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CVS Prescription Errors

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It's estimated there are as many as 7,000 deaths annually in the United States from incorrect prescriptions and pharmacy regulators say the problem is getting worse as the number of prescriptions increases and the number of pharmacists decreases.

But surely a big company like CVS has a way to reduce the number of errors to nearly zero? We'd like to think so but the accounts we hear aren't very encouraging. In addition to the general mishaps below, we have a growing collection of consumer complaints about potentially serious errors including wrong counts, wrong dosage, the wrong drug and mistaken identity. The service pharmacy patients and their caregivers receive also leaves a lot to be desired.

Nancy of Riverview, FL December 6, 2008

Nancy of Riverview FL (12/06/08)
My dr. ordered 90 pills, 3 months supply. When I went to pick them up there was only 1 month supply. Then a couple of weeks later my brother went to pick up his Humulin. The Dr. ordered 10 viles, there were only 5 in the bag. He questioned them and said the prescription was for 10.

I explained to them I wanted the 3 month supply cause my insurance lets me pay for 2 months and get 1 month free. They said they usually do not do that on high cost prescriptions. They did fill it, but I had to wait another 15 mins for them. The out come for my brother was they said oh yes, you can have 10 viles, they went back and got them and then said there is no extra charge. If we would not have questioned them both of us would have been shorted and had to pay extra money to get the rest of our medicine.

Judith of Ashburn, VA November 16, 2008

Judith of Ashburn VA (11/16/08)
I ordered 3 perscriptions, 1 from our previous CVS-a refill, 2 refills. The pharmacist who took the order said there would be no problem and they would be ready when my husband picked them up. He came home with only one. They said they forgot to give him one when I called, that they were so busy with only 2 of them working, and that my perscription was only good for 6 months and it had expired even though I had not used all of the refills.

Now I have to pay another copay, travel another total 150 miles to see my doctor to get updated medication even though I had not used all of my medication. They force you to fill medication before you need it so you do not need to see a doctor and pay a copay. It is cheaper!!!!When I transferred my new paper medications, I asked to make sure that I was OK on everything for at least 6 months before I had to see the Doctor and they looked over everything and said yes. I have only used this drugstore-2 times.

Sharleen of Bellmawr, NJ November 11, 2008

Sharleen of Bellmawr NJ (11/11/08)
I have regular perscriptions with cvs for 5 years..I have a condition called RSD one of them happen to be neurontin generic..This month they gave me the wrong dose ..and yes it was higher..I get 600mg 3 x a day...they gave me 800 mg 3 x s a day.. they both look the same so no need for me to think it was different...well it sure was...i went to pick up another perscription and the girl at the counter says oh we gave you the wrong neurontin..I said that explains my week she said bring back the old bottle and the paper that was attached and i can get my new one

I said oh nooo u will give it to me now...you messed up i have been sick all week due to ur mishap and i dont know if i may have had a seizure or a few...this is not right...she gave me the script and said ohhh we called you several time ...i asked when ...no response on details i went home checked the phone id they called once left no urgent message at all..

I felt very tired, disoriented, my upper lip on the left side was quivering out of control.concentration was hard ..my fiance kept saying i wasnt listening to him on things he had said...I thought it was maybe a seizure ...I go to the doctors on the 17th of nov.2008 to see what went wrong..I may have had a mini stroke ...please help me i am concerned!

Deborah of Elmore, AL November 10, 2008

Deborah of Elmore AL (11/10/08)
I was administered an incorrect milligram of blood pressure medicine and took it for over 2 weeks. CVS could care less and shows no remorse, care or concern. They will not return phone calls and act like nothing has happened. I feel this is a serious matter and could have caused great danger to me and my health.

It could have killed me.

Barbara of South Lyon, MI November 7, 2008

Barbara of South Lyon MI (11/07/08)
I have been taking the pill cozarr for sometime now for my blood pressure. The reason I was put on cozaar was that I was told by my doctor that it would help protect my kidneys as well. I have a kidney deasease.

While I was taking my dosage every night as usual I notice that the pill zize was different. I went to another pharmacy and ask them to tell me the difference between the size of the pills. He told me that one was for 50 mg and one is for 100mg which I am suppose to be taking. I have been taking my blood pressure at home since that what the doctor wants me to do, and had another water pill to get my blood pressure under control more. I am starting to think its becasause of the medicine being wrong.

I don't know what to do with the pills I have now. I am so upset about this, that I just don't want to go back to the pharmacy and tell them what I think. They could have killed me! So here I sit with the pills and not knowing what to do. HELP! Blood pressure not right which can cause me to have more kidney damage if not under control.

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