I don’t want anyone to get into trouble what do I do?

[b0mbayb1cycleclub]

I’m a cancer patient and I went to the pharmacy in my village today to pick up my regular prescriptions. Because I have nerve damage from my cancer operation I get 100 tablets of codeine every 2 ish weeks. So usually 3 boxes of 28. With a lot of other drugs

I went to put my tablets in my pill boxes for the week ahead and I’ve noticed that on the prescription label with my details on it. They all say 28tabs but each of the 3 boxes is actually a box of 100 tablets so I’ve been given 300 tablets of codeine 30mg but they had checked the all and signed them off as having 28 per box. I’ve checked each box and they do all contain 100 tablets.

I really don’t want them to get into trouble because it’s one of my life lines as it’s a small village and one of them
will drop off my medication for me if I’ve had chemo and my head is in a bucket, but I equally don’t want their counts to be off

Do I;

A. Just don’t order the codeine for a while and use up this over supply? Or

B. Take the boxes back and tell them they made an error?

I would tell them - their stock checking will reveal that some are missing. They won’t be able to reissue them to another patient, but at least they can correct their records and not waste staff time searching and doing a stock take - when they need to be revisiting their dispensing protocols.

I work in a hospital and co-codamol is one of the most stolen drugs, happens all the time and they usually catch the culprit. I assume it’s similar in a pharmacy.

If it was a contraceptive pill or something I would just keep them but since codeine has a street value 200 missing might cause suspicion of staff stealing so I think I would have to say something.

Take them back.. they will destroy them.. awful l know but they won't issue to anyone else in case they have been tampered with.. ( not saying you have).. but this is what they have to do..

"Those boxes come in various pack sizes but the box itself looks exactly the same. its a very common mistake."

We can hope that perhaps if enough "near misses" are reported properly, someone might realise that making the boxes look different might be a wise move.

Don’t make a fuss.
Just keep them.

Just take it back and discreetly explain what's happened OP. No one will get in to trouble, it's just been human error, which happens often in pharmacy x

Take them.back. they won't get into trouble it'll probably get reported on their internal system and possibly actions will be raised to stop it happening again but it's the correct strength and form and no harm has come to patient so it'll be ok

You absolutely have to take them back, they are controlled drugs. It is really important that they are aware of their mistakes so they can review Thier procedures and ensure it doesn't happen again. A mistake like that could kill someone.

You will.not.het in any trouble, you haven't done anything wrong. I was given another person's medication once, someone with the same first name as me and I obviously brought it right back. The pharmacy apologised to me, it was their mistake.

I would keep it and use it because they have to dispose of it even if you return it

The phaacist is paid to service the prescription. Giving too much media will cost them dearly.

Tell them.

This is actually a grave error on their part so they need to review how it happened. Not a legal matter but imagine if they're over prescribing controlled drugs....

They'll be binned at the pharmacy. I'd tell them and cease ordering prescriptions until you're running out. @b0mbayb1cycleclub

Gosh, I had no idea.

Depends on the manager. I locum so cover lots of different stores, there are plenty of managers I've come across who would think that way towards their staff. Some may not even notice the stock is missing and never will as they are that crap at keeping on top of inventory and just don't care.
I've worked in a Lloyds before where I found over 1500ml of methadone had gone missing sometime in a 3 month period, which is about as serious as it can get, no one noticed.

I'm torn, I would usually always have said take them back. I previously had strong sleeping tablets prescribed, but when I opened my box it was a completely incorrect drug with a similar name, but one which would be available over the counter. I was made to feel like I was lying and drug seeking. I appreciate your situation is different in that you can show you have more, but I'd be more inclined to just keep them and then not order for a while. They will otherwise destroy them when you return them.

Phone and tell them and also ask them to write your name on the box and store them ready for your future usage, rather than destroying them.

If they were sealed boxes then the mistake is at the manufacturer side.

Let the pharmacy know.

We have this but in reverse, the sealed box was actually empty when we opened it up. Pharmacy said it happens and replaced it

Have they given you double the amount to cover the Christmas period as well. This is what my surgery does.

I would just keep them tbh. I don’t think anything good comes of them just being binned.

I’m not sure why you are concerned about someone getting into trouble. Someone had made a huge error which cannot be afforded when it comes to dispensing prescription medication. It absolutely needs to be raised.

Exactly the same happened to me the other week with Melatonin (so granted not so bad). I’d been prescribed 10x3mg and someone gave me the whole unopened 30x3mg box. Tbh I’ve just kept it and said nothing. I’d probably take the same approach with the painkillers you’ve been prescribed - personally.

I would let them know there has been a mistake. I’ve had mistakes happen at the chemist too. It’s not a big deal, people are human and these things happen.

You say these are a lifeline to you … I think it would be nice to have some extra, just in case. But that’s just me wanting to be over cautious because I’ve had a mess happen with prescriptions, and have had to go a week without something I have to take every day.

but maybe phone them

You're getting some terrible advice in here but it's because people are presumably not aware of how tightly controlled and monitored drugs like these are. You absolutely have to inform them, this should not be a question.

just take them back. I was given too much of a controlled drug once. I was in the habit of checking quickly so I dropped back into the pharmacy. The pharmacist was very apologetic and also very grateful that I’d come back so quickly.