Duane Reade Prescription Errors

Humberto of Bronx, NY December 17, 2008

well after reading and reviewing the complains ablut duane read i think is very common for the pharmacy's to give the wrong dolcesage of medication i was suppose to receive 35mg of actonel and i receive 150mg insted thanks to god that i check the box before taking the pill and that this medication is not a instant killing pill.this happen at 617 west 181 st..washigton heights

Paul of New York, NY September 8, 2008

On Friday 9/5/08 My husband and I entered the Duane Reade at 609 Columbus Ave in an attempt to collect a prescription that I had been trying to get filled for three days. After having my Doctor call to make sure all was correct with the new prescription, for there had been a problem with the old one, pharmacist Nan Zhao told me all was well, the problem had been solved but, I must return in 2 hours. After going to another appointment and returning 3 hours later, alone, I again tried to collect the medicine.

Mr. Zhao told me it was not ready I would have to wait. Trying to be patient, I waited, walked around the store and sat to wait some more. I asked again when would it be ready. He told me in a very nasty way that he did not know. I explained to him again that I need the medicine and reminded him it has already been three days. He told me he knew I needed it and that I should come back tonight or tomorrow or whenever. I then said I've been here waiting for over 30 minutes already just trying to find out the status of my meds. He ignored me and instead of filling the prescription he threw it aside dismissing me by saying you just have to wait, better yet you can take it somewhere else. I said this sort of thing happens all the time so, No! you fill it and then maybe I will go somewhere else, from now on. Then Nan Zhao said, very sarcastically, with venom in his voice: Good I hope you mean it!! I Hope you don't come back here. Don't come back here ever.

Another customer then spoke up saying: yeah it does happen all the time here... and he is an a--hole. And some other customer agreed and expressed the same opinion. While yet another customer earlier had complained about her prescription not being ready and hers was done through the call in service. She said this happens to her all the time,also. I said see other people agree and think you're an a--hole too. Then he disappeared. I tried to speak to the other pharmacist and was yet again treated rudely. He made me spell my name while pretending to look for the prescription which he subsequently tells me is lost and that I must return later.

I returned to my home and explained the situation to my husband. We returned to the store and my husband approached Mr. Zhao and introduced himself and asked if Mr. Zhao was one of the persons to whom had spoken to his wife earlier. At first Mr. Zhao did not answer, trying to ignore my husband. My husband was upset at this rudeness and the fact of how I had been treated earlier. He then inquired about Zhao's treatment of me. To which Zhao said he did not like to be pushed and the medicine was not ready. When my husband explained to him that he was there the first time and had heard the promise of having the medicine ready in two hours, Zhao said there was a problem with the prescription. When my husband then again informed Zhao that he had also heard him say the the problem had been cleared up, and all was fine. All Zhao could do was hold his head down and say he had been helping me... I interjected and asked him, help me? How? My doctor called here and got this all correct. We live up six flights of stairs and we are sick people. We do not need to run back and forth while you hold us hostage for medications we need to have desperately.

Then the other pharmacist said well there was a problem with the prescription, My husband told him no there was not because Zhao had told him the problem was cleared up. The pharmacist then said well anyway we tell everybody to come back in two hours. We were even more appalled at this information and my husband said well that is very unprofessional and this is why you have lines going all the way to the front of the store. You have sick people who need there medications standing in a cold, air conditioned, store for nothing while you lie and tell them to keep coming back when you know the prescriptions will not be filled. Furthermore, you stand here and lie to me and say the prescription was lost. This is why people get so upset and have to take back their prescription and go to other pharmacies.

I find it hard to believe that in my neighborhood there is a Duane Reade every three blocks that has taken over other stores that have served us better. Maybe they should stop opening so many new stores and just start putting more help and better service in the existing store. Most people come to this store because it is a pharmacy not just a store where they go for food. We're not grocery shopping we go there to buy medicine. Everybody in that store was shocked to hear I had a problem and was not coming back there anymore, because I always got along exceptionally well with the clerks and people that work there. And could not believe the indifference of the pharmacist and their attitudes.

Time and money spent to keep going back to Duane Reades. The damage of not having my medication for four days. The fact that I had to take the prescription to another store. My husband has arthritis and 3 hip replacements and I have arthritis and many issue that are exacerbated with stress. We were both affected by this situation and feel that

Frieda of Staten Island, NY May 11, 2008

A script was filled for my aunt. It was for 25 mg of Zoloft (generic). Although the Duane Reade label states 25 mg., the bottle the pills were in ( the original manufacturers bottle) states 50 mg!!!! And thats what she got - 50 mg instead of 25 mg. Luckily she only took a 2 day supply before I noticed the error. The pharmacy apologized, although I have yet to speak with Larissa.

My aunt who is 93 appeared a bit more off balance, drowsy, nauseous, had more tremors, and confused. Her physician was reluctant in prescribing it, but thought it would be ok for her to start off very slowly, on 25mg.

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