[SingDanceRunLife]

One of my many prescription meds is Ambien. I just got it prescribed about a month ago, and I filled the Rx at the Target pharmacy at home. I'm now back at school, so I wanted to transfer my prescriptions to the Target pharmacy by my school, so I filled out the form online.

Today, I got a call from the Target pharmacy here, and they left a message saying all of my prescriptions but Ambien have been transferred and filled, and that the Ambien can't be transferred and must be filled and picked up at the original pharmacy. Ugh.

So I called the pharmacy at home and requested a refill, then called my dad, and he said he would go to the pharmacy this afternoon and talk to them and see what we should do (but that he'll probably end up mailing it to me).

I'm guessing the reason they won't transfer it is that it's a controlled substance...but it's the same pharmacy (Target), so I find it a bit surprising, and more than a bit inconvenient!

[nicoleb2]

Originally Posted by SingDanceRunLife

One of my many prescription meds is Ambien. I just got it prescribed about a month ago, and I filled the Rx at the Target pharmacy at home. I'm now back at school, so I wanted to transfer my prescriptions to the Target pharmacy by my school, so I filled out the form online.

Today, I got a call from the Target pharmacy here, and they left a message saying all of my prescriptions but Ambien have been transferred and filled, and that the Ambien can't be transferred and must be filled and picked up at the original pharmacy. Ugh.

So I called the pharmacy at home and requested a refill, then called my dad, and he said he would go to the pharmacy this afternoon and talk to them and see what we should do (but that he'll probably end up mailing it to me).

I'm guessing the reason they won't transfer it is that it's a controlled substance...but it's the same pharmacy (Target), so I find it a bit surprising, and more than a bit inconvenient!

Weird. I have transferred an ambien prescription before

[SingDanceRunLife]

It's probably just Target's policy. As I said, my guess is that it's because it's a controlled substance.

[~Christina]

Since they are both at Targets it make no sense at all about a transfer considering the info is already in there own computer system!!! I would go back and pretty much demand they fill the Ambien, If they still wont, just go to another pharmacy and trust me they will get it transferred.

Odd my daughter was 5 hours away at college and had loads of medications filled here and up there and never had a problem.

Sorry you have had this problem.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I know! It's weird! But honestly, I have a problem with my prescriptions literally every time I go from home to school or from school to home. They just can't seem to get it right!! So I'll order a refill, and it'll be filled at the wrong pharmacy, so then they have to call and get it transferred, and I end up having to wait to get it filled where I am. But, other than that, Target is the best pharmacy I have used, and it is by far the most convenient, so I just deal with it.

[SingDanceRunLife]

The pharmacy said they can't transfer the Rx because it's a controlled substance...but my dad brought it up to me, so it worked out okay.

[elliemay]

It really depends on the state. Some will transfer just one refill, some not at all. If it's within the state, then, well, that's just utterly ridiculous.

FWIW, I'm in the heart of the bible belt. When I moved here I brought an original prescription from my old psychiatrist for klonopin and CVS would not fill it.

Also, at that same pharmacy, when I procured a prescription written by a local prescriber, they filled it for half the amount that was written. They also indicated on the bottle that the entire prescription had been filled.

I knew I was in big trouble because they already think I'm a criminal for having it.

So... I took the 1/2 prescription back, pointed out their "error" and asked for the amount to be dispensed as prescribed.

The pharmacist flat out refused to do it.

I was calm, and said that clearly there was just a mistake here, but that some impropriety could be going on. Regardless of what they said, 1/2 the pills never came into my possession. For all I knew those pills were in his pocket. As a result, I would be calling state licensing board.

I walked out of there with my pills, never, ever to return.

[SingDanceRunLife]

It's all in the same state (NY), but I think it's a law that they can't transfer prescriptions for controlled substances.

If Target weren't such a good and convenient pharmacy, I would go elsewhere...but it's really the easiest place for me to get to, both at home, and at school. And from my experience, it's better than Rite Aid and Price Chopper (the worst), and from what I've heard, better than Wegmans.

[elliemay]

Originally Posted by SingDanceRunLife

It's all in the same state (NY), but I think it's a law that they can't transfer prescriptions for controlled substances.

If Target weren't such a good and convenient pharmacy, I would go elsewhere...but it's really the easiest place for me to get to, both at home, and at school. And from my experience, it's better than Rite Aid and Price Chopper (the worst), and from what I've heard, better than Wegmans.

I think NY has some wonky pharmacy laws anyway.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by elliemay

I think NY has some wonky pharmacy laws anyway.

Maybe. I don't know. I've only ever lived in NY.

[cybermember]

Any prescription deemed a controlled substance is tightly regulated and anything remotely using the word "transfer" will not occur with that prescription controlled substance. To get the script refilled near your college you would have to get a new script for your Ambien. Same goes for when you are home from college and need to refill that script you would then have to get a new script for the local pharmacy. The is no if, and, or but's. It's just the way the law is.