I Can't Prove Anything
By Amber
@AmbiePam (121092)
United States
December 30, 2020 5:16pm CST
I take pain pills, and I have for years. About three or four years ago I changed pain management doctors, and this one is crazy strict, which is annoying in some ways (I missed a vacation on one of his random in person pill counts.), and good in others (he encourages us to skip pills in case we are ever snowed in, got sick we'd have extra).
So today I noticed the pharmacy shorted me five pills. I got it a couple of weeks ago, and didn't think there was a reason to count them. So I am short a few days worth of pain pills, and I find this frustrating. If I got a call for a random pill count I'd be short.
Now that I know I'll just skip a few more, which isn't a huge problem because I'm used to doing that sporadically. But I feel like now I need to count the pills at the pharmacy so it never happens again. You might say why not tell them? Because I doubt they'd believe me. There is an opioid epidemic which is partly why my doctor is so strict. Also, I didn't notice right away, and why would I?
This happened a couple years ago, where I was shorted nine pills, and I just changed pharmacies. What do you guys think? I'm definitely going to mention it to my doctor even though I didn't tell him the last time. It just stinks not to be believed.
18 people like this
19 responses
@Juliaacv (56374)
• Canada
30 Dec 20
I noticed inconsistencies in 1 of my prescriptions a few years back, and I advised the head pharmacist of this.
After that he assured me that it was only him that filled my prescriptions, but the damage had been done.
My doctor always gave me 3 months worth of pills, thru refills, the ones that I take twice a day should run out at the same time and the ones that I take daily should run out at the same time. But that isn't the case, and its difficult to keep track of how many refills on have on what.
Speak privately to the pharmacist, you pay for those pills, your doctor ordered them, you should have them in the bottle when you leave.
7 people like this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
2 Jan 21
I take 14 meds and I have tried to get them all at one time--I get the 3 month supply also (saves a lot of money)--but after all these years I gave up! I did get it down to 8 at one time and 6 another! :O)
2 people like this
@kaylachan (84867)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Dec 20
That drives me up the wall. I have the opposite problem. I have far too many. Which is fine. Better to have too many, than not enough. Especially when it comes to pain pills. I would deffently talk to your doctor. I know how frustrating it can be. If your doctor won't work with you, you can talk to your insurance company and look into getting a referral for another doctor who will listen to you.
4 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
2 Jan 21
I guess it's good you have a strict doctor but he made you cancel a vacation for his random check? That doesn't seem fair to me.
I use over the counter pain meds when I get the wounds on my foot and overall they work well. Right now I don't need them as the wounds are closed up.
You may want to ask the pharmacy for their policy for shorted pills. I don't know how you'd count them there unless they would recount them in front of you?
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
2 Jan 21
I know. I was devastated because I had gone on vacation with my family, and they lost money because they had to make the hours and hours trip, and lost hotel money too. The doctor office said I couldn't prove where I was, but there a couple of ways I could prove it. What was doubly frustrating, I had an appointment with him five days later. He actually did the pill count when my appointment was so close. I cried because I wasted my dad's money. We hadn't been anywhere since my mom had dementia. My dad and his wife were very gracious about it.
It might be a good idea for them to recount them in front of me.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
3 Jan 21
@MarshaMusselman I did, a year ago. I was going to go to Missouri, and I told him, begging him not to call me in. Unfortunately, it was the morning the country shut down due to Covid.
But I'm trying again in March, and you can be sure I'll mention it again this time too.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
3 Jan 21
@AmbiePam if you are able to go on another vacation maybe you could tell your Dr beforehand and maybe he'd leave you alone while you're gone.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
31 Dec 20
I did that once at the other pharmacy, counted them out. The other pharmacy also gave me a bottle of pills (anti depressants) that had been opened prior, and I showed them that. There were 4 pills missing for that medication. Which pushed me to the other pharmacy too. They apologized for that one.
Like 20 years ago I actually got a pill bottle with no label or anything! I notified corporate on that as well as talking to the pharmacist. Then later, they gave me 296 refills on yet another medication. Isn't that crazy?
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169568)
• United States
4 Jan 21
I definitely would always count AT the pharmacy. It could be a mistake. I would not want to have to be responsible for counting pills all day. It COULD also be a pharmacy employee pilfering. Protect yourself.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
2 Jan 21
I learned a long time ago--from a pharmacist!!!--to count pills!!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
1 Jan 21
I can understand the need to battle the opioid crises, but there are people who need the medicines and never abuse them. I hope you don't have to suffer needlessly. How are your migraines? I'm so thankful that the Botox injections I got in October finally started working. I haven't gone this long without a headache since two years ago.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
1 Jan 21
@AmbiePam I agree. It's the only thing that stopped my headaches. I go the end of Jan for the next set.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (121092)
• United States
1 Jan 21
He wants to make sure his patients aren't taking more pain pills than they should. So, if he randomly calls you in (you get 24 hour notice), and you don't have the amount of pills you should, he terminates you as a patient right on the spot.
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
8 Jan 21
Sorry you weren't given the right amount
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
31 Dec 20
@AmbiePam
I do not feel it will help talking to your doctor about it. I found out the hard way talking to someone that will not listen or understand is not worth it. I wish I had a solution for you. I hope the other pharmacy is better than the one that shorted you.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209132)
• United States
31 Dec 20
I think if your pharmacy isn't trusthworthy changing would be a smart idea.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98106)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Dec 20
I think you should speak up and let your doctor know and figure out how to avoid this even if you have to count those pills before you leave the pharmacy I mean if you need them then you should have as many as the prescription says there should be
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3364)
• United States
31 Dec 20
You should do what you are doing AND let the pharmacy know. If it is was a mistake/miscount they will be more alert. If someone in the pharmacy is cheating they will still be more alert.
Also, it is not just your doctor. The rules have changed drastically the last couple or so years as regards pain meds. They simply can not prescribe as they used to. In many ways that is a very good thing. In others not so much.
Unfortunately these rules while serving a great purpose also makes everyone look like a villian.
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
31 Dec 20
It's really hard to get pain pills these days. I would have told the pharmacy anyway...and tell your doctor. I am fortunate because I see my doctor every 4 months and only get one refill of 30 pills. I ration them out; so she never feels I am abusing them. Have a safe and Happy New Year's Eve and New Year.
1 person likes this
