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CVS Prescription Errors

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It's estimated there are as many as 7,000 deaths annually in the United States from incorrect prescriptions and pharmacy regulators say the problem is getting worse as the number of prescriptions increases and the number of pharmacists decreases.

But surely a big company like CVS has a way to reduce the number of errors to nearly zero? We'd like to think so but the accounts we hear aren't very encouraging. In addition to the general mishaps below, we have a growing collection of consumer complaints about potentially serious errors including wrong counts, wrong dosage, the wrong drug and mistaken identity. The service pharmacy patients and their caregivers receive also leaves a lot to be desired.

luis of south otselic, NY November 4, 2009

I filled a perscription for a medication called oxycodone for 120 ct on 10/30/09. I recieved a call from my doctor,s office stating that the pharmasist call in a refill for 60 pills due to an error on his behalf. Nick said he overfilled my script by 60 pills. As I was going through my home messages I was asked to contact the phamacy. After speaking with Nick he explained to me he called my Dr to get another script for 60 more pill and it would be at no addition charge to me it would just keep his inventory correct. I informed the phamasist that he did not make an error that I recieved the correct amount of pill,s which was 120ct. He has contacted me 2 times after that ensisting that I am mis counting he then explained to me that as soon as I left the store he realized that he had made the error if so then why did he not contact myself or my doctor the same day or next working day. His replie to me was that the phone number that he put in the system was incorrect it seems to me that he should be watch over or retrained on how to do his job.The date he contacted me is today November 3rd 2009.

karen of louisville, KY November 2, 2009

I have received miscounted refills, the wrong prescription, and the wrong pills many, many times. I don't know how many trips i've had to make back to the store to get the correct prescription.

Maryellen of Mount Laurel, NJ November 2, 2009

I had a prescription filled October 27th, 2009 for a malaria medicine, mefloquine, (my son is leaving for volunteer work in Nepal. After picking up the medicine and returning home, we noted that the dosage instructions said to start taking 8 days prior to travel and every day during and for 4 weeks after returning home. Take with food and 8oz of water. There were 16 tablets.

I called the pharmacy and spoke with the pharmacist who filled the prescription about the dosage instructions. I was told (in a very annoyed tone) that the doctor had written the prescription… and CVS was merely filling it. If I had a problem with the amount of pills I should just contact my doctor.

Taken aback by the nasty attitude, I persisted and asked the pharmacist why they thought the quantity didn't equal the dosage instructions. The pharmacist again (in a very exasperated tone) stated again that I should talk to my doctor as he was the one who had only prescribed 16 tablets.

But still I insisted something must be wrong-- only 16 tablets? Didn't CVS owe me more and could they at least check on the quantity before I attempted to call the doctor? The pharmacist then put me on hold, and came back about 3 minutes later, telling me my son was to take the tablets once a week.

I then asked what would have happened if he had started to take the tablets every day according to the dosage instructions on the label. Answer: probably nothing. (I later learned this is absolutely untrue. Larium (mefloquine is the generic name) can carry serious side effects. From the Roche website: Patients should be managed by symptomatic and supportive care following Lariam overdose. There are no specific antidotes. The use of oral activated charcoal to limit mefloquine absorption may be considered within one hour of ingestion of an overdose. Monitor cardiac function (if possible by ECG) and neuropsychiatric status for at least 24 hours. Provide symptomatic and intensive supportive treatment as required, particularly for cardiovascular disorders.

It is important to keep in mind my son would have taken the equivalent of 7x the dosage if he had followed the dosing instructions as written. Unfortunately, I lost my cool and berated the pharmacist for the mistake. I felt bad, as they then got very, very upset and stated they had been working 14 hours days. I have no idea why CVS would require a pharmacist to work such hours, but it seems like a recipe for disaster.

I felt sorry for the pharmacist at this point, but I am still concerned about the potential harm that could be caused to others. I feel the problem ultimately lies with CVS and it's employee policy as to work hours, and staffing problems. I feel they are exhibiting an utter disregard for consumer safety.

I contacted the CEO of CVS, Thomas R., and in an email I explained everything that had happened, and asked for some sort of comment or response as to the alleged hours they ask their employees to work. I know he read the letter as I sent it with a delivery and read receipt requested. I never heard back from him.

I did receive a phone call from a Michael T., director of customer relations, he left a message on my answering machine at work and stated he'd call back, but he never did. I then sent him a letter explaing my concerns, and to please write back as I can't properly converse in private while at work in a cubicle. He never responded either.

I feel CVS should take precautions to make sure mistakes like this happen as seldom as possible. I gave them a chance to refute the allegations of overworked employees. I still would like an answer, but it looks like they feel there is no need to respond or investigate.

