Ethical Rx question

[bananapancakes]

Paging @hannymaren and any other pharmacists.

I have bronchitis and was given a Rx for a Symbicort inhaler. The instructions are two inhalations, twice daily, for 7 days. So 28 all together.

I was given an inhaler with 200 doses. Way more than I need. I looked it up online and it does come in smaller sizes.

The cost of the inhaler was $107 but we have a pretty good drug plan so I only had to pay $21. I can't help but think that I was given a much larger one than needed so the pharmacy could make more of a profit. Does this actually happen or am I just being cynical. Has this happened to anyone else?

[whitemerlot]

I think they would only give you the amount your doctor prescribed.

[bananapancakes]

Apr 25, 2015 8:37:03 GMT -5 whitemerlot said:

I think they would only give you the amount your doctor prescribed.

But they didn't. They gave me one way larger than I needed. I'm pretty sure the doctor prescribed a smaller one because he said, two doses twice daily and that there would be 4 doses left over if I had a coughing fit and needed an extra dose. Four extra doses vs. 172 extra doses. Seems fishy.

[zarapipe]

I'm betting it was just a mistakE. Dd got her Zantac double filled. It was the same price as other drugs when filled monthly, $12. Is $21 the charge on your plan for prescriptions?

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2015 8:54:50 GMT -5 swizz said:

Maybe it was all they had in stock?

That's what I think too. It's not a controlled substance and they charged you the right amount for what was dispensed so they didn't make a mistake per se.

[carrieq]

Another pharmacist lurker chiming in here  Symbicort is a combination inhaler that usually isn't used short term (not that it can't be, it just usually isn't) and most pharmacies are going to stock the most commonly used size which is one that has enough doses/puffs for a month at a typical dose of 2 puffs twice daily.  I promise they aren't just trying to make money.  Your prescription probably said qty of 1 and they just used the size they had in stock.  Otherwise they would've had to order the smaller size for you, making you wait another day or 2 to start using the inhaler, which isn't really an option in your situation.  Any other pharmacies in town probably wouldn't have had the smaller one in stock either.  Even if they had the smaller container in stock, occasionally we will see an insurance reject something like that because they don't recognize the smaller pack size in their computer system and will only pay for the larger size.  Just an FYI, I don't think they were trying to make more money.  They simply were trying to get the customer's med to them in as timely a manner as they could.  Hope this helps

[bananapancakes]

That makes sense carrieq. Thanks for chiming in.

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2015 8:34:59 GMT -5 bananapancakes said:

Paging @hannymaren and any other pharmacists.

I have bronchitis and was given a Rx for a Symbicort inhaler. The instructions are two inhalations, twice daily, for 7 days. So 28 all together.

I was given an inhaler with 200 doses. Way more than I need. I looked it up online and it does come in smaller sizes.

The cost of the inhaler was $107 but we have a pretty good drug plan so I only had to pay $21. I can't help but think that I was given a much larger one than needed so the pharmacy could make more of a profit. Does this actually happen or am I just being cynical. Has this happened to anyone else?

That's the only size in Canada.

[boiler717]

Most of the smaller sizes of inhalers are for either sampling or hospital use only, neither of which a retail pharmacy could dispense to you.

[Deleted]

And just for reference, few pharmacists are motivated to make more money or upsell especially if they work for a chain.
We make 10% on the cost of drugs that are less than $500 but a lower % over that. So the difference between $100 inhaler and a $50 one is $5 profit. We wouldn't likely 'cheat' a customer for that. Well we wouldn't do it all.

[bananapancakes]

@hannymaren, I figured as much, especially with chains but this was an independent one right next to a walk-in clinic (which was open on a Sunday!) I just got an odd feeling from them and wondered if they were somehow in cahoots with the Dr. at the clinic. Thanks for clarifying.

[bananapancakes]

I had never met this doctor before. He asked me what kind of drug plan I had before writing the Rx and the pharmacy tech commented twice on what a good drug plan I had. Plus the Dr. prescribed antibiotics which I likely didn't need.

It's nice to know that there was likely nothing shady going on. I was just so relieved to see a Dr. and get something to make me feel better that I didn't question it then, just now as I'm on my last day with this inhaler thst still has over 100 doses left did I start to wonder.

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2015 11:01:03 GMT -5 bananapancakes said:

@hannymaren, I figured as much, especially with chains but this was an independent one right next to a walk-in clinic (which was open on a Sunday!) I just got an odd feeling from them and wondered if they were somehow in cahoots with the Dr. at the clinic. Thanks for clarifying.

Some independents are definitely sketchy. But I shouldn't paint them all the same. I have friends that own their own stores and they are fantastic.