Complain about a product or service

RiteAid Pharmacy Errors, Problems

Pat of Lanc., NY May 31, 2009

This isn't the first time the store gave me the wrong perscription. They gave me the wrong script last time and then they called me to pick up a script with the recording and I went to pick it up and it was the same script they had given me 2 weeks before that was wrong now I have paid for the wrong script again.

Silvana of Union, NJ May 27, 2009

On May 20, 2009 I filled a prescription for my son who is 2 years old and weighs 24 lbs. The prescription was for Augmentin ES600, I received the generic Amox TR-K CLV 600-42.9/5 susp. The label indicated that I should administer 6ML teaspoonful by mouth twice a day for 10 days. On the sixth day I noticed I was running out of the medicine so I called the pharmacy and spoke to pharmacist Kathleen.

She informed me that I was only supposed to be giving my son 3ML twice a day for 10 days. I immediately asked the pharmacist to investigate how this error could have been made and asked her to provide me with any information regarding a possible overdose. I also contacted my son's pediatrician and discussed my concerns. I was asked if my son had experienced any diarrhea, vomiting or if his behavior was different that usual. Fortunately my son did not display any of the above symptoms.

However, I am still very concerned of what could have happened and if there are any possibilities of future problems related to this overdose. The pharmacist explained that studies showed possible complications related to his kidneys and that I should discuss this with his pediatrician. I plan to follow up with his pediatrician and hope that there are no long term effects. I have been getting my son's prescriptions filled at this pharmacy since he was born. I can not imagine what could have happened had this medication been another type or if this error could have been deadly. I trusted my son's health to a professional and feel that someone at Rite Aid was not doing their job correctly. I realize that human error exist however when you are dealing with someone's life there should be numerous precautions and check points to prevent something like this from happening.

Needless to say I will no longer have my son's and my family's prescriptions filled with Rite Aid. This experience was very scary and traumatic for our family. This is our first and only child and to think that something could have happened to him because someone was negligent. I just hope that this does not happen to other families and I am thankful that so far my son seems fine; however I do plan to continue to monitor him and follow up with his pediatrician.

Marjorie of Saginaw, MI May 22, 2009

I have had this happen more than once. I am finding out that I am being overcharged for prescriptions. I have no idea where Rite Aid is coming up with the amount they are charging me because they are not billing my Blue Care Network Advantage or Medicare. They flat outright lie to me when I confront them about it. What can be done about this?? I am on SS and instead of paying 5 - 6 for a batch of medicines I am being charged in the %-30 range. I cannot afford this. When I call them about it they get downright nasty.

kathy of east meadow, NY May 21, 2009

Mark W. is the pharmicist at Rite Aid and took our prescription for fentanyl patches, the prescription was for 30 patches. When we went back to pick up the patches there was only 10 patches, we were told that we would get the rest within a few days. When I went back a few days later there was only 10 more patches that I picked up. When I called the pharmacy to pick up the rest of the patches I was told they were all picked up.

So I went down to the pharmacy and was given the run around as to where my patches were. Now they already billed the insurance company and received their payment but I still never received my last 10 patches. This all occurred within the last 2 weeks and todays date is 05/21/2009. These patches were for my husband. My husband is disabled and needs these patches for the pain he is in from his injury to his back which he has had several surguries on. Therefore he ran out of patches and is in agony from not having these patches which help to reduce his pain.

Joanna of South Lake Tahoe, CA May 11, 2009

I had a prescription transfered from the South Lake Tahoe, CA Pharmacy to the Mammoth Lakes, CA Pharmacy. I went to go pick it up 05.09.09. I walked up to the pharmacy, told the lady behind the counter my name and that I had a prescription transferred there. Without even picking her elbows up off the counter she told me my card expired. I asked her what she meant because I double checked with Rite Aid in South Lake before I left town and the lady there said everything was okay. She told me I couldn't pick up the prescription or had to pay for it in full. She made absolutely NO effort to move, check it through the computer or anything.

Today, 05.11.09 I called the Rite Aid back in Mammoth asking to speak to the Pharmacy Manager. After waiting on hold for a second, a guy picked up the phone "Hello" ... No "Hello, this is the manager" or "Hello my name is ____" or anything. Just "hello"... I asked him if he had a name. He said "John" This guy also made NO effort to be friendly or helpful right from the start. I proceeded to explain my situation and he told me he tried to bill it before I arrived and it came back and they wouldn't pay it.

When I checked with the program I get my prescription through, they said there shouldn't have been any problems just like the lady who I talked to at Rite-Aid in South Lake Tahoe told me when I transfered it as well as today (She checked it again in the computer) to see if I could pick the prescription back up. No apology, sympathy, or any effort was made from (Was this guy even really a manager?) "John the Manager." I am VERY unhappy with my experience at the Rite-Aid in Mammoth Lakes and will not be returning to the store.

