've always used the same pharmacy for these several years then you have that in your favor. Of course, be certain of the shortage. In the future you might want to count your meds immediately upon getting home. It looks better for this to happen at the beginning of the month than at the end, when it can 'appear' as if you took too many and need more to avoid withdrawals.

I think your long relationship with them will work in your favor.

Best of luck and I'll be praying for a good outcome.

steve

HappyFlower · 01-26-2008, 12:42 PM

I was shorted once...only by 1 pill, but shorted none the less....I decided not to say anything because mistakes happen.

A couple of months later, I was off by 1 pill again...still said nothing.

Again...went to pick up the Rx and this time I was three off and I decided to at least mention it. I told the pharmacist I had been off by one two times, but didn't say anything because it really wasn't a big deal....but that it keeps happening and this time it was three. I didn't ask for him to give me the pills, because it was Lortab and they don't keep as strict a count of that as they do a SchII and I didn't want to go through the headache for 3 pills...however....

I used that pharamcy until a month or so ago and it NEVER happened again..as a matter of fact once I was one over....

So...My theory??? A pharmacist, tech, someone was taking the pills. Now, I am not a big one on conspiracy theories...but I find it strange that it happened three times in 4 or 5 months and then never again once it was known I was counting.....not telling how many people are shorted and never know because they don't count.

So, I would do as Steve did...not accuse, just ask. Oxycontin is pretty tightly regulated, so if the pills were just left out, there should be pills missing....and if not, at least they know you count your pills and maybe they'll pick another person to "swipe a few" from next time...best of luck!!

badoldback · 01-26-2008, 01:13 PM

Hey allieb,
I have so far (knock on wood!) only been shorted 1 or 2 pills. I elected to not say anything for fear of looking like a drug seeker. Now, I always (usually) count when I get home from the pharmacy so I will know how to ration my supply if it is short. In your case (it was 8 Oxycontin I believe?) It is a significant enough shortage I would say something.

BrittleBones · 01-26-2008, 07:56 PM

I think that a large number of folks who find themselves taking Schedule II or III meds for a long period of time are bound to come up short or over at least once in their pain med history. People do make mistakes even when they've checked and checked again. And, there are, unfortunately, people with drug addiction issues who work behind pharmacy counters and think they can get away with taking a pill from a customer's bottle every now and again. After all, not everyone counts their pills as soon as they get them home from a pharmacy (I do though!). I've been shorted as much as 20 pills in the past, but also came home twice over the years with a prescription for Oxycodone that had 60 (SIXTY) extra pills (YES, I said 60!) and one that had 22 extra!! K'Mac