this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2023
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A tale of two pharmacies (lemmy.ca)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by Pxtl@lemmy.ca to c/adhd@lemmy.world
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drops in at local pharmacy

"I'm running out of my meds, can you refill them?"

"Sorry, you have to come closer to refill-day, so come back Saturday."

"Okay, I'll come back then."

...

"Okay, it's Saturday, here to refill my meds."

"... yeah, you're out of refills. We'll have to talk to your doctor."

"... but it's the weekend?"

"Oh, we'll sort it out on Monday."

...

"Okay, it's Monday, can you get in touch with my doc?"

"Sure! We'll fax that. Come back tomorrow and we'll have it sorted out."

"No, I'm on my last pill, it has to be refilled today."

"You know you're supposed to give us 48 hours notice, right?"

ಠ_ಠ

"Yes, I know. I tried."

"Okay, we'll fax them now. Come back this evening."

"Okay."

calls towards the end of the work day

"Hi, are my meds in yet?"

"What? We don't have any meds for you on file."

"No, my doctor faxed something?"

"No they didn't."

calls doctor

"We definitely faxed them. We'll fax them again."

phones pharmacy back

"Hi, are my meds in yet?"

"What? We don't have any meds for you on file."

"Can you check if you got faxed anything about my meds?"

"Oh, yes, we see that now, we got a fax. Can you come in Wednesday to pick them up?"

"No, I'm on my last pill."

sigh on phone

"You know you're supposed to give us 48 hours notice, right?"

"I tried."

"Okay, we'll get that ready for you, please hold."

...

"Sorry, we're all out of those. They've been all out for a while. It's on back-order, everybody's out."

stifles why-am-I-just-hearing-about-this-now-screaming-rage

"Uh, what do I do? I'm on my last pill."

"Okay, we've got a one week supply to give you. Can you come tomorrow?"

"I can come now."

"But we're closing in 15 minutes."

"I'm out walking the dog. I'm literally at your door."

".... Okay."

gets my one week supply

"Thanks. What do I do for next week? Will there be more then?"

"Oh no, it's really out-of-stock. But the half-dose pills aren't. We've got those, so you can just double-them. Call your doc and we'll get that sorted."

"Great."

...

frustrated and needing to get back to my life, I give it a few days. Bad mistake.

...

calling dr office

"Hi, they're out of my meds everywhere, can I get prescribed the halfsies instead?"

"Uh, your doctor has been prescribing those to a lot of people and nobody's complained yet."

"Well the pharmacy disagrees."

"The pharmacy is allowed to give you the halfsies sans scrip if they're out of the regular dose."

"I did not know that. Do they know that?"

"Whatever. They obviously don't want to without a scrip. Doc will be in tomorrow, we'll sort it out."

...

Calls pharmacy next day afternoon.

"So d'you have my meds?"

"What? We don't have any meds for you on file."

"No, I mean my doctor said they'd fax today."

"Yeah, they didn't. For what?"

"The halfsies. They also said you can do the substitution yourself when you're out-of-stock on something."

"Yeah, we can't do that, they're wrong."

"Fine. Okay, I'll call my doctor again about sending the fax."

calls doctor

"Did you send them that fax?"

"We sent them the fax again. We'll send it again again."

"Great, thanks."

at this point life intervenes, and I still have one pill for tomorrow morning - so wait until next day to call

"Hi, do you have my halfsies?"

"We can have them for you day after tomorrow."

"Day after tomorrow!? ... Sorry for raising my voice but I'm on my last pill, what happened?"

"Well, they're not in stock."

"What."

"But you can get them from other pharmacies."

"I was told they were in stock here."

"They're not."

"Fine. I'll call around."

thinks angrily about the last time this happened and scrip was lost in limbo between two pharmacies and had to get re-prescribed

Calls Other Pharmacy. On hold for 30 minutes.

"Hi, do you have these meds?"

"What? No, nobody has them."

"I mean the halfsies."

"Oh! Let me check."

on hold even longer

"Yep, we've got them. We'll call your pharmacy and get the scrip transferred."

"Great!"

gives this an hour to work out, calls my pharmacy

"Hi! Are my drugs transferred to Other Pharmacy?"

"We're just putting the scrip on hold and doing the paperwork, we'll get it sent to them in five, then call them."

"Great! I'll give them 20."

15 minutes later, call Other Pharmacy anticipating being stuck on hold for a long time.

phone picks up quickly! Yay!

