[marvholly]

If you have an Rx at CVS (or anywhere else) COUNT YOUR PILLS!!!

I have ONE Rx I fill monthly (30 pills per insurance) at CVS. FOUR times in the 8 fills I have been taking this Rx it has been SHORT 1-2 pills.

I complained in Jan to the store & pharmacy mgrs but was STILL short 2 pills on my 3/30 refill. I then escalated the complaint to the DM who passed it up the ladder to corp.

Bottom Line:
CVS corp is passing this off as an unusual, one-off issue and REFUSING to do anything. I am moving my Rx and filing complaints w/my insurance, medicare, medicaid,.........and EVERY other agency I can think up.

ETA: I would be interested in knowing if I am just the victim of a bad tech or this is a pervasive issue. IF you find yiourself short, please do file complaints w/CVS corp so I don't continue to look like an idiot.

[couponfiend]

wow I have always thought I was paranoid about thinking i should count my pills wherever I buy them. I get a 90 count prescription at a supermarket and I swear sometimes I think it seemed short. I never remember to count and when I am paying $1 a pill I dont want to be shorted. I thought they put the pills into an automatic counter not like the old days. I would definitely complain and be sure to tell corporate why I was changing my prescription. I think somebody could be skimming off the top and in this economy I wouldnt be surprised. Hey, everything adds up for them.

[wyattsmom]

I have a family member who is in law enforcement. These days, law enforcement agencies are having just as many issues with prescription drugs, as they are "street drugs." If you have taken the proper steps to alert the store managers and still nothing has been done, then I think that you should make a "formal" complaint to your local law enforcement agency. The DEA (drug enforcement agency) may follow up to make sure that the pills are not being skimmed from customers' orders and then being sold on the streets. Or someone at the pharmacy may have a drug problem themselves. Hopefully it is just an honest mistake, but you never know.

[coffeewench]

This is what turned me off to CVS when they first opened in our area. I honestly would never use their pharmacy again if it wasn't for the great retail store!

I had a prescription that had 3 pills missing and several pills were crushed/broken. I opened the bag as I was leaving the pharmacy to grab a pill, opened the bottle and noticed it, went right back and the pharmacist actually SCREAMED at me to get out of his store. I was extremely nice and calm and wasn't asking for MORE pills, I just wanted to make them aware of the fact that someone in the back was taking pills and they should keep an eye on things. He threatened to call security on me! It was one of the most bizarre experiences. I never called corp or complained at the time (just didn't occur to me, I just took my business elsewhere) but I did call a friend of mine who is a pharmacist and he said it was an unfortunate reality that a lot of pharmacists have drug problems.

That guy isn't there anymore, not sure if it's coincidental, but yeah, you're not alone!

[coffeewench]

duplicate

[babynumber_2]

wow I never really thought about this :-( I'm sorry this happened

[Laura86]

For CVS corp to blow that off is very odd and bad. This is not an okay whatever kind of situation these medications have to be counted exactly. Inventory is done all the time to make sure pills arn't missing. It might have something to do with the medication, controlled substances I'm sure they care about miscounts a lot more then say a prescription allergy medication. Your insurance will not be happy whatever it is because there getting charged for 30 days so you better get 30 days. BTW you never look like an idiot for reporting something like this, you look like an intelligent consumer who keeps up on things must of us should, but don't.

[marvholly]

Yes, I KNOW they do use automatic pill counters at CVS, BUT my Rx is an unusual shape and thickness. In fact back w/my FIRST complaint the head pharmacist ‘promised’ my pills would be hand counted and my Rx marked to require.

While I am ‘only’ paying $3/month for my Rx I am TOTALLY ticked off that both I and my insurance (who is paying nearly 4x as much) are being ‘shortchanged.

Wyattsmom
My Rx is not for anything close to a ‘street’ drug. It is a high blood pressure med.

Coffeewench
Please, please file an on-line complaint w/CVS corp at the web site being as specific as possible as to dates, problems & shortages. I NEED backup and tell them EXACTLY why you no longer do/will use CVS for Rx. I am currently being classified as a crank!!

Laura86
Thank you.

[cherielynn09]

Just had an experience last month with pill shortage....it was FIFTEEN pills short.

