Prescription Rant: Big Box Pharmacy indifference;

[yy4me]

As a result of a fall just after Christmas, I finally saw my doctor who, upon checking me out, suggested Physical Therapy and a certain pill for the pain I was having. For the last few weeks, I have been taking Advil and thinking that any day now, the bruise would heal and the pain would disappear.

I have certain known allergies and through the years, I have found after being prescribed a new medication, that I am allergic things I don't even know about. Hives, Itching, nervousness, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, blurred vision etc. This information is on my medical records and the couple of prescriptions I take now work fine for me through trial & error. I have paid for all kinds of medications that I have had to throw out.

When having a prescription filled, you are handed the bag with all the warnings on it. You must pay for the goods, drive home, read the info and hopefully you will see anything that might cause a problem. There are times when I'll admit to not having read 3 pages worth of warnings on a particular medicine, I don't even know what half of it means. I will never do so again. Also, I will never pay for any medicine before reading the info. I took 1 pill first Monday PM, one AM & PM next day. Very bad things happened. Did I say that it suggested additional monitoring when taken? I'm alone, who is going to monitor me!

I went to my doctor to tell them that I had stopped taking the pill prescribed for pain. I also told them that buried within the middle of this long list of warnings it says "do not take if you take XXX". I have all my medication filled at the same pharmacy. The doctors office told me that the pharmacy should have asked me certain questions and given me a warning about the possible conflict.
I went to see the pharmacist to try and explain that I was upset about what had happened and that there should be some kind of flag on my record,--let alone maybe give me back the the $42.00 I paid for the stuff.

He was indifferent, did not want to listen and proceed to tell me that it was my doctors fault.
I don't care whose fault it was, I will no longer do business with this pharmacy, especially since he does not even want to hear what my situation was.

My parting words to this man were, "This was the last prescription I will have filled here. I will have them transferred to another pharmacy."

As I walked away, he said, "No problem". In other words, he didn't give a damn.

Well sir, I'd say there is a problem and you are it.

Suggestion to all, see if you can spend time reading the warnings on your prescription paperwork before paying for it. Explain why so that you don't face this kind of thing.

I'm back to Advil now, so much for stronger pain relief. Trying with the at-home therapy, I think this will take a while as I can only do 4 of the 5 exercises. I will have to go for office therapy 5 to 6 weeks, 2X a week. Medicare pays 80%. I don't know what this is going to cost me but what else can you so. I do not have a Medicare supplement or part D for pills. I am recently widowed, laid off and in general, beginning to get really angry at things that have gone beyond our control or that defy all logic or sense or caring.

Thanks for listening.

[Digit]

1. I am sorry you are going through all this

IMO, the doctor should have known, but I really count on my pharmacy not to let things fall through the cracks. They recently advised me of a possible interaction, but my doctor had already handled it and had stopped the one prescription.

I hope you begin to feel better soon.

[RC]

2. There is currently a battle in North Dakota over whether it should rescind the law

requiring pharmacies to have pharmacist to own 51% of the business. Wal-mart and Walgreen want the law removed.

The local Republican owned bird cage liner thinks it is anti completive and has come out for its repeal.
The law says pharmacist must own controlling interest in a pharmacy in North Dakota. That's it. There is nothing preventing any big box or any business for that matter, from coming in a setting up a pharmacy. All that is needed is for a registered pharmacist to have 51% or more interest in the business.

Anyway for your reading pleasure. Don't forget to read the 'Comments'. Some of the simple minded commentators worked hard to earned their degrees in business ignorance.

'Ridiculous, absurd' cartoon evoked appropriate response
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/230376/

Trygve Olson cartoon, Feb. 1, 2009 (Cartoon in question)
http://www.inforum.com/event/image/id/258103/

Pharmacy cartoon was disappointing
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/230378/

Pharmacy law works for North Dakota
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/230262/

Chain store pharmacists offer comprehensive patient service
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/229987/

Big retailers use pharmacies to pump up sales of other stuff
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/229988/

Drug company’s price gouging is not only wrong, it’s illegal
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/229793/

Unlike Minnesota, ND has pharmacy choices
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/229759/

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

3. physical therapy, chiropractor and maybe go to pain clinic?

Im just grasping at straws.

If your disability is temporary, you might not need to go to a pain clinic, but
it sounds like you might benefit from doctors who specialize in that sort of thing.

They have a multitude of medicines they can try for you, and they know to look out for
drug interactions.

Actually, Im a little (but not alot) surprised that your Doctor didn't look at all of the
meds you are taking.

But then, I've also seen where in my case my doctor didn't think the "possible side effects"
were happening to me from a medicine he prescribed.

Sometimes we have to be very assertive in this and use our best intuition.

Anyhow, I had a friend who had a bad knee and lower back pain, and a year of physical therapy
and a chiropracter helped her get better. I mean better, not just get rid of the pain.

She is still vulnerable to slight relapses, but it is never as bad as it used to be.

There are good and bad doctors, good and bad meds, you just have to pick and choose carefully.

Good luck, and I hope things get better for you.

Would you let us know how you are doing?

[Why Syzygy]

4. Go to the Social Security

and/or Medicare website. There is a link there labeled something like, "Do you need extra help paying for supplemental insurance (D)". Just fill in a few bits of information. If your income is low enough, they will put you in a program to have the premiums paid. Also, there are pharmacies that will track your meds for you and notice mis-matches. Walgreens is one.

[Fire1]

5. I totally empathize.

[uppityperson]

6. I've had similar happen at a small private pharmacy also.

They were too busy to take care of their customer. I found 1 of the pharmacists who was able to take the time to listen and always deal with him. I saw it as they were overworked, and the system is wrong, but also felt i didn't matter.

The system needs fizing to allow enough time for health care.

[Celebration]

7. medical and pharmacy care are very impersonalized now

I wouldn't trust either the doctor or pharmacist to catch things like this, and I would definitely expect each to blame the other.

Here's the lesson: You are on your own. Treat your doctor and your pharmacists as consultants in your health care. But you need to take charge. Then the buck stops with you.

I realize that this is not the style of many patients, but most people who don't take charge of their own health care decision making will come to that point of realization.