"Hi! Have they transferred my scrip?"

"Let me check."

...

...

"Nope, they haven't. I'll give them a call right away. Can you call back in half an hour?"

"Okay."

(；￣д￣)

STAY TUNED FOR THE EXCITING CONCLUSION!

all 44 comments
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[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 28 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I have so many questions why do they have your scrip why do you not hold your scrip if they do not have why can't you just walk out to somewhere else i do not understand the US medical system at all.

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Canadian.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I am still terribly confused (Aussie here)

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They don't like to do paper prescriptions anymore, especially for ADHD meds, and so everything is sent back and forth direct between drs and pharmacies.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah paper is phased out here as well - it's only mentioned as an emergency fallback. I get it sms'd to me with a QR that's scanned as above (fulfillment is also updated online with any remaining repeats)

But again: i can take that scrip anywhre i please. Doesn't need to be transferred or phoned through, it belongs to me and i have absolute freedom of choice with where i get it filled.

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

If there's one thing Canada is amazing at, it's screwing up bureaucracy to make the easy things hard.

That said, I'd think the "digital ID" chuds would scream bloody murder about fully digital scrips.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Dear god why. A scrip is already tied to your ID and medical records in paper form. Digitising it just streamlines

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 11 months ago

Aussie here that completely agrees. eScripts are awesome. Have you heard of the MedAdvisor app? You can keep your scripts in it, and order to your usual pharmacy for pick up with a few clicks. Or pull up the QR codes easily if you go to a different one in person. It sends you notifications when your supply is running low too.

Also though, by the sounds of all these faxes back and forth between doctor’s office and pharmacies, I don’t think they have the same system we did before paper scripts were phased out. We have a computerised system in the background that the pharmacy can check to see if the script is in the system from the doctor’s office.

It also might just be ADHD meds that require an approval be faxed. Whereas we have SafeScript, pharmacists and doctors can log in and see the authority to prescribe.

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago (2 children)

FDA and DEA nonsense, both of whom are operating beyond their mandate.

Read about the supposed opiod crisis... When the increase in heroin/street drugs use didn't increase until after the DEA (or FDA, or whoever) limited supplies and access to pain meds like oxy, vicodin, tramadol, etc.

As a chronic pain patient, the feds can lick my sweaty redacted.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 9 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Not what's confusing me:

  • i get medication prescribed, i receive an e-script (or paper) and go to any chemist i choose. Literally any chemist

They don't have it i go somewhere else. I don't like the way they smell i go somewhere else. The scrip is literally in my control at all times. I decide to go with a guy i give them the physical copy or the QR code on the e-script to scan. They give me a little basket with my drugs and any repeat scrips and a walkthrough on the drug if needed. I fuck off. The Pharmacy literally exists to fill an order, the controls are higher up.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago

You're not wrong to be confused. It's just stupid bullshit. Laws trying to prevent the wrong people from getting medication, and insurance companies telling our doctors and pharmacies what's medically "necessary".

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

Yea, technically it works this way in the US, but OP's description sounds a lot like the incompetence/indifference of many pharmacists/docs.

They all act like doing this is difficult. I have an HMO, so it's all in-house. Even they try to tell me they can't "send" my prescription to a different pharmacy, when they're all their pharmacies, in their facilities, all part of the same network/IT structure. Like what's this "send" thing, when it's all part of my personal medical record. Either I have a script in there or I don't. It's not like it's bein, faxed around.

Some people are just lazy asshats.

[–] elephantium@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well, Canada is definitely way outside either agency's mandate...🤔

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago

Did I miss this was in Canada? Lol. Woops.

I'm sure there's similar BS there, maybe not as bad, certainly influenced by US BS in government. God knows those jackasses love to get their authoritarian claws into everything.

[–] phareous@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Controlled substances can’t be transferred and require new Rx

Also it’s all electronic, no paper prescriptions anymore

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah but.

Ok. The first point. THAT is what the fuck to me.

The scrip is issued to me. Not the pharmacy. Never the pharmacy. ME. I never need to transfer it, for i am me. It sits within my hands and i choose the pharmacist i ask to fill.

