so where do y'all get your Rx filled?

[gaba101]

sorry if this has been asked before. I must be blind. So EXCLUDING "simple" (and usually short-term) drugs like allergy meds and albuterol inhalers and cough medication etc, where do y'all get your more "serious" ( & usually long-term) meds filled at? such more "serious" drugs can include viagra, cialis, abilify, diazepam, neurontin, lithium (mood stabilizers), lexapro, Kaletra (for HIV) filled at? 'cuz I mean, you want to support your own pharmacy tha tyou work at but at the same time, you don't want to stir up hot soup. For any of you who's done drop offs--it's a great place to meet new people and some have even thought about meeting that significant other but one look at the prescription s/he hands you for his/her abilify and you're just like "okay, nevermind, I'll take the next candidate as a potential date!" I kid I kid, but you get the idea--as professionals, we try not to be judgemental but when someone hands you a prescription, seeing the name of the med they are prescribed already tells you so much about the patient even though you may know nothing else about that person.

If you've been getting say Abilify at Pharmacy X, wouldn't your hiring managers easily be able to find out what meds you're taking if you get your more "seroius" meds filled there? of course, the solution seems like if you don't want to stir up hot soup, you're better off getting your more "serious" meds filled at another pharmacy--I'm just wondering if this could jeopardize your job (kind of like how working at 2 retail pharmacies is a BIG no-no) since you're giving your business to others. But hey, I wouldn't want anyone to know I'm taking Viagra or Lithium or Kaletra, even if I am hired, because techs, interns, and anyone working at that pharmacy has easy access to my records (even if you're not supposed to look at patient profiles unless it's necessary to get the job done, this act is not "illegal" unless the person is caught redhanded). But would your pharmacy manager/DM have the right to use such info (what meds you're taking) against you either in deciding whether or not to hire you or deciding to fire you (even if your disease state is not affecting your job and your patients are very pleased with the services). I was just wondering I guess these are along the same issues as pharmacogenomics where (supposedly) pretty soon in the future we'll all be able to have a chip that tells us all the diseases we'll have in our lifetime, what meds will and will not work for us, etc and who should have acess to such information and what information can be used and by whom.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[bananaface]

I get mine at work. Usually the people who choose to go offsite are being treated for stuff they want kept private. Even though we don't look in each other's profiles or anything, I know what all of my coworkers and their families are on because I fill their stuff.

Your manager has no right to use your medical history to steer employment decisions. Now, if you are making your own refills as one of my coworkers was, that's another thing entirely.

 

[sdn1977]

Yep - I get mine filled thru my own corporate pharmacy structure, altho not my specific retail site. (My hospital does not do outpt fills).

I choose a different retail site not because of privacy issues, but because I don't ever want to be accused of a possible professional conflict. My rx insurance also requires utilization of any of our retail settings or mail order. I don't want to do mail order.

However, the few times I've filled at my site.....I've had a colleague do the fill - not me.

gaba...you're in San Jose - this is a huge place. This may be an issue for those in small towns, but you only have to go 5 miles & you're completely unknown. It may be possible for the corporation to see what you're taking, but they'd suffer a huge potential lawsuit if it ever came out. I'm not sure what they'd gain by having the knowledge.

 

[Farmercyst]

sorry if this has been asked before. I must be blind. So EXCLUDING "simple" (and usually short-term) drugs like allergy meds and albuterol inhalers and cough medication etc, where do y'all get your more "serious" ( & usually long-term) meds filled at? such more "serious" drugs can include viagra, cialis, abilify, diazepam, neurontin, lithium (mood stabilizers), lexapro, Kaletra (for HIV) filled at? 'cuz I mean, you want to support your own pharmacy tha tyou work at but at the same time, you don't want to stir up hot soup. For any of you who's done drop offs--it's a great place to meet new people and some have even thought about meeting that significant other but one look at the prescription s/he hands you for his/her abilify and you're just like "okay, nevermind, I'll take the next candidate as a potential date!" I kid I kid, but you get the idea--as professionals, we try not to be judgemental but when someone hands you a prescription, seeing the name of the med they are prescribed already tells you so much about the patient even though you may know nothing else about that person.

