[Taipans]

I got my prescription filled at Dierburgs instead of Walgreens due to a long line last night. My Clonzepam (sp?) pills were different looking them my old ones. They are blue with different numbers on them, as my old pills were yellow and flatter. Anyone else notice a change in how the pills are colored and shaped when they go to different pharmacys? And the medicene is exactly the same, it didnt go from generic to name brand or anything.

Thank you,.

Mark

[darkeyes]

Check it out, even if it is generic, just to be sure.
My Klonopin, according to dosage, has been yellow tablet.
My Ativan, is a white tablet, haven't recieved any different forms of it.
Sometimes, though not often (thank God) there can be a slip up where and who is filling the script. Twice my husband has had that with his diabetes and blood pressure meds. so it is always best to check back with the pharmacist.
What I do now is right ast the counter before I pay I check the bottle, cause if you leave, by law they will not allow you to return them, regardless if you opened the bottle or not.
Only twice have they taken them back, cause they re-read the doc's script or confirmed with the doc if script was correct.
Many pill colours can be different according to dosage, Ambien 5mg is a little pink capsule shape pill where the 10mg is white and round, though it is manufactured by the same company,shapes,colours and numbers are identifiers for many companies,pharmacies,law enforcers as well as the patient.
I urge you to confirm it is the right med. to be safe.
Take care,
DE

[Meta]

I would definitely call the druggist and doublecheck.

Just to share a med mix up I made. I used an empty but still labeled bottle of thyroid medication to put some over the counter combination headache medicine in my purse. Well at some point I took it out and put it in with the rest of my meds.

I completely forgot the switch and began taking one of the headache pills every a.m. thinking it was a thyroid pill. After about a week, I began to have some strange pains and was extremely tired
.
Well, duh!
Unbeknownst to me of course I was not getting my thyroid medication because I was taking a headache pill.
Before I came to this realization, the pains and lethargy were enough for me to call the doctor, and I had to have a pelvic exam (that's where my pain was primarily) and I think some blood work.( I dread blood work because my veins are difficult to find). Before anything came back, it suddenly dawned on me what I had done. Further testing and perhaps disaster averted!
Anyway, now of course I remove labels from pill bottles before I use them as travel containers for acetaminaphen or aspirin or motrin.
We have to be our own best friend when it comes to our meds. All kinds of medication errors are a big cause of death in this country. When I am tempted to short shrift myself, I ask what I would do if this were my daughter's or husband's medication. I have the same responsibility to myself as to them.

Meta

[Taipans]

So I just should take the bottle back up there and make them double check? I found some links online and its make by about 20 different companies. There are pills similar to mine but not exact. I wonder what this is?

*sigh*

[darkeyes]

I've done that to check them out, when it's non generic it's easier, most manufacturers will have a site and supply photographs for identification, but many of the companies that take over the "recipe" once patent has expired can put the med in the colour and shape they choose to use that will not or should not duplicate the original manufacturers.
I'd just show the pharmacy you purchased them from, driving out and waiting may be a hassle but it is important to confirm there has been no mix up.
Let us know how you make out.
Take care,
DE

Yes, I'd go back & check with the pharmacist. Just tell him/her that the pills are a different color or shape or whatever & you want to make sure it is correct. I once had them give me only 15 pills when I was supposed to get 30. I did find out when I got home & went back & they filled it correctly. Now I do count the pills in the car before I head for home.

Also, as far as putting pills in a different bottle. If you are travelling by plane, I believe they can seize medications at security that are not in the correct bottle with an intact label & prescribed to the person who is carrying it. I get most of my meds through mail order so I get 3 mos. at a time. I use an old smaller bottle to keep them in so I don't have to lug around the big bottles (which I think would not be ok cuz the date on the smaller bottle is pretty old) so I also carry copies of my prescriptions. If they decide to search me further & look at the bottles, I'm not sure what security would do. I just hope they would be wary of letting a biploar person on the plane without medication after some of the incidents thay have had.--Suzy

[Taipans]

I found it -

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/DisplayImage/1,20243,00185006401|1,00.html

Whew!

LOL

WTH! The link isnt working.... anyways its there, it was a different maker then I'm use to but the pill matches exactly so I should be ok.

[darkeyes]

Glad to hear the good news.