[–] phareous@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Well I live in a state where the government has to try to dictate everything they can about healthcare (without paying for anything), and thus you aren't allowed to make your own decisions about "controlled substances". The doctor and pharmacist must do all the thinking for you. And so heaven forbid you should take the prescription out of the hands of one pharmacist and drive across the street and give it to another. That just isn't tolerated

[–] nyoooom@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Funny to me that many americans were against quarantine and mask mandates because it reduced their freedom but they put up with that kind of shit.

Good luck to you internet stranger

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 20 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

I have been on hold with Other Pharmacy for 20 minutes.

edit: they faxed to the wrong number.

edit2: still not faxing it.

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 24 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I have finally received my meds.

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 11 months ago

I’m really glad to hear you’ve got your meds now. I’m sorry the past week has been such a fuck around.

[–] WHYAREWEALLCAPS@kbin.social 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

For the love of god. I know why they use fax, but it is so damn frustrating in the age of texting and email.

[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago

You need to find a better pharmacy, preferably mom and pop, with delivery. Let them come to you for permanent easy return business. ADHD patients are a goldmine for honest and well-run pharmacists.

[–] Okokimup@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I have been through this multiple times with various meds. If I could get off them all, I would. Alas, thyroid malfunction is permanent.

[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

It doesn't have to be like this though. People have to stop thinking their pharmacies can treat them like their bitch. It doesn't matter how tightly controlled stims are, mine arrive like clockwork and zero fuss on my part. They stress out more about what I need/want + getting them to me and getting to put it thru insurance and get paid $s

[–] Tangent5280@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

what do you mean thyroid malfunction is permanent? thyroid malfunction you got as a side effect of the drugs you are taking?

[–] Okokimup@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

No, I just mean I have an underactive thyroid, and I'm stuck taking medication for it the rest of my life. As opposed to some of the other meds I take that I could conceivably stop under the right circumstances.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I've experienced this shit with Kaiser's in-house pharmacy (which is even more frustrating because the doctor is literally in the same fucking building but they're faxing them), but never with Walgreens or local pharmacies.

[–] xkforce@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Go to a different pharmacy. Why on Earth are you dealing with these people?

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 7 points 11 months ago

They're three blocks from my house and open till 10pm, while all the independent ones are outside of my neighborhood and keep banker's hours.

This is still the last straw, so I'm switching to one of those.

[–] alomsimoy@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've been reading the whole thing expecting the moment you've forget about it for a week and then come back obsessively, but every few lines you remember me that you are still on meds, and I can't wrap my mind around having ADHD and being able to focus on a task for so long. I hope my doctor calls me soon to start at least the diagnosis...

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 3 points 11 months ago

Because I'm on my meds. Which is why I was treating it as urgent. I knew I didn't stand a chance at navigating this BS if they let me get past my last pill.

[–] Juju@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I've been chasing my meds for over 2 weeks and have had a similar tale of woes. Completely out of stock here but also didn't find out until I had already faffed around for a few days too. I walked into my Dr's finally and said to receptionist please help as this is pointless. She assured me pharmacy team would get hold of me. They haven't. I've just given up at this point.

[–] clegko@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Do you have a Costco near you? They just... do all of this shit for me. Pills out of stock? They'll call around to other Costcos in the area to see if they have any and get it transfered, usually same day or next day at the latest. Worst case, they get mailed in from the main distro center. I haven't had an issue with my Vyvanse (generic now, and no issue either), or my Adderall and Ritalin before that.

[–] WHYAREWEALLCAPS@kbin.social 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I just got on Adderall at 54, with all I heard I figured I'd have to hunt it down. Nope, my regular pharmacy had it. Scared what it'll be like next month.

[–] clegko@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I think it'll probably be fine. If a pharmacy has it in stock for a new prescription, they'll likely have it in stock for refills.

Also, congrats! Late-age diagnosis is awesome. I wish I could have been on this earlier in my life, but I'm so glad I have it now.

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

That's what I was scared of. I knew if my meds ran out I would not be in the frame is mind needed to persist through this bullshit.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee 2 points 11 months ago

Which med is in short supply? Plz don't say mine.... I'm on a 90 day refill and scared

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

When a shrink was excitedly adjusting some meds she gave out - always upward, only upward - I feared this very thing.

Look, I just needed a diagnosis so my GP could write me a "let CG write code where he writes code best in case that wasn't obvious you fucknut" note, and I don't need to cope through another few decades WITH pharma candy instead of like the preceding decades where I did without. I don't need these behavioural mods that are listed directly as side effects and I don't need the dosage RAISED in response. So I'm done.