[Fresia]

I picked up my monthly scripts, (it's quite a list), just now and am not sure what to think except that I am so appalled.

There's a new pharmacist, where I have been going for years, friendly with all the others, always helpful and on the ball. First time he's been there when I've had anything filled. He says to me, "You are on an awful lot of meds. Have you considered the ramifications of taking so much and do you really need them all?"

I was so floored. My only response in that moment of shock was that, "I don't take them for pleasure and he needs to mind his own business." He might have actually been genuinely concerned in hindsight but I just couldn't believe he would say something like that. I couldn't even get to my grocery shopping, I was just fuming, in tears as I left, and embarrassed: for the situation, my reaction ( I was so rude), and for the fact that I hate taking all of these meds, hate it and embarrassed by the meds in and of themselves. Yes, they allow me to function and have a life but still, would I rather not be taking them, of course, what person wouldn't? Conjures up all sorts of issues, my 'cryptonite' so to speak. As if I needed someone else saying something about it.

I'm not sure what I'll do about this b/c I still can't believe it.....

I appreciate y'all listening. I'll figure out something when I have a moment to catch my breath. I just don't know, all sorts of things running through my mind but I know I need to sleep on it. But right now I have to study. I thought I was taking a nice break by running to the store for an easy errand. Go figure.

Thank you for listening meanwhile!

[venusss]

well, he is an expert and maybe he was honestly concerned. There are people who are seriously overmedicated out there...so maybe that's where his worry came from. would you feel the same if he commented on an anti-biotic you were prescribed, saying it might be a high dose?
however,if you don't feel overmedicated and this combo works for you, don't worry about the comment. If you feel there might be some problem talk to your doc.

[Fresia]

Yes I would feel the same b/c they aren't all psych meds, some are for other conditions. It was in hindsight as I was leaving the store that I realized he might have actually been concerned and why the tears came. I was ashamed at my response and wanted to apologize but just couldn't go back in immediately. I need to consider how going to approach this next time I see him or to go in specifically. I just feel miserable at the moment for so many reasons.

[Emotionally Dead]

I wouldn't apologize at all. While he may have actually been concerned, it wasn't very professional of him to say it that way. If he felt like they were too many and could be dangerous to your health, he should have called the person who prescribed them and spoke with him/her rather than say it in front of you in a PUBLIC place. Don't feel bad, you had good reason to be upset and I for one would have done the same thing.

[AAAAA]

While he may be an "expert" unless you have several different doctors writing Rxs without knowing what the other is writing I would defer to the doctor's judgement.

I don't think you were rude at all. In fact I would call and ask to speak to whomever is in charge and let them know how much this upset you. This is their business and they are usually very educated on the meds, perhaps more so than the doctor. They do have an obligation to call the doctor if they think a new med will react badly with one you are already on or to clarify orders. But other than that they need to keep their opinions to themselves! Just like any other business there is a proceedure for doing things properly. This guy failed miserably and needs to know that this is unacceptable!

[AAAAA]

Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he had your best interest at heart. It is still very important that he learns to deliver that information in a kind and caring way or he will not be able to help those that need him the most.

I would still call, even if it's from a kind place. He HAS to know that his words affect people, he must learn how to speak with the public, some of whom are in a very fragile place. He choose this profession.

[blueoctober]

Fresia; I don't think you were rude at all. I would have probably dropped the "f" bomb I had a co-worker who would ask me if I was concerned that my meds were bad for my central nervous system. After about the 3rd time I said well it's better than offing myself. Needless to say I wouldn't have the same tact as you did!

[BNLsMOM]

I would feel very uncomfortable if my pharmacist said that to me. That is very unprofessional. If my pharmicist has something to say about my meds, I woud hope he would take me aside to the "counseling" area and speak with me there.

[Anneinside]

I can see why you were upset by the comment but let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was genuinely concerned about your health. My mother had a very good pharmacist who noticed that she was using a lot more nitro than usual for her heart. He told her he wouldn't fill it any more until she saw her doctor. She went that day and was immediately sent to the hospital and had a triple bypass. If he hadn't intervened she would have continued with the nitro and had a heart attack. Our pharmacist can be a great help.