Of course, I didn't open until I got home...immediately called the pharmacist, who was very nice and had the other 15 pills for me when I returned the next day.

I just picked up a prescription yesterday....and didn't think about counting it....but I am going to START counting every prescription I have filled there!!!

[marvholly]

My head pharmacist is alos VERY nice and makes goo every time I am shortchanged.

However, this does NOT make up for the fact (from the number of responses I have gotten from only 3 web site postings in 6 hours) that this seems to be a corp wide, pervasive issue.



cherielyn
Even though you picked up the Rx yesterday, count it today. I got mine on 3/30 and chcked it on 4/1.
ETA: even though the pharmacist 'fixed' your issue what about your time & gas costs? Were you compensated? thought not. INSIST on it. A gift card for $5-10 is not out of line w/gas at nearly $5/gal and a decent, livable wage at $20/hour.

What about my 93 y/o dad? He has BCBS and could not reliably/reproducably count his pills in 5 tries. He lives in a senior community, they order his pills and if this is happeneing on a regular basis (as I suspect from 3 new threads on 3 forums) it is costing him BIG time in co-pays over a year.

Everyone, Count EVERYTHING, EVERY time!! If you are diabetic then count your strips, Count your syringes. Make SURE your insulin vials are FULL. I have become a MAJOR skeptic.

[Quazel]

I had an incident about 3.5 years ago that made me very wary of CVS pharmacy and it was nothing like this. I had a Rx filled for my prenatal vitamins while I was pregnant. It was a three month supply, 3 bottles. When I got to the second bottle, the inner safety seal was open about 1/4 of the way. I grew up in the 80s with people poisoning drugs in stores and it is very much ingrained in me to not take anything with a safety seal broken. I called the pharmacy and the pharmacist told me not to worry about it. I told her it made me uncomfortable for my unborn baby and she responded that they sometimes use partial bottles so she had probably counted the pills. I explained that the seal wasn't open enough to allow any pills in or out. She then said sometimes the safety seals lift when you open the bottle. That sounds really safe! I asked for a replacement bottle but I was leaving for vacation and they couldn't get it in in time and she kept telling me it was no big deal.

I got extremely sick on vacation (before using the new bottle) and ended up at a CVS in AZ. While there, I explained the issue to the pharmacist. They didn't have them in stock but ordered me a bottle without even taking my name and told me to bring my open bottle the next day and they would exchange it. I was too sick to go the next day so DH took it. They were really nice about it. I wished he had asked them to look at it and get their opinion on the open seal but he didn't. I always check and double check my prescriptions now because I do not feel our pharmacist has any concern for us. Unfortunately, it is the only pharmacy near us other than RA and every time I have been in our RA the staff has been rude so I won't go there either. I used this story on the FB MyCVS story!

[bnorris10]

I use walgreens or walmart and never been shorted any pills

[Terrib1000]

I had 1/2 a bottle of vicodin subsituded for Tylenol. I didn't notice right away because it said 2 different manufacturers. I called and the manager told me that couldn't happen. They are the only store that carries my pain meds. So watch everything.

[coffeewench]

Marv, it was several years ago--maybe even four--I couldn't even begin to give an accurate day/time. I'm sorry . The guy hasn't been there for a long time anyhow.

My med *was* a highly sought after schedule Ii medication and it didn't surprise me. Based on the pharmacist's crazy behavior, I can't rule out drug addiction being on his plate!

[Kaz1216]

Originally Posted by marvholly

If you have an Rx at CVS (or anywhere else) COUNT YOUR PILLS!!!

I have ONE Rx I fill monthly (30 pills per insurance) at CVS. FOUR times in the 8 fills I have been taking this Rx it has been SHORT 1-2 pills.

I complained in Jan to the store & pharmacy mgrs but was STILL short 2 pills on my 3/30 refill. I then escalated the complaint to the DM who passed it up the ladder to corp.

Bottom Line:
CVS corp is passing this off as an unusual, one-off issue and REFUSING to do anything. I am moving my Rx and filing complaints w/my insurance, medicare, medicaid,.........and EVERY other agency I can think up.

