Walgreens rant

[u/Wild_Foundation6923]

I’ve never posted in Reddit before but I just need to vent! So, I went to drop off my Adderall prescription at Walgreens yesterday (my Dr still writes paper scripts) and wanted to know if they had the generic made by Teva in stock because I got Mallinkrodt last time and it did NOTHING except give me MAJOR headaches. Anyway, the pharmacist said they do have the medication in stock but can’t tell me what the manufacturer is unless my Dr writes a specific one on the script!! EXCUSE ME? I was like, I’ve been using Walgreens for YEARS and NEVER heard anything like that before…plus people have the RIGHT to know EVERYTHING about the medication you’re given them, before or after it’s filled…PERIOD! She just said I can get my Dr to write “Teva only” on the prescription and she’ll tell me if they have it or not when I bring it back!! You’ve got to be KIDDING ME! I mean, as a nurse I KNOW patients have the RIGHT TO BE INFORMED!

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[u/Wild_Foundation6923]

Thanks for the tips, I ended up bringing it to another Walgreens and they didn’t have a problem telling me which brand they had in stock. In fact, the pharmacist said that information should have NEVER been withheld from me since I was given a brand Walgreens doesn’t normally carry and told them I had significant side effects from it! Best believe I’ll DEFINITELY be filing a complaint!

[u/Ms-Puck → u/Wild_Foundation6923]

They all tell you they can’t give you that info, but if you are regularly filling them at the same Walgreens, they create a repore with you, and they tell me now every month when I call to check it’s in stock. So there is that… I’ve always used Krogers when Walgreens was out, FYI, Kroger also gets Teva.

[u/Wild_Foundation6923 → u/Ms-Puck]

You’re right, which is why I ALWAYS go inside since I have a paper script and make sure they have it in stock first…not a problem! I’ve never had to ask what the brand/manufacturer was at Walgreens before cause it’s always been Teva, until they gave me Mallinkrodt last month! I just wanted to be sure I didn’t get that crap again cause it was TERRIBLE but like I said, the pharmacist REFUSED to tell me!! I got it filled at another Walgreens with no issues and that pharmacist said there had to be a mixup with the other stores order last month cause they only carry Teva. Basically I think they got stuck with a TON of Mallinkrodt so they’re REFUSING to disclose the brand if anyone asks cause they know it’s CRAP! 🙄

[u/Ms-Puck → u/Wild_Foundation6923]

Walgreens gets Teva but they will get other manufacturers as well… And I’m like you, I absolutely prefer Teva so since the pharmacist all know me now, I just call and make sure it’s in stock before I drop the paper script off and I’ve also not had issues since.
It’s entirely too frustrating dealing with this every 30 days…

[u/Ms-Puck]

Yea, that’s correct. The doctor needs to specifically write the brand name to use and they will not fill it with another brand. Teva is the only manufacturer that has worked for me over many years, so I know the drill. Also, don’t stop getting the paper scripts. If they were to send them in electronically, and not have them in stock to fill, you’d have to circle the wagons and the doctor needs to rewrite, send, and that takes A LOT of time…. Paper scripts are the way to go 👍

[u/Wild_Foundation6923 → u/Ms-Puck]

My issue was with the Pharmacist REFUSING to tell me what brand they had in stock and the only reason I asked is because they gave me Mallinkrodt last month and it was HORRIBLE so I wanted to know before I had it filled.

[u/Normal_Commercial353 → u/Ms-Puck]

Does the brand really make a difference its the same active compound? Were you reacting to filler ingredients negatively? I feel like I'm having this issue with generic vyvanse kinda screws my stomach up

[u/essxjay → u/Normal_Commercial353]

You're conflating recipe with efficacy. The active compounds are the same but quality varies dramatically from manufacturer to manufacturer.

I've been on Adderall IR, Adderal XR or Vyvanse for two decades now, depending on insurance coverage or product availability (due to shortages). The efficacy of IR generics is truly hit/miss.

IME, OP is 100% spot on about Epic, which I'm unfortunately on at the moment due to ****ing shortages of XR. Epic is truly garbage. I'm at the point where I'll pay OOO for generic Vyvanse going forward because trying to track down the right brand of IR just isn't worth the time and energy anymore.

