Pharmacists to Jerry

[Guest guest]

Jerry wrote:

Just because you have a pharmacy degree does not mean you can

PRESCRIBE. Only doctors do that. Only docs have experience with

chronic pain patients and can make that determination. >

Jerry,

I couldn't agree with you more. I've had too many pharmacists at the

larger drug stores and chains try to criticize my doctor's scripts,

re: the total amount per month or the individual dosage, in front of

me and the whole store, and do it in such a way that it's as though

they were the ones in charge of my medical needs. I've had to try to

dignify why I was taking such and such a narcotic and for what reasons

too many times when I shouldn't have to, so I don't take my scripts to

those places any more. They may offer advantages of drive up windows

and coupons if I use their store card, but I'd rather give my business

to someone who dispenses without trying to show off his medical

expertise unless I ask for it.

Fortunately, the small pharmacy right in downtown Bluffton is owned by

a Pharmacist who has also become a friend, and one heck of a great

guy. His was the first pharmacy in town, and he's been there longer

than any of the large number of chains that have set up shop on the

main highway. He's never once questioned any of my scripts, (unless

there's been a mistake), and he'll bend over backward to get my meds

from other pharmacies for me on those occasions when he may not have

what I need. On his day off one day a week he has a replacement come

in, and that man is just as bad as the others I avoid.

An example: The owner/pharmacist likes for us to call in a refill

ahead of time if we can, even if it's for a regular narcotic that I've

got a new refill script for - it saves me time, since he'll make it up

in advance and have it waiting when I come in. It's a small pharmacy

and this helps to keep the waiting line short. I tried calling in a

refill for my oxycodone last week when the replacement pharmacist was

on duty, when I told him what I was calling in for, he very rudely

told me that there was " no way " he'd fill that script unless I stood

in front of him with the paper in my hand. I told him that if he

looked on the computer he'd see that I'd had the same script filled

there every month for two years, but still he refused. Another time

when there was only 90 oxy's in stock he wanted me to give up my full

script for 120, with no replacement of the remaining 30. I told him

that Jim, (the owner), always let me get what they had and then would

write on the side of the container, " 30 owed " and call me when the

remainder came in. I would pay the full price at the time that I took

the first partially filled script. The replacement pharmacist said

that was against the rules, and there was no way he'd do it. Humph!!

I decided I could wait a day until Jim came back to work.

It's stuff like that that really annoys me, and makes me appreciate

actually " knowing " your pharmacist. You don't get humiliated and

lectured to in front of a store full of strangers, (or acquaintences),

and before you can open to door to leave, the staff all says " bye

Heidi, come back soon " , and you know they really mean it.

'Nuff said.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

hhessgriffeth@...

SC and SE Regional Rep

Pancreatitis Association, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinions only, and should not be substituted for consultation with

your medical professional.

>

> Jerry/NC

> ***************************************

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> >

> > Kimber,

> >

> > My pharmacist is a very conservative person. I love her to death!!

It is a

> > personal/professional opinion that 120 of vicodin a month is too

excessive.

> > Not the tylenol. She considers the narcotic too much unless you

have cancer

> > or such..

> >

>

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