Sometimes I get paranoid about what other people may think of me.

Whenever I go to the pharmacy and pick up my medication, they always say my medications out loud so everyone can hear them. They're basically yelling. "SO WE HAVE LATUDA, LEXAPRO, LAMICTAL AND ATIVAN. BE CAREFUL BECAUSE ATIVAN IS ADDICTING LIKE XANAX. DON'T TAKE YOUR ATIVAN TOO MANY DAYS IN A ROW. OH, AND YOUR LATUDA ISN'T IN A NORMAL CONTAINER. IT'S IN A WHITE CONTAINER LABELED 'LATUDA'. BE CAREFUL WITH LAMICTAL. YOUR DOCTOR IS TITRATING YOU UP. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE PHARMACIST."

I'm thinking, "yes, I do have a question. Can you tell your employees to shut the f*** up?"

It makes me even more paranoid. Are anyone else's pharmacists that annoying?why not tell everyone that I'm bipolar while you're at it!!

Geez. You'd think they could be more private about the whole thing

[Icare dixit]

Nobody knows about those meds (maybe only Xanax, but many use it).

I found a solution: don't go. I haven't had any problems so far (which is really surprising, so maybe my brain just healed).

Seriously, nobody cares. And if they do, why would you?

Edit:
Maybe something to (help to) overcome your social anxiety even. Exposure helps. Free therapy! Maybe even better, and I am serious, talk about it with people waiting with you (or at least do small talk).

[raspberrytorte]

Lol. I'm sorry.

Next time ask them to be more quiet. That's what I would do. I'd be angry too. I'm pretty sure they're not supposed to announce to the entire world what people are taking, no matter what it is.

Hugs.

[raspberrytorte]

Or better yet, say, can you please not announce to the entire world what I'm taking. If you want to go the really direct route, which I'd be inclined to do.

[Icare dixit]

Or just be very late or early in the day.

Take my example: I have to go now to be there just before closing time (self-sabotaging to the rescue! ).

[pirilin]

"Yes, I have a question for you". "What school for the deaf did you graduated from."
Don't mind the rest of the people in line. They are stupidier that the pharmacist. Presumably. In my case, I'm the one that shouts WHERE IS MY ADDERALL!!!.

[Ellie_jo]

I think they have to tell you the names of the drugs for safety reasons but I used to fill at target and they would just show me the rx label with the name of the drug and ask me if it was correct before bagging it. Maybe they could do this? I'm not sure but if you ask maybe they could put a note in your file to do this instead? Or at least be more private about it. Worth a shot. At the very least the staff might realize they are being a little rude to people when they do that.

I'm just glad my medications aren't embarrassing. Could be worse

"HI, WE HAVE YOUR EXPLOSIVE DIARRHEA MEDICATION READY. THIS IS TO BE INSERTED UP YOUR BUTT AFTER EACH MEAL."

Like really... No such thing as privacy!

[raspberrytorte]

Lol blue! I was actually thinking about the same thing.

[Victoria'smom]

Can you go through a drive-thru?

[lilypup]

I go to CVS. They have a line people have to stand behind and wait while you are getting your rx. They speak in a normal subdued tone. They seem to understand privacy issue.
I also agree with trying the drive thru.

[Icare dixit]

I heard some discuss meds for haemorrhoids once. I didn't even know they had meds for those.

Do remember the person to this day! (not at all)

What does bother me a bit is that they know me. Actually it doesn't really, it bothers me that I have to be there so often, but it's fun: it makes people look very suspicious.

You see them doing the math: chronic illness where you don't get too many meds at one time... crazy!

No they don't.

I do practice my "spot the loony" skills though. I am getting pretty good at it. (this one's serious, but it takes a loony to spot a loony. I hope. No-one does that: people don't like games, I found out the hard way. )

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Can you go through a drive-thru?

Or just drive through any regular pharmacy. Lot's of privacy. They might still figure it out, though.

[Standup2me]

I have the best pharmacist in the world. When I was taken off Lamictal and put on Lithium I had a bit of a breakdown. She called me at home to see if I was okay and did I need anything.
She is great

[st0psign]

I HATE the pharmacy (especially walmart) ive actually lost it and gone apeshit in walmart before because one of them ive gone to requires the pharmacist to talk to you before you are handed your meds. Im like **** you i know more about this than you do been on the same ones for years, now give me my drugs!!! Needless to say i dont go to ANY walmart pharmacy anymore.

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@BlueBicycle: that was really funny!

I'm on a first-name-basis with the pharmacists and it's kinda embarrassing but i know they are well-intentioned and are just trying to be friendly. In my province you now have to show your health card and sign for benzos which i resent as it is a dead give-away to other customers that you're taking something naughty.

[Hawkke]

Working in a healthcare setting myself (pharmacy specifically) it's unprofessional and inappropriate to say the name of a medication in front of other patients. When I'm counseling someone I point to the name of the medication I'm speaking about even if it's a blood pressure med. it's not up to me to decide what's sensitive and what's not. If the patient uses the drug name aloud I may speak it then. Also, never use a drive thru if you're concerned about privacy. There's just no conceivable way at this time for that to be private.

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[notz]

From the Code of Ethics for Pharmacy Technicians:

A pharmacy technician respects and supports the patient's individuality, dignity and confidentiality.

You have every right to request that your medications not be disclosed.

[MusicLover82]

That's infuriating! They are supposed to be careful about privacy. I would call a manager and complain or email the company. Is it a big-name pharmacy or local?

bluebicycle!
Yes, that's obnoxious. You absolutely can -- and should-- point their inappropriate volume to them. Surely others have this problem with them as well. As notz pointed out, it's their professional duty, and it seems they need to be reminded of this. Chances are pretty high that they have one of those "please wait here for customer privacy" kind of signs on a stand. I'd be tempted to step back, grab it by the post and tilt it while gesturing "Carol Merrill style", with a questioning "hello??!!" expression. Then again, I'm a smart azz

The inappropriate incident that stands out the most for me was regarding Lamictal. Nowhere does it indicate what it's being prescribed for. One time, apropos of absolutely nothing, in the midst of ringing me out at the register, a tech asked "so how is this working for your headaches?" I just glared at her. Fishing much? WTF?!

(Strangely, it's sometimes prescribed off-label for them. But that's hardly the point.)

Yeah, ask them to be more quiet if it bothers you. It's there job to go over warnings and it's better they warn people of the potential for benzo abuse. Better safe than sorry. But I can see how this would be embarrassing for sure. (((Hugs))))