2.5 dd given wrong Rx at Pharmacy - **UPDATE #22**

[Talking Hands]

I would take it to the pharmacy manager. This is different from the store manager usually and in reality the store manager has no control over the pharmacists. Remember it is often a pharmacy teach that inputs the script into the computer and not the pharmacist himself. This needs to be taken as far up the line as need be to make sure it is taken seriously.

 

[mookie]

***UPDATE***

So, I called the pharmacy manager and talked to him about the situation, and he did apologize for the "mix-up." He looked up our dd's prescription, and said that prescription was supposed to go to another patient. He did ask if I knew who I spoke to last night or who my husband spoke to, and of course I wasn't sure. He said he should be able to look it up in the logs. I also told him I was hesitant to bring this med back to the pharmacy w/o talking to him first, and he said he understood, but now that we have talked he would like it back for his log book. I told him I'd have to wait until my husband got home, and that I might not get to it today.

I was offered my money back that I paid for the prescription, which I think would be a given. But when I let him know my concern was that if we were not looking or careful, we would have given our dd that medication. He then said that there are no fatal effects on the medication, but she would have become extremely fatigued and would probably sleep for 8-12 hours. "Obviously that's no excuse ma'am," he said, "But I hope that does give you some reassurance."

I understand that, but he just didn't seem to get it. Maybe he's used to this happening?

Anyway, I still have the bottle. Any further thoughts, now that I talked to the manager? Thanks!

 

[Disney Doll]

Every state has a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). You could report it to them, and they would investigate the Walgreen's. Of course, that is what Walgreen's is hoping you don't do, as DEA investigations are a pain in the neck.

Something about the pharmacy tech doesn't sound right...wonder if she's siphoning narcs????

 

[C.Ann]

Something about the pharmacy tech doesn't sound right...wonder if she's siphoning narcs????

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That was my take on the situation too..

 

[marlasmom]

It makes me shudder to think that they are treating a dangerous drug for a child so callously and so lightly. I would go to corporate Walgreens. BTW I am a Walgreens stockholder and I never fill perscriptions there. They are too rude and I always suspect they are careless.

 

[disneymom3]

That is really odd that he wants you to bring it back. DH takes an antidepressant and the Dr just had to call in a new script because his old one had run out. The nurse called in the wrong dosage and we didn't notice until we had it at home already and DH had taken one and felt weird. (Not cool!) Anyway, I called the pharmacy and they double checked to make sure it was what was called in and not their error. They then got the Dr to give them the correct amount and refilled the RX. However, they told us to just go ahead and dispose of the meds because they can't do anything with them once they have left the pharmacy.

So, why does your pharmacist want them back? That is just as odd as the attitude of the tech if you ask me. Personally, I would be finding a new pharmacy ASAP.

 

[phorsenuf]

This happened to me one time. I'm allergic to Penicillan. I had a prescription filled for an antibiotic and when I got home I didn't recognize the name. I checked and sure enough it was penicillan.

I called the pharmacy and the local pharmacist board and the pharamacist called and apologised, the pharmacy board contacted the pharmacy and wal-mart (where I had the prescription filled) sent me a gift card. I was pleased in the end with everything that was done. Unfortunatly mistakes happen.

That is why you should always look over every prescription you get to make sure it is correct before taking it or giving it to others.

 

[mrFDNY]

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That was my take on the situation too..

for some reason that's the first thing i thopugh of. perhaps this rx tech put's the xanix in your daughters name,has it filled and then swipes it.sells it on the street,xanix is very addicting and people will pay alot for it to get it or a bottle of it.a bottle is worth alot on the street
now you come in and take your childs antibotics home with you. since you never were really given a scrpit for xanix you'll never call back to complain its missing. in the computers everything is crystal clear and that controlled subsance (xanix) is not missing,its been filled to you and really in the techs pocket.perhaps another tech filled the script and the orginal tech could not get the xanix out of your bag without being caught before your husband came in to pick it up.