If you've been getting say Abilify at Pharmacy X, wouldn't your hiring managers easily be able to find out what meds you're taking if you get your more "seroius" meds filled there? of course, the solution seems like if you don't want to stir up hot soup, you're better off getting your more "serious" meds filled at another pharmacy--I'm just wondering if this could jeopardize your job (kind of like how working at 2 retail pharmacies is a BIG no-no) since you're giving your business to others. But hey, I wouldn't want anyone to know I'm taking Viagra or Lithium or Kaletra, even if I am hired, because techs, interns, and anyone working at that pharmacy has easy access to my records (even if you're not supposed to look at patient profiles unless it's necessary to get the job done, this act is not "illegal" unless the person is caught redhanded). But would your pharmacy manager/DM have the right to use such info (what meds you're taking) against you either in deciding whether or not to hire you or deciding to fire you (even if your disease state is not affecting your job and your patients are very pleased with the services). I was just wondering I guess these are along the same issues as pharmacogenomics where (supposedly) pretty soon in the future we'll all be able to have a chip that tells us all the diseases we'll have in our lifetime, what meds will and will not work for us, etc and who should have acess to such information and what information can be used and by whom.

HIPAA would prevent them from using the knowledge against you. Though you're right. You'd have to prove the information was the deciding factor, not some other skeleton in the closet. As far as co-workers. SDN1977 is right. Since only your prescriber and you know about the scrip until you fill it, going to the store down the street would be enough to prevent co-workers/acquaintances from finding out the anxiety you have causing the ED which is accentuated by manic episodes. (just based on the limited knowledge I have so far of the meds listed)

 

[gaba101]

Since only your prescriber and you know about the scrip until you fill it, going to the store down the street would be enough to prevent co-workers/acquaintances from finding out the anxiety you have causing the ED which is accentuated by manic episodes. (just based on the limited knowledge I have so far of the meds listed)

haha, those meds listed were just examples i tried to pull from various disease states as examples of more "serious" drugs, not drugs that I am taking or diseases I am suffering from. But thanks for sharing your opinion.

 

[Oxycotin]

I just use my campus' pharmacy at the student health center just because it's closer even though I work at an offsite pharmacy about 1/2 an hour away.

 

[dgroulx]

I get my meds filled at Walgreens, where I work. It's more convenient for me. Why do I want to make another stop before going home?

If I were on any psychiatric meds, I'd probably get them filled somewhere else.

 

[njac]

I used to get mine at Walgreens for the convenience. but then I decided they were the evil empire. plus now that we're all interns I'm not too enthused about having my classmates handover my Loestrin and Wellbutrin. I'm not ashamed or embarassed of either but I really don't want to have to make small talk with classmates while I pick up my anti-baby and anti-crazy pills.

so while far less convenient, I moved mine up tot he grocery store where I did my rotation this summer.

 

[gaba101]

I'm not ashamed or embarassed of either but I really don't want to have to make small talk with classmates while I pick up my anti-baby and anti-crazy pills.

WORD. since most of us intern for big companies, don't you think moving meds to small independent pharmacies where you know you most likely won't have to make small talk w/ classmates while geting meds is a good idea? inconvenient (due to higher prices probably and farther drive) but worth it, no? can you imagine if you were on, say, Lithium, and anytime you got angry (even if it's barely expressing being upset), everyone would think "great, he forgot to take his Lithium this morning!" even though you may have taken your Lithium.

 

[Farmercyst]

haha, those meds listed were just examples i tried to pull from various disease states as examples of more "serious" drugs, not drugs that I am taking or diseases I am suffering from. But thanks for sharing your opinion.

I figured as much. Who would post those specific meds on a public forum and not expect such an answer though. The real pharmacists bit their tongue and just answered the question. (Or did they bite their fingers...now I'm confused. )

 

[gaba101]

I figured as much. Who would post those specific meds on a public forum and not expect such an answer though. The real pharmacists bit their tongue and just answered the question. (Or did they bite their fingers...now I'm confused. )

if a hot person came into the pharmacy to drop off his/her prescription w/ all those meds listed, they're off my potential date list. I don't wanna date someone w/ all those disease states, lol. can you imagine dating someone who was depressed, bipolar, schizophrenic, had AIDS, couldn't perform sexually due to ED, LOL, etc...in all seriousness, i dont' use the pharmacy as a dating service.

 

[jjbiv]

Costco

 

[MountainPharmD]

jjbiv what are you bored or something? Brought this one back from the dead.

I got excited for a minute I thought sdn1977 was back. Her account doesn't show it is deactivated any more.......

 

[confettiflyer]

yeah i'd go mail order for things i'd want to keep private...

funny i just wrote my own prescription, chatted with the nurse at the clinic attached to us, got it signed, and came back to fill it within 5 minutes. Granted this was somewhat maintenance for an existing diagnosis, nice to know I could do that.

 

[FruitFly]

Independents, mostly.

