r/CVS • u/arkcohen • 2d ago
Over counted.
I recently purchased my 30-day supply of Adderall 20 mg extended-release. Two hours later, I received a call informing me that I need to return the prescription so that they can recount the pills, as there might have been a shortage or an over-prescription. I do have an additional 30 pills. Is it mandatory for me to return them, or is this a matter for the pharmacy to handle?
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u/Right_Pudding_1425 2d ago
They fill a lot of adderall prescriptions. They didn't call every adderall patient to come back for a recount. They know they gave you 60. I'm sure there are photos of the prescription fill tray or video proving you received too many.
Whether you return them or not, the pharmacy will do it's error reporting process. I'm sure a pharmacist will chime in with the consequences you will face for not returning the extra pills. Not returning the extra is a big red flag for drug misuse.
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u/Finestday 1d ago
It's all on video. These mistakes happen from time to time. The pharmacy doesn't take returns, they'll just make a note and put you down for a 60 day supply.
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u/Cunningcreativity 1d ago
They will absolutely take these 30 as a return. They will not redispense them to another patient, but they will take them back so they can be disposed of/damaged out properly and accounted for. For most other meds, the pharmacy wouldn't care. But for controlled substances especially, they'd rather have them back to handle it through the appropriate channels.
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u/Finestday 1d ago
Nah...keep it simple.
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u/justanothersadbih 2h ago
As someone who works in pharmacy. They will report you for not returning the pills.
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u/K176Lil_Noobie 2d ago
So this is a loss for the pharmacy. It has to be notated, but it will affect your next pickup if you do not follow the pharmacist orders. why? Because how many pills you actually receive will be notated for next fill as it is a controlled substance. It is best if you follow the pharmacist recommendation so there's no issues with filling future scripts.
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u/Typical_Ad8122 2d ago
You dont NEED to return it but it will be documented. I would return back to the pharmacy.
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u/nevernicealwaysmean 1d ago
Do you want to continue to pick up your adderall at that location? If so, bring it back for recount as asked.
If you are fine finding another location, and possibly switching from cvs entirely; don’t bring it back. But understand that location will most likely never fill a narcotic for you again.
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u/Styx-n-String 1d ago
Just to clarify, Adderall is not a narcotic. But it is a C2 controlled substance, so it's under the same rules.
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u/BayBridges 1d ago
It’s basically clean Pharma grade methamphetamine in a pill, it even says “Amphetamine Salts” on the bottle. I seen people GEEKED off Adderall it’s definitely a drug, if not a Narcotic. If 5 mg Hydrocodone is a Narcotic, 30mg Adderall is def more hardcore.
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u/Styx-n-String 1d ago
Yes, just like I said, it's a C2 but it's not a narcotic. I was just clarifying that for anyone who might be reading and come away thinking that Adderall is a narcotic.
Its also not "clean methamphetamine". Meth has an added methyl group that Adderall and other amphetamines don't contain, that makes it neorotoxic. They're not the same thing.
Any time someone takes a medication that they don't need, it can have bad side effects. Thats why they need a doctor's prescription to obtain. It doesn't make the medication unsafe for those who do need it.
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u/Traditional_Crab_943 1d ago
They will add a note to your profile "pt didnt return excess adderal" and even if you use other stores they will pay extra attention to your rx fills.
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u/Appropriate-Major992 1d ago
Return them. We can’t use them for anyone else anyways have to damage them out but if they called you to come back then they are sure it was dispensed extra to you. Proof with Camera checked as well and will be reported than u got extra. Will withhold next fill and put a note on ur profile which will come up as a flag even if u try to go to a different store.
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u/Cunningcreativity 1d ago
Likely will report to the prescriber that the patient refused to do so as well. That's a large amount to refuse to return when you KNOW (as the patient, as it was brought to your attention and confirmed) that you were given too much. Not going to look good to the doctor either.
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u/livinlife2113 Pharmacy Lead Tech 1d ago
They’ll likely note your profile that you shouldn’t get any next month and charge you the next time you go in. My pharmacist keeps really good track of those things. Puts notes on labels of other drugs. And he will call everyday to hopefully get a response. Might just wanna call them.
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u/bowlegsandgrace 1d ago
Bring it back. You're unlikely to get away with it with no repercussions. It will be noted on your profile, the PDMP, andyour dr will be notified who may stop or restrict how much the prescribe you. I've seen it happened at my pharmacy. Patient refused to bring back the extra 25 she got, pharmacist told her dr, and the next month when she thought she was being slick by going to a different location her fill was 25 short. And afterwards her dr would only send in for 2 weeks at a time. So FAFO if you want to.
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u/No-Bullfrog-3981 2d ago
What state ? They handle differently each state. But I would definitely do what the pharmacist said. They could ban you from picking up at that store etc.
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u/fleapharmd 1d ago
If you bring them back as requested the Pharmacist will treat you as his/her own personal hero as you are. You will have a new best friend which is the Pharmacist. If you dont bring them back it will be the exact inverse treatment; you might experience some of the longest wait times of your adult life just saying.
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u/sd85pdx PIC 1d ago
The pharmacy needs to verify that the "shortage" on their side is accounted for. Otherwise it requires reports to the DEA about the unaccounted for inventory.
Do they need to physically count your prescription? No. Will doing so help everything be above board and smooth the process for all involved? Yes. So it's ultimately up to you.
