This is a bit of a strange and difficult one

[oldanddone]

I take Tramadol for my back, which I fractured almost 3 years ago. I have really been taking these ever since then. I had noticed that I had been running out of them more quickly and putting in more repeated prescriptions but didn't look into it. The doctor phoned to say that I have had far more than needed and they won't give me another prescription. I take 6 a day. I phoned the pharmacy and they say I received 168 tablets last Friday. I have just checked and I had a box that hadn't been opened together with some other tablets. On the outside of the box it says there are 68 tablets. I have just opened the sealed box and there are 20. I have phoned the pharmacy and they don't believe me. I don't have anyone who could have taken them and anyway, the box was sealed closed. What do I do. I am seeing the pharmacist tomorrow but I only have enough to do me 4 days in total.

@oldanddone

I ripped it to open it and there were only 20 tablets in it instead of 68.

This makes me feel a pharmacy level issue as opposed to your family. I would do as pp mentioned above and raise with the appropriate body. It may spur them into either rectifying or owning up.

Good luck.

A repeated mistake though? She says she’s been requesting her tablets sooner than usual lately.

The box was sealed shut, so not her household. Not impossible but fairly sure there would be signs of drug use or someone having more money from selling them.

If OP did have 168 last Friday and now has 20, she probably wouldn’t be here making a post on Mumsnet!

It’s easy to prove either way. OP opens her tablets at the pharmacy, then checks every day at home.

Pharmacies usually know if they have made a genuine mistake. I take a medication and the tablets come in almost identical boxes of 28 and boxes of 7. Our pharmacy has twice given me two boxes of 7 instead of two boxes of 28. They have acknowledged it immediately when I have gone back.

Is it worth going along to the pharmacy asking to speak to the pharmacist and showing them the box and explaining your recent concerns? It is much better done face to face.

Could it be that there's a second prescription in a drawer or on a shelf that they failed to give to you? So part of the prescription, but packed separately? It might still be there. It could certainly happen at my local pharmacy. I would start asking along those lines, even if you don't think it's likely at yours.

How was the box sealed? What was the printed quantity on the actual box, rather than the label? Was it a pack size of 20 with a sticky label that said '68'?

so take what you have (and your husband )to pharmacy. They may well have made an error.
are you prescribed 6 tramadol a day?
if yes-the chemist may be able to provide you with 6-on daily script-in the short term?
failing that call nhs 24/7 for advice?they surely cant leave you in pain and rattling?

That's absolute rubbish. I have not abused the tablets. I don't crave them and really don't want to take them. You don't know me but I was brought up by alcoholics. There is no way in the world I would ever take any more of a medication or anything else for that matter than prescribed.

The box was sealed only with tape but it was obvious it hadn't been opened by my end. In fact I ripped the cardboard off trying to open it. The tablets were rattling about inside. On the packet is says there are 68 and inside I counted 20. I really wish I had counted them when I got them.

I'm quite shocked that OP has been taking tramadol
for years, it's only ever meant to be for short term use.
Has no other treatment been offered?
Too many GPs just doling out prescriptions rather than treatment or a path to recovery.

I undo the bag and check everything before I leave the pharmacy. There are frequent errors and it is necessary to establish who made the mistake before leaving the pharmacy. To be fair it is usually the GP, but the pharmacist needs to establish that before I trek back to the surgery. It is very stressful if you have chronic illness/constant pain.

Following a major accident I was on tramadol for about 18 months- 2 years.

It's not uncommon where there has been major trauma (ie parts of the body have been squashed torn or otherwise significantly damaged).

Don't know how you can make that judgement without being a medical professional who has access to ops files. A lot of people on this thread don't know what they're talking about.

@oldanddone have you tried Lidocaine patches? They could help, if you do decide to taper off Tramdol I found Magnesium and also Vit B complex helped with the withdrawals. I've had problems with a pharmacy before too, they were adamant I was at fault and the GP was reluctant to issue another script. Turned out the missing boxes were in another drawer in the pharmacy. If I hadn't demanded they looked I would be suspected of over medicating myself.
Stand your ground and insist the pharmacy go over the process of who dispensed and checked your prescription. X

You still didn't answer the question. Though I see in another post you have a husband.

There's something weird here.

No I haven't. Is that something the Doctor prescribes?

Did you get better after that? I honestly have been thinking about trying to switch meds for a while but obviously don't want to be in pain. My back took a battering and I lost an inch in height so it was severe.

I am absolutely certain he hasn't taken them. He has suggested I get a padlocked box. I have one son living at home but he doesn't even know I take them never mind where to find them. I do have a cleaner but them again she wouldn't know I took them or where to find them either.

Yes ask your Dr when you get your review, try a paracetamol/codeine low dose to help too

The pharmacy should have CCTV. Also usually a second person checks the prescriptions before they go out

Is there a possibility since your husband collects them he too was worried about long term use and disappeared them ? Just a thought.

Sorely they can do a stock check on their tramadol..

What a horrible thing to say. Tramadol are a very unpleasant medication to take, anyway. I had them once and was paralysed for 3 days in bed in my flat alone (before having kids etc). Awful stuff

Just to add, OP, that your first box must have been short as well. Assuming you've taken 7 full days of doses, that's only 42 tablets. Even without opening the second box you wouldn't be thinking you were running short already if you had taken less than half another pack of 100, surely. How many did you have unboxed? Can you calculate (even roughly) how many they might have actually given you. It might jog someone's memory or help you figure out what has happened to get more of a handle on the actual number.

Ooh I'm also on Duloxetine. Does it make you sweat excessively, like it does for me?

Why is it obvious? Don’t be so rude & judgmental. Op has clearly & consistently said she isn’t taking more, infact, she’s taking less.