I had a really frustrating experience with my pharmacy today and I would like others' experiences.

I had a very bad physical reaction to lithium (which is unfortunate; it works well otherwise). I had to stop taking the lithium; my pdoc prescribed Lamictal instead.

I went to the pharmacy only to be told the script wasn't ready. Annoying, but the usual. I left, intending to return in a couple of hours and pick up the script. Went home.

I called later on and was told the Lamictal would be ready "in 5 minutes" and to come right over and pick it up.

15 minutes later I was in the pharmacy. Waited in the usual line. The woman working told me yes, the Lamictal is ready, "But the pharmacist isn't here." I replied that that was okay; I didn't need a consult with the pharmacist. The woman said, "Oh, well, this is a new prescription and we can't release a new prescription when the pharmacist isn't here. She's at dinner."

I said something like You have got to be joking...I was just told by a pharmacy employee to "come right over" and pick up the Lamictal. The woman said I'm sorry......

I was FURIOUS.

Hours later I went to the pharmacy AGAIN. Gave the man working my info, he handed the bag with the Lamictal in it to me and said, "Would you like a consult?" I said, "No, I don't need one." Dude shrugged, said have a good night. I left.

In all my many years of picking up prescriptions I have never, ever been told that the pharmacist has to be present in order for a new script to be released.

This was CVS, by the way.

Does anyone know if this is standard procedure? Is it only CVS? Which pharmacy do you go to and how do you like it?