Prescribed wrong medication -- now what?

[Robinrs]

I have been suffering with a horrid head cold so yesterday I got an appt with my doctor. He was mobbed with patients but they squeezed me in at noon.

He came in to see me obviously frustrated, shaking his head and saying "you have NO idea" and quickly diagnosed me with a sinus and middle ear infection. He told me he was giving me a prescription for an antibiotic and a decongestant and basically shoved me out. I heard the nurse saying that 17 of their patients went to the ER that morning!!

I read the prescription but didn't recognize the medications. Later on when I picked them up I realized the antibiotic was one I had a BAD reaction to about a year and a half ago. And I mean BAD.... I called the Dr's office and they were closed.

I called them this morning and told lady who answered the phone my problem. She checked my chart and found where I cannot take this antibiotic and told me she would check into and get me another prescription. 5 hours later my pharmacy told me that the new prescription was there and I picked it up.

He then told me that I could not refund or exchange the other medicine (no big surprise there) but had to take it up with my insurance....

This bugs me. The doctor's office made the mistake and I'm out of money because of it?

I called the office one more time to get an answering service. I plan to call them AGAIN in the morning about this.

Sorry for the loooong post, just wondering if this has happened to anyone and how should I handle it????

TIA!

 

[LadyyRedd]

First thing I would do is file a complaint with your insurance. They need to be aware that one of their participating providers made that kind of error, esp. since it was noted in your records.

Kimya

 

[tink1978]

It has happened to me....but my doctor was not as rude as yours sounds like....I just paid for it and went on. In your case though, I would ask the doctors office for some type of discount the next time you go in, ask them to help pay for the new script or something....but they could be rude and say no way! Good luck and sorry you have to deal with this when you feel bad.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Thank goodness you noticed!

My daughter was hospitalized when she was an infant after a pharmacy gave her the wrong medicine.

There are some careers where mistakes just cannot be accepted.

Please take care.

 

[shortbun]

My pharmacy would not have filled it without first talking to me about my allergy. Do you not have your allergies on file with your pharmacy? Better do it. Mine gave me a form to carry in my wallet about the allergy too.

 

[HERSEY]

Your insurance co can override the prescription so that its covered. I have a list of my allergies with my pharmacy I'm allergic to a lot of antibotics.

Hope you feel better and get this resolved.

 

[Robinrs]

My pharmacy would not have filled it without first talking to me about my allergy. Do you not have your allergies on file with your pharmacy? Better do it. Mine gave me a form to carry in my wallet about the allergy too.

It's not an allergy, per se, but a medication that should not be given to people with a pre existing condition that I have. I will definitely have it listed, though, good idea.

Boston Tea Party: If it had happened to my child I would've torn the place down! I guess I'm a little less angry since it happened to me and thank God I didn't take it. The last time I was so sick I wished I had kept the original problem!!

Definitely checking with my insurance tomorrow. I'm just wondering how I should handle the doctor's office.