Walgreens upsets me, big time!
I've written about them before and who knows why I haven't switched pharmacies yet. It might be because their drive-thru is convenient or it might be because I'm lazy but I can tell you for sure at this point that I'll be switching pharmacies for sure now.
This issue started off a few weeks ago when I was almost out of my heart medication, Metoprolol. This particular medication had been recalled and while I was waiting in line... I overheard one of the pharmacy techs who was working the drive-thru lane say "Oh great - another Metoprolol person and now I'm gonna get yelled at. Yay me!" Then she walked up to the window and said loudly "We still haven't received our replacement shipment of your medication so you can either wait or buy the brand instead, Toprol, for about double the price". The person in their car was very nice about it and decided to wait so when the other employee asked what they could do for me, I told him that I needed the same prescription refilled as the patient in the drive-thru so it sounded like I should wait for mine too. I just told him I'd wait until their replacement shipment came in so they guy said they'd call me when it came in.
A few days later I realized that I should have just paid double for the brand because my arrythmia was getting pretty bad again. I went back in Friday night, got the brand medication and while there I asked them to refill my birth control pills. She verified which ones they were and said that they'd be ready the next day. I heard her ask her boss what to do because I didn't have any refills left and I thought that was really weird because I know I had at least a couple left. The guy just told her to run it anyway so I left and figured they'd call me the next day when it was filled.
I never got a call though and I needed to start my new pack Monday night so yesterday I called them and was unable to get any help at all from anyone. I was put on hold for quite some time and the call ended up being disconnected. I tend to get migraines and my daily headaches are much more painful & intense during my period so it's important for me to not miss any pills. Because of how Walgreen's handled this refill, I wasn't able to start my new pack on Monday and ended up with a migraine for 2 days!
Today I called them again, received no help and then logged on to their website only to see that they refilled the prescription yesterday (never got a call!) and it wasn't even filled for the right medication! They switched me to something called 'Ocella' without even asking me and didn't even contact my current doctor to get the approval for it. My current prescription didn't expire till June this year so there was no reason for them to even make any changes and they called the ob/gyn I had when I was pregnant. I don't even go to her anymore and my last birth control prescription was given to me by my primary care physician. It just doesn't make any sense to me. Sure, I'll be saving some money if I start taking Ocella instead but Ocella is the generic for Yasmin... not YAZ, the pill I take.
I used to take Yasmin but it wasn't giving me all the benefits I needed so I switched from Yasmin to Yaz. After taking Yaz I noticed a HUGE difference! How can one medication be a substitution for 2 medications that are different from each other?
I think it's VERY wrong that Walgreens not only switched me to a new medication without even asking me if it was OK, but they didn't even call my CURRENT doctor to get approval!
Seems like EVERY time I get a prescription filled at Walgreen's, it's a hassle. There's always something that goes wrong and this time, it's affected my health.
Why didn't I switch pharmacies when I said I was going to?
How do YOU feel about Walgreen's? Have you had similar experiences with their pharmacy department? Do any of you take Yasmin, Yaz or Ocella? I'd love to hear your thoughts & experiences. Thanks!
~ Faith
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Comments: 37
1) Not every pharmacist is the same. Have you talked to the pharmacy manager at that Walgreens or filled out a feedback form (the address is on your receipt)? I asked a question once and had an answer within 24 hours.
2) Doctors have to mark a prescription whether or not it is ok to substitute. If they do not mark "brand only", substitution is allowed ... and they do not need to check with the doctor. If you have RX insurance, they may even determine which generic or formulation you get, over-riding the doctor.
3) I don't know where you live, but in Colorado, you can ask that another Walgreens fill your RX if yours is out of the drug and send it over through their inter-pharmacy system. If you are out of a heart med, its worth asking for that.
Hope everything gets sorted out for you.
I wish I had the guts to cut up their charge card.
Now I just get my scripts filled on base, or if they don't have them there, we use a locally owned one here.
My sister had a little bit of trouble with Walgreens, too. Now she uses Target, and hasn't had any problems there.
I use Yaz 28 day pills... did you know they have stuff in them to help ward off mood swings? I am amazed some guy did not think of putting vallume or some other happy drug in them before now.
I really like Yaz, and have used it for about 1 1/2 years so far. I love the 3 to 4 day thing. Much nicer then 1 to 2 weeks :) HA.
I don't have to take the pill anymore...thank goodness! I'm horrible about remembering to take it.
When my daughter was really young, she had a prescription she was going to have to take for a few years. It was too thick and sweet, though, and was making her gag. I called the local pharmacist we were using to find out if we could change the flavor, and he was really rude about it. Like he knew he had us over a barrel, and he didn't care what she had to go through. I called walmart's pharmacy to ask them if they knew anything we could do, and they were really nice. That pharmacist said it came flavored, and theirs was also bubblegum, same as the one here, but if I checked other pharmacies someone should have another flavor. Bimart did, and I used their pharmacy for a few years with no complaints. When she didn't need that script anymore we switched to Walmart. They were always great with us, in the above and beyond variety. When the Rays Food Place in our little bitty town opened a pharmacy, dh switched his there because it's closer,and he's the driver - not a good idea for him to have to run out of town to the wal-mart when he needs something - they have also been terrific.
Wishing you luck!
It was for something that I won't take a generic and they would not refund me or give me the correct (name brand) drug. I just got another script from my doc and went to the local supermarket pharmacy. I've never had a problem with them but it costs me more to have scripts filled monthly instead of every 3 months. :-(