cypress434
Old Hand
Reged: 04/14/02
Posts: 422
Loc: The Deep Southern US
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(I wrote this in response to HHawker's post to me under another category, and thought it more appropriately belonged here. If it doesn't, my apologies to DB!) 
I didn't intend to give an impression that I like to "go off on" ALL pharmacists - not true!
There's one I know in particular that I love to pieces - a kind, wonderful man that will answer anything you want to know, and hasn't a bad comment to make or a snide look to give, even if you walk in with 2 sch. II prescriptions and 2 other lower scheduled meds, all in one shot.
It doesn't mean he doesn't do what is right when it's called for, but he knows his meds, he knows how to treat his customers, and doesn't automatically label you by how you dress or how much money you have... and is always willing to talk about generic vs. name brand, hydrocodone vs. oxycodone, oxycontin and the press...he is VERY cool. He doesn't carry oxycontin in his store, but they are the "little guy" and I doubt they have much need to carry it, so I'd just take the oxy scrip to the chain store across the street - but he always got the remainder of my business. Sometimes we'd discuss illnesses and the drugs to treat them, reactions...all sorts of things - but he never got too personal in asking about my business - he figures it's between me and my doctor, which is the way it should be - and if he ever had a question about a medication, he would certainly handle it in a way that would not embarass me in a store full of people.
Some pharmacists seem to get a real KICK out of *that* aspect of the job. I'm glad there are some that *don't* and actually have consideration for the feelings of others.
Pharmacists don't have to make any promises regarding patient or client confidentiality - so the ones who think they have the right to know all my private personal business without there being an oath in place that will protect *me* (like doctors and lawyers do) have no right asking what my condition IS.
Just the fact that the doctor wrote certain prescriptions is between me and the doctor, and if he has any questions, he can call the doctor WITHOUT the need to embarass and humiliate the patient in the process. I don't need a snide remark, I don't need to have some stupid holier-than-thou pharmacist trying to "burst my bubble" by starting to tell me that they're going to stop making oxycontin, did I know THAT, haha?! - and yes, I DID relish in bursting HIS bubble and making HIM feel stupid by telling him I already know ALL about Purdue Pharma working on a version with an antagonist that should be on the market within 3 years, so I already KNOW, so don't think I'm going to cry in the streets if I lose out on my "fix", like he seemed to think my response was going to be. This man is the kind of guy who thinks he has class, but I can scrape something better than HIM off the bottom of my shoes.
I guess you'd just have had to have BEEN there - the entire time the tech was filling my scrips, all this man did was try to set me up into justifying to HIM why I had all these prescriptions, and he couldn't STAND it that I didn't have to TELL him why, and I could take my business across the street if he preferred, and said so with a smile. (He filled in for that VERY nice pharmacist I talked about above - and I got so ticked off after I left, that I went back one time and got meds from the regular man, along with a letter of complaint about the way I was treated by Mr. @sswipe - but the next time I pulled in the parking lot, when I saw the fool in there again, even though it wasn't a scheduled med I needed to fill, I pulled out and swore to never go to *that* particular "mom and pop" place again...and I haven't. It's a shame that his mouth lost that NICE pharmacist my family's business...but I will never do business with that subhuman replacement again. I'd probably spit in his face.
And then, of course, there's the one in Texas who shorted me 5 oxycontin - easy to get away with if a customer is from out of state - of course, unless they COUNT them before leaving and CATCH it ...but most chalkboard-scratching-irritating of all.....the one I just spoke of above, who said "Oh, THIS must be one of those "GET ANYTHING YOU WANT doctors, huh?!?" in the most smart-aleck way imaginable, as soon as he looked my scrips over. Poof...instant judgment, instant conviction - and he doesn't even KNOW me, but I'm in their computer - got those same exact meds for MONTHS, in fact...but... THOSE are the ones I don't particularly care for. I didn't say ALL pharmacists. Just THAT kind. The ones who never make a mistake except on controlled substances....those too. I think you folks get the point, though.
It doesn't mean I hate 'em all - I just hate the crooked ones and the smart-alecks and the downright HATEFUL ones. That doesn't just go for pharmacists, either - doctors, nurses with attitude problems, salespeople, you name it.
I just like GOOD people, and if somebody is wrong and treats other people like crap, I believe that they are taking 'karma' out of their own 'account', so to speak - and when all that they've done to hurt, embarass, and humiliate others with their power trips and holier-than-measly-thou attitudes comes back to bite them in the @ss, it will be one HECK of a bite! 