ETA: I would be interested in knowing if I am just the victim of a bad tech or this is a pervasive issue. IF you find yiourself short, please do file complaints w/CVS corp so I don't continue to look like an idiot.

It seams over the course of time a customer could from time to time get short changed a pill or two accidentally. But if this has happened to you more than once than maybe you could count your 30 pills before leaving the pharmacy. Do it in front of an employee. Plus I'm sure the pharmacies have cameras also. If they don't that's crazy considering how strict they are just to get a bottle of Allegra D.

[botkyrka]

I usually check my prescriptions before I leave the store, but more often not. It feels like I don't trust them to count out the right amount right there in the store.

I transferred 1 of my medicines to another store and I didn't count the pills. When I had 1week left of my 30 day supply, the bottle was empty. I didn't go back to the store, because I can't prove I didn't get them all.

I thought it was maybe an accident, but now when I'm reading that it has happened to other people, I will start to count my pills again.

[samshua]

I have to say I don't think this is a CVS issue. I think it happens at other pharmacies as well. No loyalty to CVS but I have been shorted at Walgreens many times so maybe it is a problem at your local pharmacy but I don't think it is all CVS pharmacies. Also, a previous poster made the comment about how often they do inventory and from my understanding (BIL is a pharmacist at Wags) they don't do inventory as often as you would think.

[shelly2234]

My husband had a tooth pulled awhile ago and I swear 1/2 the pills were different and when I asked about it they told me they had to substitute the generics on 1/2 of them because they ran out of the regular ones. I didn't think much of it until the next day when my husband was saying that the pills they gave him were not working. I told him to try one of the non generic pills and it took the pain away and zonked him out in an hour. Later that night I was telling my sister about it on the phone and she said that the pills he was prescribed was a favorite of drug addicts!!! I could not beleive it so I went online and found out that the so called "generic" pill they substituted him with was actually medicine for menstrual cramps and bloating! I checked like 5 times to make sure what I was seeing was true. I then printed the page with the pill on it, got me a peice of folded up tape and stuck the pill on the paper....then headed out to the pharmacy enraged. I told them what happened and can you beleive that the losers had the audacity to suggest that maybe someone (me) switched them up when I left the pharmacy! I told them that was fine and I called the police and filed a report. Strange enough 3 people at that pharmacy quit the next week. I've never been back. Who would seriously even think about taking someone's meds and switching them anyway? They could have killed someone. Dirty dirty dirty

[breaIam]

Originally Posted by marvholly

If you have an Rx at CVS (or anywhere else) COUNT YOUR PILLS!!!

I have ONE Rx I fill monthly (30 pills per insurance) at CVS. FOUR times in the 8 fills I have been taking this Rx it has been SHORT 1-2 pills.

I complained in Jan to the store & pharmacy mgrs but was STILL short 2 pills on my 3/30 refill. I then escalated the complaint to the DM who passed it up the ladder to corp.

Bottom Line:
CVS corp is passing this off as an unusual, one-off issue and REFUSING to do anything. I am moving my Rx and filing complaints w/my insurance, medicare, medicaid,.........and EVERY other agency I can think up.

ETA: I would be interested in knowing if I am just the victim of a bad tech or this is a pervasive issue. IF you find yiourself short, please do file complaints w/CVS corp so I don't continue to look like an idiot.

Call your insurance (among the other calls you need to make) and file a fraud complaint. Seriously...they are loosing money too in this situation. Also file a complaint with your states department of insurance. This is unacceptable.

[marvholly]

I do intend to file a BUNCH of complaints. I just have to calm down enough to write my letter (in word so I can just copy/paste to all) in a logical, dispassionate manner.

My insurance company (United Health Care) is certainly on my list as is Medicare, Medicaid, State AG, and the state agencies that license pharmacies and pharmacists.

[Shoppinglizzard]

I get birth control pills in a 3 month supply. The last time I filled my prescription I was shorted a whole pack. Not that hard to count 3 packs. I know as a nurse when I dispense medication I have to do 6 safety checks. I know CVS is busy but I would think they have safety checks in place too so I wonder why so many mistakes.

[missdanalu]

I've never thought to count the pills in a prescription. Guess that would be a good idea there's never been any discrepencies that I've noticed.

