Complain about a product or service

Wal-Mart Pharmacy

Luther of Charlotte, NC December 20, 2007

My wife called her prescription in to WalMart. When I went to pick up her medicine, the pharmacist gave us the wrong medicine. It was not realized until my wife had almost taken the pill that it was the wrong medicine. My wife is on a lot of medication right now. Is there any thing that can be done about this?

Karen of Oklahoma City, OK December 18, 2007

During a recent trip to Walmart pharmacy, I was written a prescription for a generic version of prilosec. My fiance had to pick that up and the pharmacy didn't offer the dosage that was written out by my doctor. In the past they have always called the doctor instead of filling the prescription. This time they didn't do that, they filled it with the regular prilosec which was 76.68. The presciption the doctor wrote me was not for this medicine but all they could say was it wasn't their fault.

I had to spend 76.68 that I didn't have for the pharmacy's mistake and they made me feel as though I was the one who was in the wrong.

Kim of Finksburg, MD December 11, 2007

I have had to many bad experiences at the pharmacy. I called with a transfer for them to do. This was about 11am. I came in at 5:45pm and dropped another script off. I was told it would be thirty minutes. When I came back up, I was informed that they never called for the transfer and my other med was not filled. This happens quite frequently and I am put in a line that takes 20-30 mins to get through. I am getting close to removing my business from the store. I have never been treated this bad before.

Jennifer of Ocala, FL December 9, 2007

I filled my normal prescription of Oxycodone 5mg tablets on 12/05/07. I have filled this same prescription at the same store on 3 previous occasions with NO issues. On 12/5 I took a pill; it tasted different, I became very sick (vertigo like symptoms), and developed hives/swelling on my hands/arms. Th symptoms passed - I took a second pill - no problems at all. I figured it was a fluke reaction. Before bed, I take my 3rd pill of the day (still 12/05). Funny taste and same bad reaction. I dumped all the pills out and noticed that there were about 10 pills that had different ID numbers (everything else was identical). I called the pharmacy to tell them about the ID number difference and about thes ide effects I am having. The pharmacist (Steve, I think) says there is NO WAY that the pills can be different because he opened a new bottle to dispense my meds.

On 12/6 I go to the pharmacy but the manager is not in. I show my hands and the bottle of pills to the pharmacist; he refuses to do anything at all. He says the manager has to deal with it. 12/7 I go back to the pharmacy. I show Mike, the manager, my hands and the pills in question. He says that pharmacist who filled the prescription used the last of an old bottle plus some of a new bottle to fill my script (this is in direct contrast to what the first pharmacist said). I asked him to PLEASE double check the pills because I am definitely having a reaction to these particular ones. He assured me 4 times it was 'just a coincidence' and that the pills were definitely oxycodone 5mg. OK. I go home and take one just to see if he's right. I get hit with all the same symptoms (only worse). Now I am steaming. I went online and did some searching of my own. After 20 minutes (not much effort at all) I come across the mystery pills (pic, ID and everything). It was DEMEROL 50MG TABLETS. Big difference as far as I know.

So, I call the pharmacst.... When tell him what I found, he is baffled. Can't understand how it could've happened. Is willing to explain to my doctor about the mistake. What if I had a documented allergy to DEMEROL? What IF something serious had happened? I know nothing permanent or serious happened as a result of this but the last 5 days have really stunk. I have been sick and swollen. I have a 2-yr-old and a 3- month old that I coudn't care for because I was so sick. If one person had taken the time to look into my issue, they might have caught the mistake sooner. I know the reason I got brushed off was because it was pain medication.

Donna of Louisville, KY December 4, 2007

First off, I sent my grand-daughter to get many different prescriptions. I had just gotten out of rehab and can hardly walk. One of those prescriptions was a narcotic, Xanax. My prescription was for 60 Xanax and I received 38. 22 were missing. I caught the mistake a soon as I got my meds. I called them and asked them about it; all the pharmacist had to say was someone outside their pharmacy had stolen some. The bag had not been opened through out the transfer. Then she accused me of holding onto the missing 22 so I could receive more. I was extremely upset, but what could I do? I dropped it.

The next time I got some meds, just 2 weeks later, I was given levothyroxin, but the problem was I was given 2 of the same bottles, same mg, same filling date etc. but the pills were 2 different colors. I called the pharmacist again and she once again rudely told me that I, myself, switched bottles. How could I have with it being the same dates? Well, I took the bottles to her to show her. It was plain as day that the bottles were the same. She shrugged her shoulders and then said that one was a higher dose. If that was the case why was it put into a lower dose bottle, the same dose as the other bottle. She did nothing for us and just kept accusing me of switching bottles. I was furious and have tried the past week to get help. It took my daughter in-law to go up there and get it right. But this time it was a different manager, asst. manager Jennifer. This manager was as sweet and kind as could be. The problem is it will take someone to die or get hurt before anything is done.

