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Originally Posted by bettyeanne  It never fails, every time we move and have to change pharmacies, we have this same argument ... they insist generic is OK and we insist on brand!! I have even picked the prescription up and had to take it back because they had taken it upon themselves to fill it with generic! They think you are out of your mind to spend that kind of money for brand when you can get generic so much cheaper. I told one of them once, "I don't give a krap if it's $500, my finances are none of your business and the day I need you to manage them I will let you know!!" grrrrrrrr |
As a pharmacy technician of 10+ years and the daughter of a pharmacist and owner of an independent pharmacy, I think I can shed some light on this situation. In some states, and it may be that way in yours, it's law that the pharmacy fill the prescription with the lowest cost generic available. According to the
Kentucky Board of Pharmacy News bulletin..."
Kentucky law requires pharmacists to substitute and dispense US Food and Drug administration (FDA)-approved generic drugs when presented with a prescription for a brand name drug, unless otherwise instructed by the patient or his/her practitioner. Although a few exceptions to this regulation exist, it generally applies to the great majority of prescriptions for brand name drugs. Either the prescriber or patient may direct the pharmacist to forego the substitution regulation and dispense brand name medication.
The prescriber generally directs the pharmacist through a designation
written on the prescription such as ?do not substitute? or ?dispense
as written.? The patient generally does so by oral direction. The pharmacist is required to dispense brand medication when so directed." I highly suspect each and every state has something extremely similar. To avoid the frustration that you experience when changing pharmacies, call ahead to the pharmacy that you will be going to and let them know of your preference. This way, you won't have the frustration that you've had previously.
As for the pharmacy making mistakes, it really shouldn't happen. It does, but it shouldn't. Before a prescription leaves a pharmacy, no matter where it is filled, it should be verified by a licensed pharmacist for authenticity, completeness, and accuracy. Every pharmacy has liability insurance for instances that cause illness and/or death and do NOT want to have to use it, but it's there. If a pharmacy makes a mistake, it could mean that the pharmacy or pharmacist that is on duty will accumulate a violation or complaint against them with the State Board of Pharmacy. Enough of those and the Board will come and take their license to practice pharmacy away.