I live in PA and have a 13 year old son with prescriptions for Vyvance and Strattera. I have been told on a number of occasions that I can’t fill his Vyvance prescription because “it’s too early”, but I can’t seem to get a straight answer about when I can fill it. I like to get it taken care of a business day or two ahead of time, in case the pharmacy doesn’t have the dosage, or there’s an insurance issue, both of which have happened on more than one occasion. The pharmacist made an exception when we were going away for a long weekend, but he got angry at me and I’m not sure I understand why. When my son went away to summer camp for a week and I needed to make sure he had 7 days worth of meds, I thought the pharmacist was going to have a stroke.
I am truly trying to follow the rules, but I can’t get anyone to tell me what the rules are. It seems to differ from pharmacist to pharmacist at the same pharmacy. I always go to the same Walgreens, so am a known customer. Is there a law that regulates the timing of the refilling of this medication? I don’t feel like I’m being treated like a criminal, as some do, but I feel like I’m being given the run-around, and no one seems to care about the importance of the patient having his medication.
Any advice you can offer would be appreciated!
I guess that many of these chain pharmacists must believe that everyone’s life is a “perfect circle” and that there is no “bumps in the road” of a pt’s life.. especially those suffering from subjective disease and in this particular case a 13 y/o kid.
Since this 13 y/o is probably in junior high and just imagine all the people around him (teachers, classmates and his family at home) that are going to have to deal with his compromised “quality of life” if he goes without his medication(s) for a couple days.
What if he flunks a test because he couldn’t concentrate enough to study or can’t focus while taking the test.. because of his lack of medication ? There has been incidents of the cops called on kids who have become unruly in class or school and it is not outside of the possibility for a ADD/ADHD kid off their medications.
There can be consequences to pts who attempt to get their prescriptions filled at a store whose pharmacists are always “by the numbers”… medication not in inventory, insurance problems, floater pharmacist who seem to “never be comfortable”.
Filed under: General Problems
I called the College Of Pharmacists here in Ontario and was told that a pharmacist must use common sense when filling prescriptions. One need not be completely out of the medication to get it filled especially if the pharmacy is expected to be closed for a day or two
You need to deal with one pharmacist. Talk to the pharmacist that does not give you any problems about your childs situation. Ask the pharmacist if it is alright with them for you to call and ask if they will be working the day you will be in and if they will be working what their hours are.