Walgreens: "Can't fill that prescription."
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I can see the pharmacy person double checking, but they should not absolute refuse to fill the prescription.
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I want to hear the other side of this story.
What's Walgreen or that individual pharmacist's reason for not filling that prescription? What's their basis for saying the doctor was practicing outside of his field?What's the pharmacy or pharmacist's risks or liabilities if it/he simply fills the prescription without double checking anything (other than the patient's identity and the script's authenticity)?
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I'd note the original Tweeter has the phrase 'Govt destroyed Medicine' and 'Our Rights come from God, not government', in their sig. line, so it's just remotely possible they have a bit of an axe to grind.
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Kind of reminds me of that John Mellencamp story where he was talking about his grandmother, not Biden.
@Mik said in Walgreens: "Can't fill that prescription.":
Kind of reminds me of that John Mellencamp story where he was talking about his grandmother, not Biden.
I wonder whether his grandmother was a Cougar too?
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A former colleague’s spouse is a pharmacist. She specializes in dispensing to diabetics and has done so for over 30 years. It is not uncommon for one of her diabetic clients to show up with a prescription from a G.P. that she cannot fill without putting the diabetic client at risk or even grave risk. When such occurs she tries to contact the prescribing physician to explain why she cannot fill the prescription as written but can suggest alternative medication or treatments. She says that 99% GP’s appreciate her interventions and admit they just do not have the expertise in drug interactions and pharmacology in general to know how diabetics react to certain medications or combinations of meds.
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Could it be possible this particular doctor has a bit of a reputation which the pharmacist is well aware of?
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All of these comments might be true, however, according to the doc the prescription was denied not because it was wrong, or dangerous, but because the pharmacist determined that the doc was "out of her lane" prescribing this medication for shingles.
She's an opthamologist, and, as her tweet states, she knows something about treating shingles with the possible ophthalmic complications.
Later in the thread, another doc says the same pharmacist refused to fill an off-label prescription for colchicine (a gout medication).
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All of these comments might be true, however, according to the doc the prescription was denied not because it was wrong, or dangerous, but because the pharmacist determined that the doc was "out of her lane" prescribing this medication for shingles.
She's an opthamologist, and, as her tweet states, she knows something about treating shingles with the possible ophthalmic complications.
Later in the thread, another doc says the same pharmacist refused to fill an off-label prescription for colchicine (a gout medication).
@George-K said in Walgreens: "Can't fill that prescription.":
All of these comments might be true, however, according to the doc the prescription was denied not because it was wrong, or dangerous, but because the pharmacist determined that the doc was "out of her lane" prescribing this medication for shingles.
She's an opthamologist, and, as her tweet states, she knows something about treating shingles with the possible ophthalmic complications.
Later in the thread, another doc says the same pharmacist refused to fill an off-label prescription for colchicine (a gout medication).
So it could easily be that the pharmacist is acting up, in fact it's probably the most likely explanation. It's just a little suspicious that somebody who appears to be a rather activist doctor runs into this.
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I too don’t think it is up to a pharmacist to vet any MD’s qualifications or competencies. If the pharmacist has a concern then he or she should contact their own professional college for guidance on the matter or request that it contact the physician’s professional college for clarification.
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Colchicine fell under a FDA drug thing where the Feds were cracking down on off-label uses.
Again, government has no business dictating medicine
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Colchicine fell under a FDA drug thing where the Feds were cracking down on off-label uses.
Again, government has no business dictating medicine
@Jolly said in Walgreens: "Can't fill that prescription.":
Again, government has no business dictating medicine
Hmm, not so sure about this. I think that the US FDA moves veeeeery slowly on things, and this sometimes puts them behind the rest of the world.
But....... I think this is the reason that the US medical drug system is (generally) the safest in the world. The odds of getting a hemmoroid cream that is 4% lead is pretty slim.
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I think the MD is right .. the Pharmacist should be reported. And reprimanded by the Pharmacy College, and put on notice with Walgreens. Pharmacists, the ones I know, are real smart, professional. They hold their clients’ trust and respect. Sometimes they do troubleshoot MD’s prescriptions, and med errors are prevented. Great. Thank you. But this one here? No.
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On the other hand, should not the ophthalmologist not referred the patient to or consulted with an MD if shingles were suspected? I would be surprised that the referral/consultation could not have been fast tracked to have been completed that very day.
A dentist could suspect shingles in a patient too, but that does not mean the tooth doctor should diagnose it and begin treatment.
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On the other hand, should not the ophthalmologist not referred the patient to or consulted with an MD if shingles were suspected? I would be surprised that the referral/consultation could not have been fast tracked to have been completed that very day.
A dentist could suspect shingles in a patient too, but that does not mean the tooth doctor should diagnose it and begin treatment.
@Renauda said in Walgreens: "Can't fill that prescription.":
A dentist could suspect shingles in a patient too,
DDS ≠ MD or DO.
My license says "physician and surgeon." If I tried to take out an appendix, I would be foolish, and would deserve whatever consequences come from such an attempt. Nevertheless, I am allowed to.
Whether I could ever get hospital privileges to do so is another question, but I am not expressly prohibited from doing so.
That said, is treating herpes zoster in the scope of practice of an ophthalmologist?
Yes. Yes it is.
An estimated 10–20% of shingles cases affect the eye. This type of shingles is known as herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO).
People with HZO may experience:
- tingling in the forehead
- severe pain in the nerves of the eyes
- fever
- eye inflammation
- Ophthalmologists can conduct exams and tests to determine the presence of HZO. Most people with HZO will receive systemic antiviral medications.
Regardless of the type of shingles specialist they choose, it is crucial for anyone experiencing symptoms of shingles to seek immediate care. Prompt treatment can help reduce the risk of developing painful conditions such as PHN.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology agrees:
https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/herpes-zoster-ophthalmicus-pearls
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@Renauda said in Walgreens: "Can't fill that prescription.":
A dentist could suspect shingles in a patient too,
DDS ≠ MD or DO.
My license says "physician and surgeon." If I tried to take out an appendix, I would be foolish, and would deserve whatever consequences come from such an attempt. Nevertheless, I am allowed to.
Whether I could ever get hospital privileges to do so is another question, but I am not expressly prohibited from doing so.
That said, is treating herpes zoster in the scope of practice of an ophthalmologist?
Yes. Yes it is.
An estimated 10–20% of shingles cases affect the eye. This type of shingles is known as herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO).
People with HZO may experience:
- tingling in the forehead
- severe pain in the nerves of the eyes
- fever
- eye inflammation
- Ophthalmologists can conduct exams and tests to determine the presence of HZO. Most people with HZO will receive systemic antiviral medications.
Regardless of the type of shingles specialist they choose, it is crucial for anyone experiencing symptoms of shingles to seek immediate care. Prompt treatment can help reduce the risk of developing painful conditions such as PHN.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology agrees:
https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/herpes-zoster-ophthalmicus-pearls