It's just too bad I won't be there to watch when it DOES happen.
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Cypress434
Character is what you do when no one is watching.
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mojo
Board Addict
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 351
Loc: classified
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Good post! I'm sure there are many compassionate pharmacists out there, but I've heard WAY too many stories of pharmacists who actually hate their jobs and have a real contempt for humanity and end up going on power trips. I would say that much of this has to do with the customer/pharmacist relationship, as many people see pharmacists as nothing but pill counters, unaware of the education and attention to detail (not to mention their stressful position) that they MUST have.
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sweat
Old Hand
Reged: 12/23/01
Posts: 491
Loc: NJ
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Stressful position?
I agree with everything ya said except that. Whats so stressful about grabbing a bottle off a shelf and counting to 30, then puttin them in a smaller bottle?
All these pharmacy guys got a stick up their butts.
I'd say they are one step higher than workin at Mickey D's...
"Ya want fries with your Xanax and Halcion too mister???"
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mojo
Board Addict
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 351
Loc: classified
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Aw, c'mon. These people have to know an extraordinary amount about the medications they are handing out. A single mistake could have fatal consequences. Wrong medication, dangerous interaction with other prescribed meds. This is their responsibility to make NO errors, and often to correct a doctor's error. Why do you think they are required to go through so much schooling for their jobs?
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Optimist4Now
Veteran
Reged: 06/01/02
Posts: 514
Loc: USA
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Geeez . . . maybe I've been spoiled by always going to Walgreens. You drop the scrip off with a tech and they tell you it will be ready in 20 min or so . . . you pick it up and pay for it with some gal (or guy) behind the counter (never the pharmacist).
The only time you see the actual pharmacist is if you need a consult or want to ask a question about something. Then it's off to the side where no one in line can hear you.
If they've ever had a concern about the percocet or any other meds I get, they probably call the doc without me knowing about it . . . which is fine with me.
If any pharmacist ever intentionally embarrassed me in front of other customers, the crap would hit the fan!! That's inexcusable!!
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toky20
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/17/02
Posts: 1347
Loc: Windy Place
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I disagree, Sweat, and here's why:
My pharmacists have on more than one occasion kept me from taking a prescribed drug that, when interacting with other drugs, would almost surely send me into seizures. I hate seizures, they suck big time. My doctor's too busy with too many patients and not even aware of what he's written me in the past and not aware of the dangerous combo he just wrote.
Just as an interesting note, the pharmasist can be sued right along or even instead of the doc when some one takes a lethal combination of drugs, or decides to O.D. on even one specific drug. The kid at McD's isn't gonna get sued if someone hates his fries, or the salt makes his BP skyrocket into a stroke.
take care,
toky 
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Ajino
Stranger
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 17
Loc: JAPAN
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In April the local CVS shorted my mother 30 10mg Adderall tablets that she then sends to me in Japan. This is not an easy medication to find at OPs. The pharmacist didnt bat an eye when my mother returned to complain and demand a replacement. He immediately complied and gave her the missing 30 with a sincere apology. We count our money at banks, so maybe we should become pill-counters. Especially with some of them costing more than the equivalent weight in gold! Will pills have individual serial numbers and holograms on them in the future to guarantee authenticity? Maybe they will be presented-in velvet lined boxes similar to the blue engagement ring case that Tiffanys is famous for
 Ajino
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HHawker
Journeyman
Reged: 05/26/02
Posts: 68
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Not a stressful job????
Are you kidding me?! once the written script leaves the doctors hands it is the pharmacists responsibility unless the doctor knowingly prescribed something that would interact with a med they were already taking. We as pharmacist have alot of responsibility and go through alot of training to deal with such things but sometimes people can make our job even more difficult.
Im sorry i came off strong, I truly am. I know there are pharmacists out there that can be complete jerks. I know a few of them, and usually its because someone has sued them for not doing there job right when they were laid back and now they scrutinize every customer. its sad.
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cypress434
Old Hand
Reged: 04/14/02
Posts: 422
Loc: The Deep Southern US
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That "good" pharmacist I spoke of in my earlier post really showed me that not only was he excellent at his job, but excellent in his "people skills" too. He is the epitome of a GREAT pharmacist, in my book. Doesn't think he's better than anyone, has no "holier than thou" issues like his co-worker did (that drove away my business) - just the kind of man who knows how to run a business to make the customer feel at home and comfortable coming to him with any question about anything. I like that.