 

[gaba101]

now to add to this question, do y'all play a smart-*** "I'm a pharmacist, I know how to take this medication" when someone offers you a consultation or do you keep your job title a hush hush (otherwise, they will ask why you don't fill it at your own store). If the latter, I would imagine you don't chat w/ the pharmacist much because chatting opens the door for a potential friendship and then they may know what you actually do for a living. the funny part would be if the pharmacist who filled your med didn' tknow you were a pharmacist and then you 2 run into each other at conferences BUSTED!

 

[FruitFly]

now to add to this question, do y'all play a smart-*** "I'm a pharmacist, I know how to take this medication" when someone offers you a consultation or do you keep your job title a hush hush (otherwise, they will ask why you don't fill it at your own store). If the latter, I would imagine you don't chat w/ the pharmacist much because chatting opens the door for a potential friendship and then they may know what you actually do for a living. the funny part would be if the pharmacist who filled your med didn' tknow you were a pharmacist and then you 2 run into each other at conferences BUSTED!

I don't think anyone's going to ask why I don't fill it at my own store. Most pharmacists will understand that one in a second. It's not really something to ask. I definitely would not ask. Not my business, and it's understood in most professions that a co-worker's a co-worker. Not everyone wants to let a co-worker in on their personal health. It complicates that relationship. Suppose there were a problem with the Rx or whatever? Then you'd have a very weird relationship.

When I get my prescriptions filled, I already know everything about them, but I like to hear someone else explaining things so I can compare to how I would have. If they don't cover something like "don't take with grapefruit juice", I'd ask a little factoid type question like, "I drink a ton of grapefruit juice, can I take this with that?" I did just that and she was like 'hold on' and went to look it up.

I'm more of the quiz type of guy...

 

[pharmdinfl]

I do get my prescriptions filled in the chain I work for - but I don't take anything except for BC pills. If I had to take anything else, I might feel a bit awkward having my coworkers fill my prescription. We all know about the HIPAA regulations, but I think I would take my RX elsewhere honestly just put my mind at ease.

On the flip side...

I'm even kind of weirded out about handling other coworker's prescriptions but I don't WANT to know what anyone I know is taking!

 

[mike36]

When I get my prescriptions filled, I already know everything about them, but I like to hear someone else explaining things so I can compare to how I would have. If they don't cover something like "don't take with grapefruit juice", I'd ask a little factoid type question like, "I drink a ton of grapefruit juice, can I take this with that?" I did just that and she was like 'hold on' and went to look it up.

I'm more of the quiz type of guy...

Haha, I like your approach.

I can't really relate this specifically to pharmacy, but I would never send my blood, urine, etc. to my job to have it tested for a "serious" or "sensitive" disease. I work as a lab technologist there, and I wouldn't want my coworkers to know I am being tested for HIV, syphillis, etc. and also to know what the results are after they run it.

 

[njac]

Haha, I like your approach.

I can't really relate this specifically to pharmacy, but I would never send my blood, urine, etc. to my job to have it tested for a "serious" or "sensitive" disease. I work as a lab technologist there, and I wouldn't want my coworkers to know I am being tested for HIV, syphillis, etc. and also to know what the results are after they run it.

but in some ways aren't these tests part of a "wellness" exam? I know I've been tested for such things without having any particular concern about being infected with any of the above, and I'd assume the same for the vast majority of other people in their 20s and 30s.

because I now have school insurance I get all of my Rxs are the student health center. Previously some classmates were interns there but not anymore. Even so, I figure it's a good test of integrity to see who actually complies with HIPPA.

While i've never reported HIPPA infractions I work in a hospital and I've seen some.

 

[bananaface]

I don't think anyone's going to ask why I don't fill it at my own store. Most pharmacists will understand that one in a second. It's not really something to ask. I definitely would not ask. Not my business, and it's understood in most professions that a co-worker's a co-worker. Not everyone wants to let a co-worker in on their personal health. It complicates that relationship. Suppose there were a problem with the Rx or whatever? Then you'd have a very weird relationship.

When I get my prescriptions filled, I already know everything about them, but I like to hear someone else explaining things so I can compare to how I would have. If they don't cover something like "don't take with grapefruit juice", I'd ask a little factoid type question like, "I drink a ton of grapefruit juice, can I take this with that?" I did just that and she was like 'hold on' and went to look it up.

I'm more of the quiz type of guy...

I like to scope out the other pharmacies in town. It gives me a feel for what they might be to work at. Not so much here, but back home.

 

[mike36]

but in some ways aren't these tests part of a "wellness" exam? I know I've been tested for such things without having any particular concern about being infected with any of the above, and I'd assume the same for the vast majority of other people in their 20s and 30s.

because I now have school insurance I get all of my Rxs are the student health center. Previously some classmates were interns there but not anymore. Even so, I figure it's a good test of integrity to see who actually complies with HIPPA.