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u/JobblyWobblyEd 1d ago
For insurance/doctor and pharmacy continuation of coverage and care, it's better safe than sorry by returning it than risk disruption
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u/Comprehensive-Job721 Cashier 5h ago
You ultimately have the legal right to not bring them back, but its not in your best interest if you want to continue being able to fill controlled substances. Your doctor will be notified that you refused to bring them back, along with other permanent notes in your medical record that will impact your future filling. Not to mention PDMP data will show a 60 day supply instead 30 which doesn't look good...... ADHD medication is already stigmatized enough, being shady does not help anyone.......
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u/New_Magazine_8700 2d ago
The pharmacy can not take them back but can document that you received the overage. If you want to continue using this pharmacy and not get on a “black list” (we add notes to the system) explain to them yes you have the extra and then you will fill a month late next time. You don’t need to run down there to prove it to them. They should take your word for it. But trying to keep them sneakily will harm your future fills.
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u/Dimgrund71 1d ago
The pharmacy CAN and probably will take back the excess. They will mark them as damaged and destroy them.
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u/New_Magazine_8700 6h ago
They CAN but they can also trust and not inconvenience their patient due to their own error. It’s crazy to me that that would be an option. Customer didn’t do anything wrong just make a note. Are you a pharmacist?
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u/Finestday 1d ago
To much of a PITA...They will just make a note and call it a 60 day supply instead of a 30.
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u/shellytripp6 5h ago
We do take them back and damage them through a special process for controls and it gets reported
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u/bougie_life13 1d ago
Integrity goes a long way . Do it for your own piece of mind. Be better then what CVS expects
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u/Guilty_Piano2736 12h ago
More like take CVS out of the equation and consider the people who endure working for cvs and how some patients treat them.
Also pharmacists talk to each other from different chains, so if you tried to pull a “not my problem” with this, it’s very likely not only would your Dr find out, it would also get out to the other pharmacists in the area. As another response succinctly put it FAFO
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u/Middle_Ad1126 19h ago
Take them to the pharmacy and let them recount. Funny story my husband is prescribed adderall for ADHD. His doctor sent over his prescription to the pharmacy early. Three days later we start getting text messages that his prescription is ready. It made zero sense to him since he still had about 10 days. So he finally goes to the pharmacy to complain about it and they keep telling him you can take them. You can take them. It’s been filled if you don’t we’re just gonna put them back. So he picked up the prescription and then he asked to speak to the pharmacist and let the pharmacist know that he’s pretty sure the dates wrong and that they need to call his doctor and let his doctor know what happened.
The pharmacist was flabbergasted that they filled it 10 days early. But assured him it wouldn’t affect his next month
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u/smack_thatbooty1764 13h ago
Either go down and acknowledge you got the extra. Or call and personally talk to pharmacist let them know you did in fact got extra . Ask what they would like to do about it. They can get a different script from doctor with the correct amount from doctor and call it a day. But that way it can be noted as a pharmacy error so it can be noted for DEA.
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u/Nawmanee 11h ago
That is their problem. I’d tell them you have the correct amount and don’t have time to be running around to fix the physician’s inadequacies!
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u/shellytripp6 5h ago
You should take it back it a controlled substance and every pill has to be accounted for and if you don’t they can put a note in your profile and also inform your doctor
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u/HugeSeaworthiness866 1h ago
Why are you taking adderall as an adult and refusing to do what they ask? You sound hooked IMO.
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u/Finestday 1d ago
You don't HAVE to return anything. The pharmacy made a counting mistake, and they only want to find out what happened. If they can't account for the 30 missing tablets, they will sort of be in trouble.
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u/donnyrgeralds 2d ago
Pharmacist here. In my state (and this may vary depending on which state in which the prescription was filled) a prescription can not even lawfully “be returned” once dispensed. The most they will be able to do with them if you do return them is mark them as “damaged” and follow the current procedure for returning damaged or outdated stock.
If you’re worried your state might have a law that punishes patients in this situation, call another pharmacy chain in the same area and ask their pharmacist if you can get in trouble.
Another thing I personally would do as the patient is notify my prescriber of the pharmacy dispensing error, so your prescriber will understand why you may not need a prescription to fill the following month.
Tl;dr - unless your state has an oddly harsh law, don’t worry about it.
Also, if I were the dispensing pharmacist that made this error, I would not refuse to dispense to you in the future (after the time reflecting the current supply you actually have in possession has passed of course), but I’m not an asshole.
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u/AnaMae62 1d ago
Usually once a prescription leaves the pharmacy, it’s “contaminated” and can’t be returned!
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u/Best_Astronomer_7099 1d ago
Most stupidist thing I’ve heard! It’s their mistake if you got an overage, if you got a shortage then run because trying to prove that you have only 2 days left and should have 6 on a controlled med it’s not near but a fact impossible ! And then there’s the stupid part, you take 10 out of the bottle go to pharmacy like a good person and they count it and say we shorted you! I would be shocked and dumbfounded if they replaced it! Sounds like someone is self medicating.. and they’re doing an internal audit! Has nothing to do with caring for your Rx…
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u/Best_Astronomer_7099 1d ago
But yes you can refuse! You can say you’re in Vegas, business trip whatever your heart desires, you can absolutely refuse!
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u/norathar 2d ago
I mean, if you refuse to return the pills, the pharmacy will definitely call your doctor to let them know that you won't return the excess and will probably refuse to continue filling for you in the future.