[AAAAA]

A good pharmacist is a treasure. They have the ability to save lives like in the case of your mother Anne. The problem arises when they do not have the ability to communicate well. When someone handles a situation badly like this, important information could be lost because after the insult, a person normally does not hear anything else.

[laur88]

I would've gotten upset too, Fresia. Whenever I go in and get my meds filled, I feel a bit embarrassed about what I'm taking so I bet if someone brought that up with me, i would not know how to respond either. Perhaps he was genuinely concerned but he didn't approach it in a fantastic way... I imagine it's because he's new. Maybe next time if he's there you could talk to him about it in private (something along the lines of what BNLsmom said about the counseling area). I'm sorry that his comment upset you so much but it totally wasn't overreacting!

[Fresia]

Thank y'all for your responses!

I really needed to sleep on it. I am going to talk to him directly, privately before I make any calls to higher ups. Let him know that I appreciated his concern and that I am aware of the meds as are all my docs; they are all on the same page. That I reacted as I did b/c it was in front of everyone and that I don't like having to take them; it should have been a confidential conversation and he should remember that in the future. Remind him also that if there is an issue, he should contact the docs directly as well.

I am not going to apologize for my reaction; he was inappropriate. I wish I had the mindset to have handled it better in the moment but ce la vie. I value the pharmacists more than most. They know more than the doctors when it comes to the meds and have caught a lot that the doctor's have tried to prescribe that would have been harmful if mixed. I understand the concerns; I have them myself and research the meds myself even catching things the pharmacist at times has not. So I am very aware of my meds, their roles, necessities, and unfortunate reliance on them. If it means a lot of them, I have to function in this lifetime. If it kills me in the end, they are keeping me living now and at least I lived the best way I knew how.

If this conversation does not go well for whatever reason, I will contact management. Hopefully it will not be the case and was just a miscommunication in the first place. We'll see.

Thank you again for your responses and support, appreciated more than I can say!!!!

I would think that if you approach the pharmacist that way, it will go fine. Very well thought through.

[PT52]

Kind of jumping in late, but I agree with the consensus: he was out of line. Maybe your response was also, but that's understandable - you reacted in the way most anyone would. It seems to me that no one besides your doctors should say anything unless you ask for their opinion. It sounds like you have a good plan to resolve this, good luck!

[Petunia111]

I would remind him/her that since they don't have their medical degree, maybe (s)he should keep his respective opinions to himself.

[AAAAA]

Good luck to you and please let us know how it turns out.

[kikki27]

Originally Posted by Fresia

I picked up my monthly scripts, (it's quite a list), just now and am not sure what to think except that I am so appalled.

There's a new pharmacist, where I have been going for years, friendly with all the others, always helpful and on the ball. First time he's been there when I've had anything filled. He says to me, "You are on an awful lot of meds. Have you considered the ramifications of taking so much and do you really need them all?"

I was so floored. My only response in that moment of shock was that, "I don't take them for pleasure and he needs to mind his own business." He might have actually been genuinely concerned in hindsight but I just couldn't believe he would say something like that. I couldn't even get to my grocery shopping, I was just fuming, in tears as I left, and embarrassed: for the situation, my reaction ( I was so rude), and for the fact that I hate taking all of these meds, hate it and embarrassed by the meds in and of themselves. Yes, they allow me to function and have a life but still, would I rather not be taking them, of course, what person wouldn't? Conjures up all sorts of issues, my 'cryptonite' so to speak. As if I needed someone else saying something about it.

I'm not sure what I'll do about this b/c I still can't believe it.....

I appreciate y'all listening. I'll figure out something when I have a moment to catch my breath. I just don't know, all sorts of things running through my mind but I know I need to sleep on it. But right now I have to study. I thought I was taking a nice break by running to the store for an easy errand. Go figure.

Thank you for listening meanwhile!

That was rude on his part thats he did not have permission to ask you this cause Its what your doctor gave you he or she know what they giving you to get too be able to function he was so out of line .Dont be said you did nothing wrong and if you are upset about it you can take your meds at a different place.huggs