Yikes, pharmacy gave me someone else's medication!

[bushdianee]

I went go get my BP meds yesterday at a large retail chain and got someone else's meds. I had 3 different prescriptions and they were all in separate bags. the clerk told me on one that they were out of my dosage so I would have to take 4 of a lower dose twice a day. That seemed like a lot but as I had 2 young kids with me I didn't pay too much attention to it. Then when they rang them up it mas much cheaper than I had anticipated but the clerk said the one was only $25 ( I normally pay $60 for the month's supply)
I didn't check the meds until this morning but it was nagging me that I was supposed to take that medication 2x instead of 1x a day so I checked it and it was the same medication I take but twice the dosage and belonged to someone else. His name was on bottle and the information insert as well. So while I could have been overdosing he would have been getting half of what he was supposed to.
I called and left a message as they weren't open yet. When they called back they apologized and said that they must have been working on both at the same time and they got mixed up. They hadn't even called the other person yet to see if he got mine. I took back the wrong prescription and got my correct one. I made out a little on the deal because they didn't charge me the $35 difference in my copay! Guess the lesson here is to check everything before leaving the counter.

 

[CF'er]

I had that happen too. My SIL went in for my nephew's script and the pharmacy gave them mine. Same last name only. She has been given the wrong script a couple times by that same store. She now goes elsewhere.

 

[SLP958]

Was it anything good?

 

[MEK]

They are techs that distribute the medication wants the pharmacist fills the prescription. I guess its fairly easy to make a mistake and its good that you caught it promptly and saved $35.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

A few months ago my pharmacy gave me a medication they'd previously dispensed for someone else. I ended up not using it (for IVF; we used a different protocol than previous attempts). When drug take-back day came, I took the labels off all old meds and I realized that the pharmacy label on this one seemed a bit thick. I peeled off my label...and found the label for someone else underneath. Name, address, phone number, birthdate...

Not to mention that the "expiration date" was PRIOR to the date that the pharmacy dispensed it to me!

 

[Mokat76]

A few months ago my pharmacy gave me a medication they'd previously dispensed for someone else. I ended up not using it (for IVF; we used a different protocol than previous attempts). When drug take-back day came, I took the labels off all old meds and I realized that the pharmacy label on this one seemed a bit thick. I peeled off my label...and found the label for someone else underneath. Name, address, phone number, birthdate... Not to mention that the "expiration date" was PRIOR to the date that the pharmacy dispensed it to me!

I'd have made a huge, stinkin' scene over this particular trick. I understand an honest mistake. I've gotten someone else's meds once, too. But THIS is malpractice at best. Totally evil.

 

[katie01]

Scary, I always check and double check what we're given for this reason, particularly when it's something new and given to my children

 

[indimom]

Similar story with my sister. She and a cousin by marriage share the same name. She was given the cousin's prescription by mistake.
In her case, the pharmacy realized their mistake (possibly when the cousin came in to pick up) and called her.

Moral of the story. Check ALL medications for correct name, date, dosage, timing, etc. before you take them.

 

[drinkme]

That happened to us years ago. I was picking up my daughters prescription from Walgreens & they put the wrong medicine in her bottle! She was about 5 years old & they gave her some mood disorder medicine instead of a pain killer. She had a broken arm from a fall on her bike. Dh picked it up & when he brought it home I questioned it because it was pills. Who gives pills to a 5 year old? Dh said he questioned it at the store & the tech said the pills were small enough for a kid to swallow. Of course being a mom I knew better!!!

It took me about 20 years to go back to Walgreens.