Thank GOD there are pharmacists like him around to prove that not all of them have their heads where the sun don't shine. Not enough RPh believe in "judge not, lest ye be judged" - it seems like WAY too many have the "judge now, and who cares if I'm wrong later" frame of mind. They either don't realize, or just don't CARE, that their words and actions can affect people for a VERY long time - just like one bad doctor can keep someone away from them for YEARS - and that is NOT a good thing at all, considering how many people end up waiting until it's WAY too late to see a doctor if they end up with a terminal illness. 
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Cypress434
Character is what you do when no one is watching.
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Benjamin
Member
Reged: 02/02/02
Posts: 102
Loc: Sydney, Straya
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I havent really had good experiences with Pharmacists, and I often find I know more about my medications than they do, and I have to go through the process of explaining the subtle difference between things. I know that sounds like Im just being holier than thou, but I could quote examples, but I dont wanna waste your time any longer.
Then there are the ones who assume Im an idiot, and when I ask for something they dont have, they give me something else and tell me "its the same thing, Different packet" and I say yeah good one idiot.
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geckogecko
Board Addict
Reged: 03/03/02
Posts: 334
Loc: New York, NY
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I'm not too fond of the pharmacists I go to, either, but I think it is a stressful job. They have a lot of paperwork to do. Between being pulled by the customers in one direction and the doctors and people in the back in another, plus entering every medicine into a computer and checking everything with the doctors, plus having to do it all quickly, I think they have pretty compicated jobs.
When i ran a coffee shop, some people may have said I had it easy, but I didn't I worked my ass of and was stressed out every day when I went home.
Recenlty, the pharmacists spelled my name wrong on the script. Only by one letter. Such as Geecko, instead of Gecko. Nothing big. She couldn't find my script bag, even though I coudl SEE it across the counter. I kept yelling, "IT's right there," and she siad, "No, that's not it." Over and over. She went in the back and the pharmacist came out, they diddled on the computer, and kept yelling, "Klonopin for Gecko? Klonopin? Where is it? Did you fill it?" Finally, someone found the script I had been pointing to. I was so embarassed and annoyed. I waited there for almost 20 minutes while they did this. But, alas, it does not mean their jobs are meaningless.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Let's see...a pharmacist in a chain drug store works from 8:00 am -9:00 pm. The schedule goes something like this for a very close relative of mine, we'll call him John-
Monday 8:00-1:00. He fills in at another pharmacy because of a pharmacist shortage. Tuesday 8am-9pm, Wednesday 8-9 again, Thursday and Friday off, Saturday 8-8 and Sunday 8-6. They do not get lunch or coffee breaks. They are constantly called to fill in on their days off. John is due 4 weeks of vacation a year but gets only two, again because of the pharmacist shortage. John can only take sick days if he is bedridden. Because taking a sick day results in another pharmacist having to go in on his/her day off to cover.
Duties:
Fills scripts. Checks ALL other scripts for accuracy if counted out by a tech. Takes ALL doctor calls, techs cannot. Checks profile of each customer to make sure they are not taking a drug that can harm them. Catches doctor's mistakes and that happens a lot. Counsels customers on prescription meds as well as OTC. Orders weekly. Usually checks in all orders and must check in scheduled meds. Weekly inventory on scheduled meds, twice a year on entire inventory. Schedules and manages technicians and one or two other pharmacists since he is the Rx manager. Trains pharmacy interns. Attends continuing education courses every year to maintain license. Has to participate in all DEA visitations. When fraud occurs has to work with police and attend court.
John has had to work most every holiday because that's the way the schedule falls. The schedule is set in stone for a YEAR. If an emergency comes up they have to find their own replacement.
Now add to it people who come in whining that they can't wait 15 minutes for a refill when there are 10 in line and the staff has 20 to fill from before. Add to that patients who demand the pharmacist call the doc while they wait because they have no more refills left. Add to that the people who want to pay for their script and also want to ring up a cart full of items at the same time. Oh and lets not forget the drive thru window now. They are supposed to man that too.
I worked as a pharm tech for years also, and I cannot begin tell you the grief you get behind that counter. I was in the pharmacy at the time our pharmacist had a gun stuck in his face and was forced to open the safe and hand over narcotics.
Your "pill counter" and fast food restaurant comments made my blood boil. You know NOTHING of what you speak of.
Ask ANY pharmacist in any chain if their job is stressful. You will get an earful. The turnover rate in this field is enormous.
This country can't get near enough college kids to consider a career in pharmacy.
