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Important News About Prescriptions


Oct 20, 2008
Please verify the accuracy of your prescription(s) before walking away from the counter at your pharmacy.

Wings recently received a letter from a concerned party detailing a recent trip to a pharmacy in their city.

A mother waited in the car while sending her daughter inside to pick up her prescription. While inside the daughter expressed concern that her prescription for 90 pills couldn’t fit into the small bottle she was given. The pharmacist insured her that the prescription had been filled accurately and the daughter trusting a professional’s word took the prescription and left. But upon getting in the car she asked her mother to verify the number of pills and found out there were only 48 pills filling the smaller container. Mother and daughter returned to the consultant window at the pharmacy where the pharmacist inquired into their needs. The mother explained that the small bottle only contained 48 of the 90 pills it would take to fill the entire prescription. The mother asked for the second bottle containing the remaining 42 pills that would complete the prescription. The pharmacist asked to see the small bottle and began counting, as she added pills to correct the filling she had to switch to a bigger pharmacy bottle for the complete 90 pill prescription to fit.

This raises some intense concern. If the daughter had not had her mother to advocate for her, what would have happened to the daughter’s prescription? Most people do not have an advocate for them, to help them ensure that they are receiving the proper prescription fillings. We have been taught to trust the voices of pharmacists and other professionals. This problem is happening to both non consumers and consumers in various pharmacies.

Wings would like to stress that in this instance you can easily be your own advocate. By following these simple measures you can ensure that you are receiving the correct filling of your prescription.

Do Not Take Your Pharmacist's Word for It

You have the right to verify your prescription!

While still at the counter:

Open the bottle; make sure that the drug that was prescribed for you is the one you have been given.

Read the label and ensure that the dosage is correct for what has been prescribed to you.

Count your pills after the prescription is filled

Read the warnings included in your prescription

Also be sure to read the prescription vial's label carefully. Case in point: the words 'orally' and 'aurally' sound the same. However their meanings are quite different. 'Orally' means 'by mouth'. 'Aurally' means 'by ear'. It's not impossible to imagine someone innocently taking ear drops by mouth if the drug hasn't been explained properly

If you have any questions concerning your prescription, ask them before leaving the counter. Be sure to ask for the actual managing Pharmacist, pharmacy technicians though able to fill prescriptions do not have the same schooling and knowledge as the Pharmacist. If you do not get a clear answer or are still unsure ask for clarification or call your doctor. Be sure to take down the names of who you spoke with and at what time the conversation occurred if you leave still uncertain.