Counting pain meds in pharmacy

[fntn]

I've always counted my pain medication once I got out of my pharmacy just to make sure there wasn't a problem. Fortunately there hasn't been one except for a couple of pills missing one time. But it occurred to me that once you are out of the pharmacy, finding a significant problem is now likely to unresolvable - they don't know if you are trying to pull a fast one on them or not.

Does anyone stay within eyesight of their pharmacists and do the count then? I've not done it this way before since I've been a bit too trusting and I didn't want to offend my pharmacists since we walk a tight line as it is.

Any thoughts about the best way to approach this?

[Tuckamore]

You've asked a great question. It's also a good heads up to those of us that require opiate therapy and depend on every table to help us function.

I admit I don't count every time. I do count when going to a new pharmacy. I count them for several months. If they are right on I quit counting - shame on me!

You're right. Once you leave that pharmacy you have no recourse if your count is off. You should be counting in front of a pharmacy staff but talk about alienating your pharmacy - it's a good way to do so.

I have a friend that's Percocet count was off - several times. She had been using the same pharmacy for several years but there was some newer staff. When the count was off the first time she contacted the pharmacy manager. He told her to count them every fill and let him know if they were off again. No, she did not receive the few tablets she was shorted. I told her to count right in front of them after explaining her count had been out. She's nicer than I and wouldn't do it. Indeed her count was short the next month. She called the Pharmacy Manager. Soon staff were gone from the pharmacy and her count has been correct since. Did she get the missing tablets? No!

Count your meds every month as soon as you get home. If the count is off notify the Store Manager - not the Pharmacy Manager as they could be the ones that shorted you. Once short I suggest - as I did to my friend - count your tablets in front of the pharmacy staff. I would certainly do that.

Most pharmacies have a (weight) scale. Each tablet weights x amount, 10 tablets weight xx amount and that's how your prescription is filled. Very few actually "count" anymore so there's no counting errors. The scales are so precise that your count should be right on. Human error is always a factor, mistakes happen. Protect yourself - count your meds. I think this is especially true if there is new staff or you are using a new pharmacy.  

Just my thoughts. Anyone have more comments?

~Tuck

[Serpent40]

I've been short a few times and the last one was 80 pills. I can understand doing a count in the pharmacy may make you feel awkward but that's better than being short. They have to account for all narcotic scripts and every pill that leaves the pharmacy. Once you walk out you better hope you have an honest pharmacist. An error they can find by recounting the last bottles they worked with pretty easily. I count mine every time because it's happened one too many times and human errors do occur.

[Dee1956]

This is a tough one. I can understand it. Can you tell pharmacist that you have been shorted a couple of times and ask them to let you count before leaving store? Some places double count and will circle #  once my husband was shorted over 100 pills. He called management. Luckily they checked and found there was a discrepancy, not sure how, inventory check? He was given missing pills but was very lucky. I hope others will have suggestions for you. You are so wonderful to help others when you have such pain yourself. I really appreciate you very much