Remember all of this the next time you try to fill a prescription at 8:00 pm and the pharmacy is closed. Reason? Not enough pharmacists to cover the store hours.
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parusski
Veteran
Reged: 07/19/02
Posts: 598
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Caitlain well said. I am a pharmacist but decided not to get into any disputes with some of the hotheads who know nothing of what they speak of. Your description of the duties and responsibilities are 100% accurate(hell in my case understated). I love what I do, but I get a lot of grief from ignorant people who usually will not even listen to reason. I wish "pill pushing" is all I had to do. The one thing that causes me to completely blow my top is when people accuse me of "dropping a pill on the floor" or "miscounting" in order to obtain the meds myself. The controls against this kind of thing are redundant many times over-the best protection against this misconduct are the cameras always filming us. I have never and will never take a med from my pharmacy. It is much, much, much safer to get them from these online OP's. I am glad you responded because it convinced me to say my piece.
parusski
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I no longer post or pm. Those who talk to me, use email. Much safer that way.
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parusski
Veteran
Reged: 07/19/02
Posts: 598
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And that's not all by God. Toky20 makes a good point. I am friends with several doctors, but I will warn you now: they no very little about most medications. They prescribe within a narrow range. I have had to stop dozens, if not hundreds of people from getting a certain med because their doctor prescribed something new that could have been deadly or at least caused someone to get sick. Doctors do not have the huge amount of training in chemistry required to understand medications.
As for behavior-I know a LOT of docs with NO bedside manner, plenty of cops who think they are gods, lots of retail managers with no ability to be polite to employees or customers, way too many cashiers at gas stations who talk on the phone instead of taking care of me. I could go on about this for a while. Everyone is different. I know only a very few pharmacists who are not overy friendly, I even work with one. But he is like me in one way. Example: A man recently came in to get prozac, he was obviously uncomfortable with getting this type of drug. My(not friendly co-worker) asked him to step to the far end of the counter to ascertain if he understood the med and then quietly explained it. The gentleman was quite pleased with the discreet way it was handled. Ok, that's enough. I hope the "very few" these posts are addressed to will at least think about what we have all written. Parusski 
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I no longer post or pm. Those who talk to me, use email. Much safer that way.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Parusski, I don't know how you stood silent for so long on this. My jaw literally dropped when I saw this garbage talk about pharmacists.
Yeah, can you imagine? A pharmacist pocketing controlled substances while a camera is filming every move? Yeah, they are going to risk losing their license and going to the pokey for snagging a percodan? Not that it does not happen, because it does, but the incidents of this are far and few between. And generally from the stories I have heard, what happens is they fill their own script for a bottle of them.
With the number of years pharmacists have to go to school, plus the responsibility they have ensuring that each patient isn't taking drugs that could kill them, they deserve respect. On a side note a pharmacist here had to go in front of the board because of a mix up. He filled the script correctly but the technician switched prescriptions and put John Doe's drugs in Bob Jones' bag. The tech at the register did not check the pills when she gave the bag to Bob Jones. Bob Jones took the wrong pills (blood pressure meds) and ended up in the hospital. The pharmacist being ultimately responsible for what his techs do, ended up before the board. He and the store are getting sued. Didn't matter that Bob didn't bother to read the bottle or ask why his pills looked different.
Not much stress in this career? Yeah right.
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parusski
Veteran
Reged: 07/19/02
Posts: 598
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Hey Caitlin I have high blood pressure and this is making it worse. But Ihave seen cases like that too. In my state five years of schooling is required to be a pharmacist. The money is pretty good, but I will never be wealthy. Most doctors only know of a handful of medicines, and sometimes are not aware of all their uses; and they make a lot more money than I do. I have worked for the same company for years and know hundreds of patients very well. Most of them are always asking me to "second guess" what the doctor has prescribed and it is common to see a lot of mistakes. But doctors are human too. However, it is interesting that most people have learned to talk to their pharmacists about the true actions and interactions of their meds. I will not pretend like so many people do about needing the meds for some illness. I KNOW MANY DO, but many are like me, they like the "soma coma"(not every day). And xanax is nice sometimes. I stay away from the narcotics though. I really seldom take one. I will admit to using hydrocodone 15/80 for REALLY bad headaches and then I want to use then again for several days in a row. But I knew from the first day I walked into my pharmacy that the risk of getting caught taking meds was almost a ceartainty.
