I wanted to remind you all to count your meds that are controlled substances. I went to a different pharmacy than usual because I didn't want to drive across town and I was picking up a prescription for my father as well. Dad is on percocet for knee replacement surgery and I am on oxycodone for pain. Got home and I don't know why, I just felt the need to count the pills in my bottle. This is not a regular practice of mine. 2 were missing. Opened my dads, 1 was missing.
Called the pharmacy and was told there was NO way that could have happened and would have to talk to the pharmacist who filled but he had left for the day. I told them there was a way, it was done, and there needed to be an inventory taken. Pharmacist called me back, said there was no way. I said they needed to take an inventory because I got home, counted, and we were both short..... then told them my next call was to the pharmacutical board. Miraculously, 5 minutes later they had "found" our missing pills......
I used to do this every time without fail. Thank you for the reminder, as I have been falling slack on this lately.
There are many reasons/motives for why this could happen, be for street diversion and profit, recreational use, or human error.
Unfortunately, having to utilize powerful pain medicines comes with major responsibility. I do random counts of my medications, even in my home of what I have in my purse and not under lock and key due to the fact that my teenager daughter often has friends over who know I have a chronic pain condition. If any of these kids were to steal my meds, not only would I be out the meds I would need, an opoid naive individual could be at the risk of even possible death (especially if these agents were to be mixed with alcohol).
So, you raise a very good point. Counting your medication is great practice 1) When you come from the pharmacy 2) as a preventative measure during the month to make sure that someone has not lifted your medication.
I also make sure that anyone who knows I have pain medication knows that I perform regular counts.
I do regular counts at home as well. I do own a medication safe which they go in when my daughter's friends are here. One of her friends has had a bout with prescriptions medications already (she is only 13), so I know this is a big problem.
I am not sure why the pharmacist did what he did..... What I do know is that he argued with me that it was not possible at first. It was not until I told him I was calling the pharmacutical board that all the sudden he was willing to recheck and somehow "found" the missing drugs... to me, if he would have just checked to begin with, it would not have been suspiscious, it was the argument that there could be no error that bothered me.
See, this sucks because if you're getting a large amount, and there's 10 people in line behind you, there's no way you make them let you count them without causing a ruckus. Do they have a side area or a room where you can count them? Are they legally required to let you count them?
I've had problems with other meds, but never opiates. But I rarely count them when I get home, knowing that there's nothing I can do about it anyway.
My partner says he's willing count them at the counter for me. I love him. He's my true pain medication.
Unfortunately you absolutely have to count your meds. What a waste of time. In Michigan someone in the pharmacy typically circles the count and initials the bottle. Doesn't matter I still have them come up at Wallgreens. Unfortunately I like Wallgreens because I am in Michigan trying to move out of here to Tennessee this year and can pick up refills at either state, or have been able to with no issues.
Wow! Ironically, I have been accidentally given extra before. Turned them back to the pharmacy. I have never been shorted before but the last two refills I have had my prescription has been filled incorrectly due to a typo on the part of pharmacy tech. Luckily my bottle reflected the number of pills inside and I was able to address easily with the pharmacy and they refilled my prescription for the correct amount.
I never count my meds at the pharmacy and rarely do at home. Big reminder to me to do so or to begin doing so. Whenever I have company I lock my meds up in a safe or hide them in a clothing drawer.
Sometimes a veiled threat or two does the job, unfortunately.
No need to count at pharmacy counter. If you are shorted Wallgreens will replace the shorted amount in a separate bottle after the fact. If it happens more that twice at the same pharmacy I switch locations. Just noticed a system in use at the Wallgreens in Belleville, Mi where the pharmacist types in the quantity and the amount is dispensed by machine into the bottle. Unfortunately they may have had to institute such a system for shortages that frequently occur anytime human hands interface with these pills. All opiates must be in an electronic safe at home, the ones with requiring an 8 digit code used to safely store firearms in found in sporting goods stores will do the job. I place all my pills in a device such as this. These meds can be just as dangerous to a grandchild as a firearm.