[kat50]

This is certainly not just a cvs issue. It happens much more than people realize, especially with certain drugs. I get a pain med script monthly and have had it come up short from 3 different pharmacies. First time was at Walgreens and only a couple so didn't think too much of it that time. Next though was at Target and it was 20 pills short! My Dr is out of town so I stopped during the holidays to shop and figured I would get my script filled while I was at it. I remember the tech acting sort of odd. I went up to get my meds and he said they still had to be counted & he just seemed nervous or something. Then when I came back to pick it up later there was still something odd about him. Of course I didn't know him from Adam so still didn't think much of it. Then a week or so later I was counting out my pills into a daily dosage thing and realized how many I was short. I counted back and sure enough I was short 20 darn pills. I was furious but nothing I could do about it. Then my local pharmacy (where I never had a problem before) sold to Freds and I got shorted 10 pills one month. I did call and complain and the pharmacist swore their count was correct & their inventory was right too. Well, if someone took the pills AFTER the count was done sure their inventory would be correct. The original pharmacist is still there so I spoke to her & she said they would note my account to be counted in front of me each time from then on. When she fills it I don't think about it but when anyone else does they count them in front of me, put the bottle in the bag & staple it shut. I haven't had a problem since. SO, tell them you want your meds counted in your presence from now on. If they don't agree go elsewhere.

I was talking with another patient at my pain Dr's office and she said she had threatened to call the police on one pharmacy because her script was short. She said it has happened to her more than once. This is especially true with pain meds. Someone told me that my pills sell for up to $10 a pill on the street!! Oh and a pharmacist at the Walgreens in a town close to us got arrested a few months ago for this very thing. He was stealing pills from people.

[DivyneSavings]

Being a pharmacist (for a retailer other than CVS), I found it nearly impossible to not comment on this post. I also agree with previous posters that this is not just a CVS issue. Having this occur once is not uncommon, but having multiple miscounts is not acceptable. While I don't agree with CVS corporate's stance on turning a blind eye, I am a firm believer that it should never have to escalate to the corporate level. It is the job of the pharmacist currently in charge or pharmacy manager to make things right and set the record straight. Not excusing the mistakes that occur in the pharmacy, but one fact cannot be overlooked, and that is that behind the pharmacy counter are humans. They are not perfect and they make mistakes like any other person. Not all pharmacies have robots available to dispense medications, and not all pills are suitable for such machines. Not to mention technology fails us all the time, so even the robots are not 100% mistake proof. The average consumer typically has no idea the amount of steps it takes to process their prescription from start to finish. Polypharmacy, budget cuts, impatient pharmacy patients, understaffing, etc. are all things that contribute to these unfortunate mistakes. Though we strive to improve workflow and eliminate mistakes, they do happen. I just think it's important to examine both sides of the story and the factors beyond the pharmacist's or technician's control that may lead to errors occurring. Just my $0.02.

[cringe]

It's not just CVS, it has happened to me at Walgreens. It's a shame, but anything involving people... y'know.

Once I realized it wasn't just a one-pill-honest-mistake now and again, I let them know I was counting. I use the drive-up, but told them I'll pull up enough so that the next person can go (I had 4 prescriptions, and one was for #270-- a lotta counting!), but that I'd be staying within sight of the window *while I was counting my pills*

...and it stopped happening.

I do, however, want to bring it to everyone's attention that pills CAN be disappearing right in your own home. We should probably never assume that our children (or other relatives, friends, neighbors, babysitters, etc!) would "never do such a thing" (because they are human, after all!) Even if someone wouldn't take the medication themselves, it can be a temptation simply because of how much money can be made on such a tiny object. Kids who are on medication for attention deficit disorder often sell their own medication (it's available like aspirin on college campuses). Some sell Mom's or Grandpa's pain medication. It's sad and scary, but our country's current "drug problem" is no longer primarily "street" drugs, but pharmaceuticals. Heck, you know when gangs are turning to Medicare fraud and pharmaceutical sales, there has been a drastic change!

I was reluctant to bring this up at all, but then thought-- if it puts the possibility on a parent's radar enough to prevent ONE child from tumbling down the rabbit hole, it's well worth my squirming in discomfort!