 

[roseprincess]

Hi Mookie,

One of the Chicago Disers here and ran across your thread.
I used to work as an RN (still an RN, just haven't worked in a few yrs since I'm a SAHM now) and I know as an RN, you are supposed to check the med, dosage, and route 3 times before giving to the patient, and making sure you are giving the right meds to the right patient.
I have always been thorough when I worked in nursing homes, checking meds, making sure my meds that I pass go to the right patients.
Now that I have 2 special needs kids since day one when they were born, I always check the meds, that everything is right, when I pick up from Walgreens drive-thru. I know a couple of months back, I was picking up my dd and ds's prescriptions at Walgreen's drive-thru, and the pharm tech told me how much the total was for the prescriptions. The amt. was more than usual, so I asked the pharm tech did something not get covered with the insurance we were on? She checked the bag/bags and noticed someone elses prescription in with our meds, this was before she gave me the meds thru the drive-thru and before I paid.
A few yrs. back, my dd was on Amoxicillin for an ear infection. When my dh picked up the prescript, Walgreens forgot to add the sterile water and gave my dh just the powder form, without the water. My dh didin't know until he got home. I said to him"why isn't this a liquid?" I did send my dh back to Walgreens so they can add in the sterile water. In the meantime, I called the Walgreens pharmacist and explained what happened and he apologized for the mistake.

I have noticed through the yrs that Walgreens and I'm sure other pharmacies do make these kind of mistakes. I don't know if they are not checking the meds 3 or 4 times before giving it to the patient picking it up or what the deal is? I know there is alot of competition with pharmacies around my area ie. Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, Osco. And with so many people needing meds, and in populated areas, some mistakes can happen. Everyone does need to be vigilant in checking the meds and dosage when picking them up at whatever pharmacy you go to. Unfortunately, as customers of these pharmacies, we need to check over the order ourselves and catch these mistakes. At least, this is what I do.

You are doing the right thing as of reporting this mistake to the head pharmacist manager. As of returning the Xanax to the pharmacist, that is probably Walgreens policy and is probably the right thing to do, since Xanax is a controlled substance.


Rosemarie

 

[Aidensmom]

That is really odd that he wants you to bring it back. DH takes an antidepressant and the Dr just had to call in a new script because his old one had run out. The nurse called in the wrong dosage and we didn't notice until we had it at home already and DH had taken one and felt weird. (Not cool!) Anyway, I called the pharmacy and they double checked to make sure it was what was called in and not their error. They then got the Dr to give them the correct amount and refilled the RX. However, they told us to just go ahead and dispose of the meds because they can't do anything with them once they have left the pharmacy.

So, why does your pharmacist want them back? That is just as odd as the attitude of the tech if you ask me. Personally, I would be finding a new pharmacy ASAP.

They probably want it back because it is a controlled substance. An anti-depressant is not.

 

[lsyorke]

I would NOT take it back. Every state has a Board of Pharmacy. Call them! If you take the Xanax back you have lost all evidence of what happened. The attitude of the Pharmacy manager is disturbing. Giving an adult dose of Xanax to a child is MUCH more serious than "she would have slept for 8-12 hours". Something isn't right about this whole episode, and the pharmacy is being WAY to cavalier about a serious error... or intentional diversion of a controlled substance. I'm a nurse too, and believe me, controlled substances are under tight control and this should NEVER happen. I'm hoping that they are just very sloppy, but I have a gut feeling that there's more going on.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

to me it sounds like this tech does it frequently,and perhaps they (the Rx Staff) are building a case against her. Call the Board of Pharmacy as suggested and report it. However if you're dealing with CVS, I have NEVER had a good experience. Their techs are lax in all things.

yesterday I dropped off 2 Rx, one for Topomax for migraines with a relatively complicated rx dosage and the guy didn't understand it. But they didn't have enough so they had to order it. The other I could pick up in an hour and a half. So DBF and I go out to dinner, The time passes and we come back, I go to pick it up and it's not ready. "Oh I didn't know there was another to fill." DUH!!! How about looking, moron.

I get so upset with them.

 

[lsyorke]

This link may give you a place to start.

http://www.idfpr.com/default.asp

 

[cherylp3]

Any update??

 

[mookie]

So far, I don't have much of an update. I still have not returned the medicine as I was asked, I still have the bottle. I did call our local DEA, and left a message for someone that transferred me to the "diversion" dept, but I have not heard back. I will probably give it until tomorrow and see if I hear from them, and then I'll call the Walgreens corporate office to see what they have to say.