While i've never reported HIPPA infractions I work in a hospital and I've seen some.

Yes, you are right. In fact, most people do not even know they are being tested for these (like pregnant women, for instance). Even so, I do not trust the people I work with, and for good reason. We get the HIPAA training every year, but no one really pays attention to it.

 

[AngelaCL]

I get my birth control pills elsewhere. One of the pharmacists is very religious and I really don't need him knowing I have *gasp* premarital sex.

I also used to get Prevacid at a different pharmacy just because that's where I started getting it filled and I never saw a point in transferring it. Now, though, my store sells generic OTC omeprazole so I just buy that.

I will fill antibiotics and stuff like that at my own store but I'd rather just keep my happy no baby pill rx elsewhere.

 

[FruitFly]

I get my birth control pills elsewhere. One of the pharmacists is very religious and I really don't need him knowing I have *gasp* premarital sex.

I also used to get Prevacid at a different pharmacy just because that's where I started getting it filled and I never saw a point in transferring it. Now, though, my store sells generic OTC omeprazole so I just buy that.

I will fill antibiotics and stuff like that at my own store but I'd rather just keep my happy no baby pill rx elsewhere.

Just make sure you know which antibiotics may possibly decrease the effectiveness of your 'no baby pills', since the pharmacist filling it will have no idea what else you're taking.

 

[npage148]

now to add to this question, do y'all play a smart-*** "I'm a pharmacist, I know how to take this medication" when someone offers you a consultation or do you keep your job title a hush hush (otherwise, they will ask why you don't fill it at your own store). If the latter, I would imagine you don't chat w/ the pharmacist much because chatting opens the door for a potential friendship and then they may know what you actually do for a living. the funny part would be if the pharmacist who filled your med didn' tknow you were a pharmacist and then you 2 run into each other at conferences BUSTED!

I just let them council me and nod and smile. Maybe I could always learn something from them, but its mostly becasue I'm too lazy to tell them I'm a pharmacist. I was once counciled at my own store. They just hired a new intern adn I didnt have the chance to meet them yet. I was getting an prozac for my cat (she competely looney), i got the full council from them, including how to measure the dose with teh dropper and how to store it. A couple days later i got to work with him. It was kinda funny.

Also, I get all my and my wifes stuff at where I work. She will tell me what I need and I will refill it when I'm working. If I went to a different pharmacy, it would never get picked up. We don't do it for controlls though, i get them filled when I'm not working (I don't need any CS drama in my life). We also don't take any embrassaing stuff aside from ketoconazole shampoo

 

[FruitFly]

We also don't take any embrassaing stuff aside from ketoconazole shampoo

WHOA... jk

 

[tootoo30]

WORD. since most of us intern for big companies, don't you think moving meds to small independent pharmacies where you know you most likely won't have to make small talk w/ classmates while geting meds is a good idea? inconvenient (due to higher prices probably and farther drive) but worth it, no? can you imagine if you were on, say, Lithium, and anytime you got angry (even if it's barely expressing being upset), everyone would think "great, he forgot to take his Lithium this morning!" even though you may have taken your Lithium.

That's frickin hiliarious

 

[corbomite]

I guess I disagree with a lot of people here. I've been a tech for two years and if I happened to take something like valtrex or something equally embarrassing I would go ahead and get it at the pharmacy I work at. I've bought condoms and preparation H at my pharmacy(in the same week I believe). I dare anyone at my pharmacy to call me unprofessional, unprofessional would be discussing my private matters. When I leave the pharmacy the pharmacists might say things like 'hemorrhoids, at his age?' but I'm not the one who should be embarrassed. They are the ones ignoring HIPAA and the seriousness of their job. I'm just someone trying to sit down comfortably.
I have, however, come to think my ointment purchases were mentioned by my pharmacist in my recommendation letter and somebody on the board at auburn had the same problems with inflammation I have. That's probably what got me accepted, it certainly wasnt my grades.

 

[confettiflyer]

Yeah...depending on the type of med, I'd fill at another pharmacy. I just like my privacy like that. I fill my regular allergy stuff at work though, but I turn off the "searchable by other stores" option in my profile (CVS). A little inconvenient if I have to pick something up at another store (they'd have to call and tx in during business hours, can't look it up via computer), but I'm responsible enough to think ahead (unlike most of the pt's we have).

I mean...yeah HIPAA this and HIPAA that, but people are curious and fallible, and so long as people are involved in the system, no system will ever be perfect and secure.

 

[UBCmicrobi]

I fill mine at work since they waive the dispensing fee, which is about a dollar less than my hourly wage!

 

[Chiyo]

I don't need any chronic meds now tham I'm young...but if I need to fill anything serious I'd use an independent.