How to file a complaint with Osco Pharmacy for refusing to give me medications?

Question

Ok, this requires more details. I suffer from Epilepsy and I have been on Keppra and Klonopin 1mgx3/daily. I have been on these medications for 4 years now. I just recently transferred from Walgreens to Jewel/Osco. My doctor noted that I can not have generic Klonopin, so when I filled it, they didn't have many in stock so they gave me a few to hold me over. Finally, on October 15th, they filled my script, which was a total of 74 pills. or 24 1/2 days.
On day 24 I asked fro a refill and they said NO, I had to wait 30 days from the date of the prescription bottle, regardless of how many they pre-filled. I informed the pharmacist of how these were an epilepsy medication (as stated on the instructions my doctor wrote) and that I can't go without. He then informed me that they suspected I was a drug abuser and they don't fill prescriptions for people that abuse prescriptions.
I have never filled any scripts ahead of schedule, ever, so the basis on this is just the "prescription".

Now, I had been with them just for a month, but they had all of my Walgreens records to verify that this was a prescription I had been on for a while. I am also on some strong painkillers from Spinal Stenosis and am legally disabled, (Extended release morphine) I normally fill these at Walgreens along with 5mg oxycodone for breakthrough pain. I did fill one Oxy through Osco which they put into an investigation.

This is troubling because the medications I am on are controversial, they are highly beneficial and they have given me my life back, other people do abuse them. However, when you have a legit reason, being called a "Drug Abuser" or "addict" is an insult, the doctors make it a point to say physically dependent.

So I do feel as though I was tossed into this category just because of the type of medication I was on, so I would like at least an apology, but can't reach corporate. Ideas?

Actually, I think it is legal for a pharmacist to withhold medication or refuse to fill it if they are not comfortable with it. I had Walgreens do this once when I encountered a very anti-controlled substance pharmacist. However, I was informed of the reason. Osco more or less made it feel like they discriminated against me and refused the medication just because I m on controlled substances. They gave no information that they were concerned, they outright said I was a drug abuser and they would not fill said prescription until the 30 days passed, even if they did give me 24 days worth of medication.

Answer 1

It is absolutely illegal for any pharmacy to over ride the prescription written by a physician.

This is called practicing medicine without a license. The druggist has no legal right to question your doctor's orders.

Your best recourse is to contact the doctor who wrote the prescription. Tell him the pharmacy is refussing to fill your prescription. Do not give a long drawn out story, just tell the doctor, "They won't fill my prescription". Doctors don't have time for long stories, just cut to the chase.

Have the name and the phone number of the pharmacy by the phone.

My bet is, you will get immediate action. Most doctors do not like to have their orders ignored.

Answer 2

The first thing to consider here is that perhaps the tech was having a bad day. You have no idea of what might be going on in her personal life that put her in a bad mood. On the other hand, she is supposed to be professional and keep her personal opinions out of her work. But people are only human and sometimes they don't understand when their behavior crosses the line. In some ways you are lucky because there have been numerous cases reported in the news where a pharmacist will refuse to provide emergency contraception because of their "religious beliefs" and then the person has to find another pharmacy - which can be a problem if there are not many pharmacies nearby. While you would be justified in going to the manager and making a complaint and you would have the right to do so, ask yourself whether it is really worth that effort. The best thing to do is avoid the need for emergency contraception in the future. I'm not saying don't have sex - I'm only saying use protection in some form every time.

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Answer 3

Osco Pharmacy Refill

Answer 4

There's nothing you can really do. The laws are written to support pharmacist refusal to fill for controlled medication. An error could have happened when the medication was initially filled, the tech might have typed in the wrong length of treatment.
Pharmacists are required to question every single controlled prescription which comes in. Pharmacists are supposed to question its validity and in some cases, contact the doctor and question him/her. If the pharmacist thinks it is a bad prescription, then that's that. If the pharmacist thinks you are a drug abuser, then all you can do is try to transfer the prescription.
Diazepam and lorazepam are the commonly used benzodiazepines for epilepsy. You are only supposed to take them when a seizure is imminent or as monotherapy when recovering from a serious drug adverse event.
The doctor can call the pharmacy and try to convince them the benzos are for a legtimate medical purpose.

Answer 5

I have had several encounters with one pharmacist here in Portland Maine. This man hates the controlled substances i use. Today my back was so bad i could not walk and had to use the scooter. My physician called him but he still would not fill it. This mans name is Craig, the other guy who works there Mark is a saint and excellent. This man Craig today saw my extreme pain and refued to fill my script even after speaking to my doctor.I did get it filled at Rite Aid who were excellent and very humanitarian. I take oxycodone for a failed fusion at L5 so i have no disc there.

Answer 6

complain to the better buisness bureau