#766135 - 09/15/08 05:02 PM
What would you do? Wrong meds received!
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UnionJack
Stranger
Registered: 06/03/08
Posts: 8
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Trying to figure out what to do here. I prefer not to name the OCS, or the specific meds involved, but I will give the bare bones of what happened.
I was expecting to receive tracking tonight and an order tomorrow from an OCS. My order, which was a refill, was to contain one kind of medication, 90 ct. I came home from work today and found a Fed-Ex hang tag on my door. Since I was not expecting any other packages, I assumed my order must have come one day early.
I went to the Fed-Ex Hub and picked up my package, no problems. When I got home, I opened it, and first noticed that there were two bottles, not one. Initially, I was not concerned because I know that OCS's sometimes throw in a bottle of Ibuprofen 800 mg. or something, but then I pulled the bottles out of the package and saw that not only weren't the medications the right one(s), but the name on the bottles was wrong. The INITIALS were the same (let's say I am Mary Smith -- the name on the bottles was Marty Smithsonian) but neither the name nor address nor medication was right. The name and address on the Fed-Ex package WERE mine. So, the bottle labels did not match the Fed-Ex label.
Now it gets even more confusing: I get home, see that I've been sent someone else's medication, and then run to check my email. Lo and behold, I now have a tracking number from my OCS, as scheduled. However, once I plug the tracking number into the shipper's system, it comes up as going to a city and state that are not mine. So, I got tracking, but the package is going to someone else.
This concerns me for several reasons. One, I did not get my medication and it is apparently not on its way to me. Two, the erroneous medication I DID get is a painkiller and a high dose benzo (I do not take Benzos, for the sole reason that they have ZERO, and I do mean ZERO effect on me -- must be an oddity in my metabolism or my physiology, but I've been prescribed Xanax in the past by a RL doc and to me, I may as well take an aspirin for all the effect it has); I am VERY concerned that someone out there is going to go into w/d from benzos (and like I said, this is a very high dose med) and that, as we all know, is v. dangerous. Third, it is just generally unsettling to me to be sitting here with someone else's medication in my possession.
I have contacted the OCS by phone and email and have not heard anything back. I'm trying to figure out what to do -- I cannot contact the person to whom the medication belongs, because only his or her name and street number and name are on the bottle; no city or state. I Googled to no avail. Zero results with this person's name and street number/name.
Now, looking at possible fixes for this...do I feel comfortable shipping these kinds of medications back to the OCS? Is that even legal? I know that it is ILLEGAL to return pills to a pharmacy for re-prescribing, but I don't know about shipping them back. I have no interest in the medications for myself...I want what *I* ordered.
What would you guys do?
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#766141 - 09/15/08 05:12 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: UnionJack]
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darkmantis
Old Hand
Registered: 11/03/05
Posts: 419
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First, by law, the pharmacy cannot receive the package back. Rules that govern over these things because someone could switch the pills, tamper with them , etc. Most likely the pharmacy will tell you to throw them away or flush them. I'm sure if you walked into a real pharmacy like walgreens, cvs, etc, they could destroy the pills, tho, most pharmacies won't even do that.
I would just, A) save them for a rainy day (even though you said that they don't work on ya - you never know) or b) throw them away. If you contacted the OCS and they still sent out your refill, oh well. It's their mistake, not yours. If the meds are already on the way, the worse thing that can happen is that you get double charged, and now you have twice the meds in a month and they could just credit you and not send any next month. Another possibility is to speak with a representative from your OCS company and you could call fedex and not claim the package and they'll send it back. Either way, just hold off for a bit until you get ahold of your OCS - if they don't return your calls, then don't sweat it. You tried.
Now, maybe I should ask if it's my name that's on the bottle! hahaah.
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#766147 - 09/15/08 05:26 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: UnionJack]
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stevo1
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 08/08/06
Posts: 1732
Loc: Top of The World!
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Union .....Definitly Contact the OCS & Call the Pharmacy if you have a # for them....(Hopefully it isn't one of those Pharms that doesn't answer the Phone!!!) Tell them what happened and I'm sure they will rectify the Problem....As far as the Person who was to receive those Meds ....The Pharm Should take care of them Too! (I would Hope!!)
Good Luck
Stevo
_________________________
Stare into my Avatar.....You are getting Sleepy....Very Sleepy....Relax.....  Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - It's All Small Stuff!
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#766156 - 09/15/08 05:38 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: UnionJack]
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SallyCShells
Old Hand
Registered: 04/18/06
Posts: 482
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You are already doing what I what do - freaking out , writing frantically to the OCS, checking tracking, wondering where mine are, googling the other person's name and address trying to find them, etc. I know you aren't supposed to do it, but if I found the person, I would want to mail them their meds -. If they are high dose benzos, you are right, they probably need them. I am sure you need your meds as well. And, they aren't going to take the medicines back. You said you got a painkiller in the package. Was it what you normally take?
Looks like tomorrow someone is going to get your medication, so I am wondering if it's the person whose meds you have. Did you check to see if that is the city they are in? Since you could not find the city or state on the bottle. Maybe a shot in the dark, but where the fedex package tracking they gave you, might be the city the person is in.