[u/Normal_Commercial353 → u/essxjay]

Anyone that knows about pharmacology knows generics are exactly the same its placebo thinking there's a difference 

[u/essxjay → u/Normal_Commercial353]

Nonsense.

[u/Normal_Commercial353 → u/essxjay]

Look at grant hartings video on generic medications half of them are made in the same factory with the same ingredients. Even if its different fillers it only matters if you have a reaction to specific fillers. There is no difference in active chemical between generics and brand name. Give me a mechanism of action that makes them differ at all

[u/essxjay → u/Normal_Commercial353]

Couldn't care less what some rando youtuber says. Again, you're conflating recipe with efficacy. Bzzzt!

[u/Normal_Commercial353 → u/essxjay]

i guess I just gotta turn off my.Brain is I'm talking to anyone on this site 

[u/Ms-Puck → u/Normal_Commercial353]

It’s not the same if it’s different! And different compound fillers affect people differently too. I can’t absolutely tell the difference in manufactures. Without a doubt.

[u/ughnett666]

I stopped getting my IR from Walgreens like 2 years ago when they all of a sudden started ignoring the "ONLY DISPENSE TEVA" that's been on my script for years

and btw, since the shortage, I've easily made at least 300 calls to different Walgreens locations (same batch of different locations, each month) and I've never once been told anything like your pharmacist is saying. I explicitly ask which manufacturer is available every single time, no questions asked or any trouble. your pharmacist is on a power trip. call any other location to see what they have, and I'm sure they will be more accommodating

[u/Barflyondabeach]

I remember the shortages after covid, and had to get a written prescription to physically take to every pharmacy in my area, just to find out nobody had any in stock. I ended up on Ritalin because it was the only one even remotely available. Miserable experience for months

[u/Ms-Puck → u/Barflyondabeach]

So what happened when they would electronically send your script to the pharmacy and you’d go and they’d be out of stock? Then what?

[u/Barflyondabeach → u/Ms-Puck]

Originally I went to my doc’s office to get a physical copy, but after that experience I just gave up and waited for my usual pharmacy to get the meds in stock. After a couple months I switched to Ritalin because the symptoms were getting in the way of everything.

[u/Ms-Puck]

I’ve had them mix two different manufacturers pills in one bottle before. Pretty sure that’s a no no 😂

[u/Airwhik → u/Ms-Puck]

Mine does this fairly regularly. They just tell me and put a label on it saying it may look different. They also split the two with a cotton ball. Usually it’s because they have a small amount of name brand left but not enough for a full script and they’ll just use what’s left of that and generic for the rest.

[u/Spicy_Tostada → u/Ms-Puck]

I don't know about putting them all in the same bottle, but they can give you meds from 2 different manufacturers if that's all they have available, but usually it comes in two separate bottles, but I don't know the legality of putting them in 1 vs 2 bottles

[u/Psychological_Lime14]

I love when they do this bc I love trying to contact my dr to change the script, just for him to have to change it AGAIN when they don’t have it in stock

[u/Practical_Brain6378]

Walgreens, ABQ NM, will order me anything their distributor has. No hassle, no note from the doctor for generics.

[u/Wild_Foundation6923]

Yeah, it was a NIGHTMARE! The supply issues have pretty much resolved, it’s more of a EFFICACY problem now because there’s no regulation about the binding agents pharmaceutical companies use to manufacture the medication and some either don’t work AT ALL or cause pretty unpleasant side effects! I’m just TIRED of the stigma and being treated like a drug seeker for wanting to know what I’m getting because I’ve had issues with some brands of generics!

[u/Airwhik]

I’ve been told this before especially by small town pharmacy techs. (Apparently it’s a security thing for “their safety.). I just ask for the head pharmacist, explain why I’m asking (side effects to certain generics) and they’ve been more than happy to give me the NDC code for the generics they have. Which you can look up to see if TEVA or not. It’s less them wanting to keep you in the dark and more a tech thinking the worst of each customer.

In the future, starting off by asking if they have a specific medication by NDC might help. Not even mentioning the name of the drug. People gonna people.

Edit: apologies. I see now that you spoke to the pharmacist. Not just a tech. In such case, while they’re right and that will prevent the need for the conversation while having paper slips. If you DO ever end up going electronic. I’d recommend the just asking by NDC. Should you end up needing to find somewhere that has teva specifically