I am paying for medications that I can't even use, and I am going days, even weeks without meds that I need. I cant walk and I am a diabetic. I have arthritis along with many other problems and I am going without my meds.

Sharon of Diamond, MO November 26, 2007

On November, 20, 2007, I went to fill my pain medication that my doctor had called in. I realized I was filling it a day early, only because we were going out of state for the Thanksgiving holiday. I was advised by this pharmacist that I could not have it because the insurance would not fill it and I explained the only reason I was filling it early was because of the holiday. I even offered to pay for enough to get me through the weekend and she said I could not because of it being a controlled substance, which still didn't make sense to me. I would think I would have the right to pay for my own medication or run it through my insurance. She then assured me it could be filled at another Walmart as it could be transferred once. However, what she didn't do is inquire as to what state I would be going to to make certain what the laws in that state are. In the state of Texas, a controlled substance prescription can't be transferred without the actual prescription. Walmart had actually filled the prescription and no longer had the orginal. This second pharmacist, before faxing anything, should of verified with the Walmart in Austin, TX. I even gave him their phone number. So now I know I'm not going to get home in time to get my pain medication, so I called Walgreens in Joplin, MO because they are a 24 hour pharmacy and  Walmart tells Walgreens this can't be transferred because it's been transferred to Walmart in Texas. I can't get in touch with my doctor because it's a holiday weekend. They have totally messed this prescription up.

This pharmacy caused me considerable amout of pain as well as other types of withdrawal problems, because this is a medication you don't just stop as you need to have a doctor monitor this. This just made what was supposed to be a family holiday very painful and ill.

Michael of Pasadena, MD November 11, 2007

This Walmart pharmacy employs rude, incompetent employees and is a most unprofessional pharmacy. After being told it would take 45 minutes for my prescription, I waited 2 hours to then be told it's still not ready. When I asked for the actual prescriptions back, they literally had to root through the trash to retrieve them. I think some English speaking employees might have helped, but none were there.

After telling the Walmart manager about the delay, her response was a shoulder shrug. Their really bad attitude was evident through out the whole process. It will probably take someone's death to change the way they operate, and thats a shame.  Never again will I use Walmart Pharmacy for such an important transaction. Health care may not be Walmart's forte; they should stick to cheap overseas products for their profits.

Susan of Nmb, SC November 6, 2007

I went to pick my prescription from Walmart this evening 11/5/07. My prescription was ready, and the guy at the register said it was 137.36. I was surprised because the same prescription was usually 48.00. They had done a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply. I asked if they could change it to a 30-day supply because this was almost 100.00 more than I was prepared to pay. He ask the pharmacist if I could get it changed. Her response was (NO EYE CONTACT AND IN A VERY DISGUSTED TONE OF VOICE) she'll have to wait because we'll have to do the whole process over. They did not give me a time as to when it would be ready, very unconcerned or caring!

I needed my prescription so I paid the 137.36. This is not the first bad experience I have had with Kara. She is in charge, and this is all the more reason for her to be a little more personable with the customers. I am a restaurant manager and would never treat any of my guests in the manner I was treated today at WalMart. I will be moving my prescription across the street to Walgreens.

Sharon of Glen Burnie, MD November 1, 2007

I was waiting in line at Walmart to pick up a prescription that had been called in two days prior. The clerk made 5 other people and me stand in line, waiting, while she was upset with someone not responding to her call right away. After our waiting for 15 minutes, she shut the window down and said she was going to lunch. Could she not tell us when we were standing there that she was not going to wait on us? This is a frequent ordeal with this pharmacy. I have been there 3 times, and every time there has been a bad experience. When I asked for the manager I was told he doesn't get involved with these ordeals and to call 479-273-8800 ext 52224. I have tried three times to call this long distance number only to receive no response. They will never have to worry about me or my family shopping there again.

Lisa of Hamilton, OH October 16, 2007

I did not realize until later that evening when I was in the process of taking the medication that it was not mine. It was for another person and medical issue unrelated to me. Luckily I noticed the medication was different before taking it, who knows what might have happened. When I contacted the pharmacy I got a half hearted I'm sorry and to please return the incorrect medication to them and they would have my correct prescription ready when I came in. My concern is for others who may not be so lucky and take the improper medication with bad consequences or even death....is this happening a lot at Walmart Pharmacies?