Dispense as written....

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Feb 26, 2003

further more, the pharmacy could've made the fact that they were out of the brand name clear to you & let you decide whether or not you want to go with the generic! that's a lot of nerve of them making that presumption for you so that they can make some money. obivously...no one there is an advocate for your husband...good pharmacies are hard to come by these days.

cheers!

moe

montroyal · Feb 26, 2003

What the pharmacy did was illegal and practicing medicine without a liscence. Call your state liscencing board and report them.

colleen10 · Feb 26, 2003

I know in PA that if a generic brand is available they are supposed to dispense that but they at least tell you that a generic brand is available and give you the option.

I don't know about legalities but it is only good customer service and patient relationship management to tell you that they didn't have the original. I would complain to somebody. Especially when so many times the person getting the medication isn't the person taking it. If I went to get medication for my grandparents or someone else I wouldn't have a clue if the pharm. gave me the corrent med. or not.

RN2B2005 · Feb 26, 2003

It's odd that the pharmacist wouldn't at least mention the switch; when my pharmacist was unable to fill an order with the name brand version of medication for my DOG she took the time to explain the reason for the switch.

I'd definitely mention it to the pharmacy manager. I don't know that I'd dive right in and assume that the pharmacy was trying to make extra money or had some other reason for deceiving you--pharmacies actually make LESS money on generics than they do on name brand drugs, so that argument doesn't hold up. Especially if you have a relationship with the pharmacy, give them a chance to explain the situation.

If you feel uneasy after speaking with the pharmacy manager, then by all means go ahead and file a complaint, but my guess is it was simple human error.

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2003

Originally posted by montroyal
What the pharmacy did was illegal and practicing medicine without a liscence. Call your state liscencing board and report them.

maybe first speak w/ said pharmacist, or the pharmacy supervisor, before going to the board.

geez, and I'm high strung?

renerian, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2003

If the doc writes this on the script they will not change it.

renerian

MrsK1223 · Feb 26, 2003

We've had a lot of problems with pharmacies in my area giving our patients medications that were not prescribed but a similar one but not even the generic. We know this cause they bring the tubes in (dermatology) and they are not even the generic form of what we prescribed. We've even had a pharmacist refuse to fill a prescription because he felt it was out of the prescribing physician's field...one of the drugs being Allegra....hellloooooo....we treat urticaria and other skin disorders in which Allegra and antihistamines. So, not sure who SOME of the pharmacists think they are.

deespoohbear · Feb 26, 2003

I really don't think the pharmacy was out to mess me over. I think it was a case of where they were out of Levoxyl and subbed the Levothryoid for it. The only reason my husband pointed out the difference to me was because our doctor had specifically told him that once he was started on one brand of thyroid medicine, he didn't want the brands switched. Not sure why this is. Usually our doctor writes for "may substitute" but I know this script was called in "dispense as written." I am really not out for anyone's head. I spoke to the pharmacist last night and he was very kind about it. I explain to him our doctor's wishes about sticking with the Levoxyl once my husband was established on it. Said he would order some Levoxyl and it would be in today. Got the correct stuff today. In the future when I call in for refills I will just make sure I tell them to definitely fill it with Levoxyl.

renerian, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2003

Pooh the pharmacy we always use gave us the wrong dose for my stepdaughters med. WE caught it but they did not.

renerian

OzNurse69 · Feb 26, 2003

Regardless of whether they did it deliberately, or whatever their reason, common courtesy says that they should have informed you when you got the script filled - told you they could order more in - then given you the option of waiting a day or two for the correct drug, going elsewhere to get it, or accepting the generic brand.

deespoohbear · Feb 26, 2003

Originally posted by OzNurse69
Regardless of whether they did it deliberately, or whatever their reason, common courtesy says that they should have informed you when you got the script filled - told you they could order more in - then given you the option of waiting a day or two for the correct drug, going elsewhere to get it, or accepting the generic brand.

Agreed.