I will no longer be quiet. Thanks for "going off"
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I no longer post or pm. Those who talk to me, use email. Much safer that way.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I've tried since I joined DB to tell people the pharmacist is their best friend. They, at least mine knows more about meds then my Doc. And he even calls and faxes my Doc for me. If I need help because of side effects of one med he always has an Idea for an alternate to try. Yea I know some people are as$es but that can be in any profession. Good for you guys. Sticking up for the Pharmies. One big pat on the back.
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parusski
Veteran
Reged: 07/19/02
Posts: 598
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Thanks floger. Where in the name of God did you get that cool pill? parusski
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I no longer post or pm. Those who talk to me, use email. Much safer that way.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Found it searching for gifs. When I find ones that I like I put them in a folder so that I can change my avatar evry couple of weeks.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Floger, thanks for saying that.
Yep, I have worked with many pharmacists and while I agree some of them are jerks, most of them are top notch professionals. And you can always draw more flies with honey rather than vinegar. Being nice can get you calls to the doc, the pharmacist staying late to fill your emergency script, etc...being nasty and coming off with an attitude can get you nowhere fast.
Have a pain free week floger!
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mamaw54
Member
Reged: 04/19/02
Posts: 120
Loc: tennessee
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i would just like to say that i have had both good and bad experiences with pharmacists as well as with every other professional personnel with whom i have come in contact. i have a very high regard for the pharmacists who so willingly go out of his/her way to accomodate the needs of all the people they serve. i use a smalltown pharmacy and before i am even halfway thru the store, my refills which have been called in are already waiting for me and i am always called by name as are everyone who enters the store. i am a retired social worker and have dealt with persons in most professional settings and believe me pharmacists are at a very high point of my list of respectable positions. thanks for all your hard work and dedication. btw, a local pharmacists saved my aunt's life when he caught that her own physician of many years had called in a script for her for which she was highly allergic and to take it could have easily resulted in death. just my thoughts on the subject/profession/wonderful people. thanks for listening.
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parusski
Veteran
Reged: 07/19/02
Posts: 598
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It is refreshin to see most people understand that pharmacisits are not "jerks" as a profession. Thanks al.
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I no longer post or pm. Those who talk to me, use email. Much safer that way.
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slidesong
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/24/02
Posts: 218
Loc: New York - Home of the Yankees
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There are jerks in every profession. Doctors and pharmacists are no exception. Profession does not dictate personality.
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imnewatthis
Member
Reged: 03/08/02
Posts: 119
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my experience is that more pharmacists snag controlled substances by skimming off the top a very small amount,in march or so i was thrown out of a walmart pharmacy by security over 5 tabs,and since doctors doll these types of meds like they are gold i want going to take it!however honest pharmacists who are not mean or condisending have a very precarious position,there job is very important not to be compared to a burger flipper yet i feel theysometimes get a swelled head and think they are AS important as your doctor which they are not very important yes as important no,the same could be said of a nurse
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monstermash
Journeyman
Reged: 12/12/01
Posts: 62
Loc: Georgia
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imnewatthis, "i was thrown out of a walmart pharmacy by security over 5 tabs."
What happened at Walmart?
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imnewatthis
Member
Reged: 03/08/02
Posts: 119
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i sent you a PM
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arianna
Member
Reged: 03/09/02
Posts: 131
Loc: Upper rural Midwest
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Caitlin & Parusski...hello there! Thank you so much for giving the pharmacist side of the story! I appreciate your honesty and how candid you were...both of you!
I had thought their job was tough but really had no idea what it all entailed! I did not try to be disrespectful to the good people of that profession! I am really sorry for my rude and uninvited comments towards them!
I do understand that there are good and bad people in every profession. The only thing with me is that when treated poorly it seems to stick more than the one good time! Again thank you Parusski and Caitlin for sharing! Hope this was less offensive to everyone! ajs
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saintlady
Newbie
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 43
Loc: Michigan, USA
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Hi to all, these posts were an eye opener. We have some good and some bad pharmacists here. A question though. Will one pharmacy (ex walgreens) communicate with another (say rite aid) on my meds? Is there like a main resource to help monitor meds. How much of my privacy is at stake? What about insurance companies? Can they share info with anyone? My main question is actually will I be notified before my personal records are shared or will I have to sign a consent. Most questions are just curiosity but some have reasons behind them. Thanks to all and to all the good pharmacists keep up the good work and keep on caring about us. For us with chronic illness it is so tough to deal with uncaring or unfeeling professionals. So very many docs have let me down and made me feel like they were only there for the bucks. Love Saintlady
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saintlady
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