Amy of Fort worth , TX October 30, 2009

I dropped a script off for my 7 yr old son for 2- 150 mg of lithuim twice a day. i looked at the bottle about 3 days later. my child was not acting right and could not control his body fluids, etc... when i looked at the bottle they made the label as 2-300 mg of lithium twice a day. so in other words my child was to have 150 mg tab in the morning and 150 mg tab in the evening. i was giving him 300 mg tab in the morning and 300 mg tab in the evening before i noticed what had happened , and he went into a rage at daycare.

Shertina of Lexington Park, MD October 29, 2009

On Oct. 15, 2009, I took a new prescription for a medication, Vyvanse 70 mg, 30 day supply (1 a day) to the pharmacy. This medication is considered a narcotic and therefore, a new script has to be written each month. I have taken this medication for a year, and there is no generic for it. The pills are orange and navy blue. I returned to the pharmacy is about 3 hours and picked up the medication to take when I got home because I had missed my dose for the day. I opened my bag and found the bottle filled with capsules that were white and orange/yellow w/ 35 mg printed on the pill. I knew immediately that they were not my pills and did not take them, but they needed to be returned. My sister took the pills to CVS #1522and explained what happened and the pharmacist said that they were filled at store #1497 and they would have to be returned to them. However, she made a note of the problem. The pills were returned and exchanged for the correct ones. However these are narcotics and who received my pills if I got those?

Carey of Gaithersburg, MD October 27, 2009

Lost refill information, dispensing wrong drugs, errors in dosage information. When confronted with errors, pharmacy personnel become hostile and defensive. Every encounter that I have had with CVS has been extremely unpleasant, particularly the pharmacy department. Its personnel seem frazzled and overworked, and make serious medication errors. When they are confronted with a problem or a mistake, which they themselves have created, they become hostile and rude. Most doctors abhor CVS because the pharmacies are infamous for lost prescriptions, incorrect refill information, incorrect dosage directions, et al.

Because of this history, I am filing a formal complaint with the pharmacy board, in Maryland and DC. I will also contact HCFA and the FDA—CVS stores are downright dangerous. Patients with Medicare and Medicaid need to be protected against your arrogance and medication errors.

Lisa of Williamsport, OH October 21, 2009

My 16-year-old daughter had an eye infection so the doctor prescribed Ocuflex ophthalmic solution. I stopped going to CVS a while back because they always shorted my husband on his meds and I'd have to go back for the rest. Unfortunately, the Kroger where I usually get meds filled was having computer issues so I went to CVS thinking they couldn't short a bottle of eye drops. They didn't. What they did do was give my daughter ear drops (Ofloxacin) instead. I didn't even realize it until my daughter mentioned it the following week. For almost a week, she was putting ear drops in her eyes 4-6 times a day. It says right on the label that it's ear drops and in the instructions it says "in both eyes". If anybody had a lick of sense, they should have caught this. My daughter reasoned that maybe it had a dual purpose. I didn't check it. I made the mistake of trusting the pharmacist. I will never, ever go to CVS again. It's ridiculous that they keep getting by with stuff like this.

maria of Dallas, TX October 12, 2009

need to speak to someone bout my prescrictions not given right dose...located in dallas tx on w illinoise ave 75224. i have got pescriction for my children. i picked it up trusting them to give me the right amont! later after 3 days of giving my kids the medicine i relized that it wasnt enough medicine left ..the amont of medice was for five days 2 times a day! and in the three days i gave them there was only alittle left. just by looking at it u cud tell it wasnt enough for the next two days. i conserned about this becuase what if i had to give it to them exactly the right amount n of course it wasnt enough.

did they mess up on the amount it was supose too be r how do they mix the medicine n know the right measurement. so i called them and i let them know what happend n they said just give them (my kids) just till its finished. so i told them but it say for five days n its not enough for five days they said it sud had been i was like well its not. im so conserned cause it was for the flu. the medicine was tamiflu. what if something goes wrong to my kids because i didnt give them the right amount. what if the virus wasnt killed cause what was missing!

they told me to go back tommorow to talk to the maneger! i dont know what he r she is going to say but hopefuly they give me the amount of medicine that was missing r explain to me what went wrong r if thats wat they give, even if its not enough for five days why does it say five days n its not enough for five days. cud this have been a mistake of an employee r what! i need to know because i know they messed up! if something happens to my little girl i will go crazy r my boy!

Cynthia of San Diego, CA October 2, 2009

I had a prescription for 75mg Plavix filled at the pharmacy after my heart attack. The dose instructions were to take 1 tablet twice daily. Since this was the first time I had taken this medication I was unaware that this was double the dosage prescribed by my doctor. The instructions should have read take 1 tablet once a day.

Cindy of Lillington, NC September 28, 2009

There have been several incidents over the course of a year or more. They have given my parents the wrong medication; filled the same medication twice in the same day; lost medication. My parents are 76 and 79 and their ability to deal with these mistakes are very limited. I have talked with the Drug Store and they do not offer any ways to correct their errors. I am concerned that someone is going to die or suffer due to the Drug Stores mistakes.