Ana of Dayton, OH April 29, 2009

My husband and I both use rite-aid because we travel a lot, and it's in so many places. Our local Wilmington Pike Rite-Aid has pretty good customer service (a nice older lady, and a not-so-nice, grumpy old man). recently we were traveling to Detroit for a few days, then into Canada, and in Detroit I realized I had forgotten ALL my medication. there are three things I take daily for my fibromyalgia, and neuropathy, and there are several others I sometimes need. I went to sleep without them, woke up without them, and then we stopped at a Detroit Rite-Aid, on Van Dyke because I knew I HAD to get them before I went on into Canada, by this time I was already in a lot of pain, to the point that I was having trouble walking, talking and the pain was making me nauseous and grouchy. First none of the four people acknowledged me as I waited at the drop-off counter. I stood there for five minutes, and not until I started complaining to my husband in Spanish, did one lady turn around. First she told me there was nothing she could do. Then after me telling her this is why we use Rite-Aids, she took my name. I had to spell it for her and then got frustrated and just pulled out my driver's lisence. Another woman said, why don't you just look at her insurance card. She was very rude, and was not happy about me not wanting to come back for my prescription. I left the store to sit in the car because I was in so much pain. My husband waited for the prescriptions, then brought them out to me. First, she charged us 90 for a 3-day supply of pills when I only pay 70 for a full month's worth of pills. I know that my husband has been without his medication in strange cities many times and this has never happened to him. The pharmacist said that our insurance would not cover it and that we had to pay full price. Could 9 50mg lyrica, 3 100mg amitryptiline, and 3 20 mg cymbalta really cost 90???? Then, on top of that as we are crossing into Canada and I'm opening the bag 2 of the 3 prescriptions are completely the wrong pill! 2 out of 3! A teenager working at a fast food joint could have done better.

How do 4 people at a pharmacy not realize that they are handing out the wrong pills. The amitryptiline looked familiar because it was a lower dose I used to take. The cymbalta was completely wrong--instead of a green-Lilly-3235 pill they gave me a blue and white-Lilly -3240 which is a higher dose than what I take. I had no idea what it was at the time, and would not take it. I also would not take the wrong amitryptiline because at the time with no internet access, I was not sure what it was at all. I spent the weekend in extreme pain, going through withdrawl from my cymbalta and amitryptiline. I couldn't sleep without my medicine, and I was very grouchy from withdrawl from cymbalta.

Jeremy of Philadelphia, PA April 17, 2009

Jeremy of Philadelphia PA (04/17/09)
This past year has been hell. I have four degenerating discs in my neck ,Its very painful. After countless drugs [oxycotin, perkaset, dilaud ect.] my doctor and I found a pill that works for my pain and does not make me a zombie, great right? Wrong. My pill, morphine sulfate, is rare according to rite aid. Because I am only thirty three, most of the pharmacists look at me as though I am a drug seeking individual instead of someone with a serious medical condition. I tell the pharmacist every month, hey I will need this same prescription next month.It goes in one ear and out the other.

Some months I am told we dont have enough to fill your prescriptionI ask is there any way you could give me an emergency amount until you can fill it? I am told I could try another rite aid. That would not be so bad if I had a car. I thought rite aid was supposed to take care of its customers? Last month I went to the store around the corner from me [9910 frankford ave] and was told no we dont have your pills, but wait, didnt you get your pills at academy plaza last month? [I begged a friend for a ride, I would not have made it by closing time otherwise] why dont you go there?

Rite aid bought all the mom and pop drug stores, all the places that cared about customers. Now all thats left is rite aids, they dont care about the people because they know if you need medicine, you have to come to them. I hope this complaint is seen by the right person because the rite aid at 9910 frankford ave needs a lesson in customer service and I am sure I am not the only person that feels that way.

Every moth my heart is in my mouth when  ask can I get this filled {my morphine prescription} Some months I have to take busses or beg for rides to rite aides far from my house

Gabriel of Sacramento, CA April 9, 2009

Gabriel of Sacramento CA (04/09/09)
There have been many mishaps. I had to go without pain medication after a serious motorcycle accident. I got numerous excuses and no apology. I was told well, life don't work out that way sometime over and over again. I have had to take my Rx's back to my doctor on 5 different occasions because they refused to call the doctor. My fiance is now without medication, even after I went in and asked them if they had the medication. When I went to pick it up, they didn't have it. Here is the scarry part. I was asking for a medication named dilauted that was filled under my fiances name. He came back and said I don't have a medication for a person named dilauted, only Pamela.

Left in severe pain with out any regard for them being responsible to fix the mistake. Time and gas used to fix what they refused to fix. Paying extra when they didn't fill the Rx fully. Possible physical damage to my fiance if they don't have the medication correct today!