(The funny thing about dealing with the corporate office is that I work for a non-profit, and one of my clients is the corporate office of Walgreens. I actually know several people there that volunteer for me. And the non-profit I work for deals with Children!! )

 

[donnajon]

I once got a prescription from CVS without the sterile water. Thank goodness I knew better than to give it to DD. The thing that made me most upset was that I just got a very quick "Sorry". I understand mistakes but it was the attitude. If they had said something like, "Oh my goodness, we are soooo sorry. That shouldn't have happened and we apologize." it would have been nice. I've never been back to CVS since. Publix now has a discription of what the medicine looks like on their packages. I found out when I picked up DS8's regular meds but they looked different. The pharmacist said, "Did you check the package discription?" to which I said I did not because he had been on the meds for so long that I don't read that anymore. She was very nice and said that they had switched distributers and the pills were the right ones, just a different maker. I was glad to know the discription is now on the paperwork.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I would NOT take it back. Every state has a Board of Pharmacy. Call them! If you take the Xanax back you have lost all evidence of what happened. The attitude of the Pharmacy manager is disturbing. Giving an adult dose of Xanax to a child is MUCH more serious than "she would have slept for 8-12 hours". Something isn't right about this whole episode, and the pharmacy is being WAY to cavalier about a serious error... or intentional diversion of a controlled substance. I'm a nurse too, and believe me, controlled substances are under tight control and this should NEVER happen. I'm hoping that they are just very sloppy, but I have a gut feeling that there's more going on.

This is exactly how I feel too. Something's just not right here.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Awhile back I picked up my prescriptions from the Wal-Mart pharmacy, and once I got to my vehicle I opened the bag to make sure they were correct (I always do that), and I had someone else's prescriptions.

The bag had my name on it, but the bottles inside were someone else's.

Thankfully I had not driven all the way home before finding the mistake.

That has only happened once in the years I've been on prescribed medications so I can't complain.

People work in the pharmacy. People are not perfect. People make mistakes.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

Please, even if you get nowhere with your other complaints, find a new pharmacy. Their lax attitude about dispersing a controlled substance, to a minor no less, is alarming.

 

[Geoff_M]

She was given Amoxocillin for treatment, which I took to Walgreens on our way home to fill.

My wife spent a night in the cardiac unit of our hospital thanks in large part to Walgreen's. About two years ago my wife's PA wrote out a script incorrectly for a central nervous agent that had the effect of giving my wife twice the maximum allowable (per label) dosage for adults. Walgreen's happily filled it. A week later my wife became severally "altered" at work and her heart was racing at over twice the normal rate. She had enough presence of mind to tell a co-worker that she thought it was her medication. The co-worker called the doctor's office and Walgreen's was contacted too. It was then discovered that the PA had written the script correctly in her notes, but not on the actual script. Walgreen's comfirmed they filled it as written, no questions asked. The ER doc diagnosed her with a "chronic overdose" of the drug.

So, why does my wife still see the PA, but we don't use Walgreen's anymore? After reading the PDR entry for the drug, it was clear that the script should have been questioned. That's part of the Pharmacist's professional duties. I talked to the local pharmacy manager and asked "Why wasn't this questioned, given the fact that it was way off-label?" She answered "Doctors go off-label all the time! They don't like it when we question them." I called and complained to their regional office. The regional manager called me back and confirmed that they had checks in place and he tested the script, as written, with their software. Their software "red flagged" the script. Meaning the only way it could have been filled was for a local employee to over-ride it. I asked the Manager to find out how it was over-rode and what their reason was. He said he'd check and get back to me... that was the last I ever heard from him. Based on Walgreen's CYA "it wasn't our fault" posturing, the fact that their actions clearly violated their professional ethics rules as defined by the state (if a Pharmacist thinks there's a chance the script is incorrect, they are obligated to contact the prescriber), and the fact that they never got back to us with an explaination, we no longer shop at Walgreen's and bad mouth them whenever possible. We now use the pharmacy at Target.

Contrast that with the response from the medical practice (which is operated by the hospital where my wife was taken by ambulance and spent the night) that initiated the problem. A risk manager from the hospital arrived at the ER about 30 minutes after I got there from my office. She said they "messed up" and everything would be taken care of. All medical costs were covered, same for the ambulance. They reimbursed us for missed work, childcare, etc. I was expecting to be asked to sign a waiver absolving them from additional liability, but was never asked to sign anything along those lines. Fortunately my wife didn't suffer any lasting effects. She spent the night in the cardiac ward for monitoring and was released the next AM. She went back to the PA's office the day she was released and the PA apologized profusely and explained what happened. The PA said she'd understand if my wife never wanted to use her services again and wouldn't blame her. The contrast couldn't have been more striking. My wife still sees her today.

It the bare minimum, if any script error takes place with your pharmacy contact your state's pharmacy licensing board. File a complaint. If the problem is severe enough, it might trigger immediate action. If not, if enough minor complaints are made about a pharmacy, the state will investigate.