Wow - hope you aren't totally out of your meds either!
It's late now anyway, most OCS's and pharms are closed, but maybe you will hear something via email tonight.
Good luck, let us know how it works out. Maybe someone will be on here tomorrow saying they are missing their benzos in their fedex shipment and we'll have your person!
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#766211 - 09/15/08 06:44 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: SallyCShells]
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UnionJack
Stranger
Registered: 06/03/08
Posts: 8
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Thanks, everyone. Sally, you made me laugh -- sounds like we're identical in our reactions!
The pain pills in the package are similar to what I take, but not the same dose, and I am not comfortable with the dose (part. the Tylenol level) in this person's medication. Argh.
I did wonder if MY stuff will go to this person. I hope he/she reads DB.com and can get in touch with me. Now, don't any baddies try to PM me and say that they're yours...that is why I am being so secretive about this person's gender and location.
OK, so, how would I tell if the medication *I* got was intended to go to the location to which my current tracking number is going? I can be really dumb sometimes and miss the nose on my own face, but I can't see a way to know. It would at least be a cleaner wrap-up if this person got mine and I got theirs! Then again, that would open another Pandora's box of do I trust a complete stranger to actually ship my order? What if this person says they will, so I ship theirs to them and then they don't ship mine? I guess I would have to have them ship me mine first, since I've shown a certain level of honesty and trustworthiness by bringing this out into the open in the first place.
Keeping the benzo for a rainy day isn't really an option -- I got an rx for 60 .25 mg. Xanax about five years ago. I took one the first time I had an anxiety attack after I was prescribed them and...nothing happened. I mean, nothing. Zilch. I tried once more a few days later and...nothing again. So they sat in the bottle for years, but I never threw them out for some reason. Then last year, I had to have a Life Insurance physical. I get horrible White Coat Hypertension (my BP, which is normal all the time, shoots way up when I see a doctor or nurse approaching me with a BP cuff), so I thought hey, I'll take one of those Xanax before the PA gets here...surely that will calm me down! Yeah, right. My BP was higher than ever before! (I got the life insurance).
Anyway, thanks again for all the input. I will let you all know what happens.
ps. I could get in trouble with the law for sending controlled substances through the mail, right?
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#766449 - 09/16/08 06:37 AM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: 1219wendy]
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SakuraHaruno
Journeyman
Registered: 04/28/08
Posts: 95
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A Chat rep is usually on the board I would try to PM them.....
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#766454 - 09/16/08 06:51 AM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: UnionJack]
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Jeremiah
Agape Grandparent 
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 07/14/02
Posts: 1042
Loc: U.S.A.
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Hey Union Jack,
I remember this happened to a DB member once before. If I rememebr right,this was the solution:
1)Do not attempt to send the meds to the 'other person',it is illegal and very risky for you;
2)The OCS will have to contact the pharm to re-send your meds,and the other person's meds as well;
3)Use or throw the 'wrong meds' away,,the pharm and/or OCS will not be able to take them back(state laws)IF they ask you too,tell them you dumped them down the toilet,,You cannot send meds thru the mail as your do not have a DEA license,,I doubt they will ask this of you,but just in case,,protect yourself,this is their error);
4)Leave a voice mail-if possible-for the OCS,"Pharm sent me the wrong meds under wrong name".
The pharm/OCS is responsible for getting both parties the correct meds,not you(even though your first reaction is honorable). I applaud you for your honesty and integrity.
Hope this helps,
J.
_________________________
Grandchildren Are Gods Gift For Surviving Your Teenager
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#766651 - 09/16/08 11:58 AM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: Jeremiah]
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darkmantis
Old Hand
Registered: 11/03/05
Posts: 419
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Union,
Keep us informed of what happens with your med situation. Jermiah is correct. Did you get your meds eventually?
Isn't .25 xanax pretty low? I thought 2mgs was the normal? I don't take it, but I had one to help me fall asleep once and I could have sworn it was 2 mgs. I would think that .25 isn't strong enough for you to feel it..
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#767045 - 09/16/08 07:56 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: darkmantis]
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nadia7
Journeyman
Registered: 03/17/05
Posts: 61
Loc: netherlands
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I dont know what med the other person got, or the qty, but, i do know that it takes a lengthy period of time to have a withdrawel effect on ANY medication, so that would be the last of my concerns, Anyway, it looks like they were already taking benzos if what I read in your mail is accurate..you received their meds. take a deep breath, I am sure that the other person will contact them as well, and have to re-send your order. Good Luck!
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#767055 - 09/16/08 08:22 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: nadia7]
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funkybreakz
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 01/24/04
Posts: 1303
Loc: My Living Room
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I dont know what med the other person got, or the qty, but, i do know that it takes a lengthy period of time to have a withdrawel effect on ANY medication, so that would be the last of my concerns, Anyway, it looks like they were already taking benzos if what I read in your mail is accurate..you received their meds. take a deep breath, I am sure that the other person will contact them as well, and have to re-send your order. Good Luck!
actually withdrawal can begin within hours on such a high dose of alprazolam. .25,.5 or 1 milligram is the norm.
if this person was taking 4-6 milligrams of xanax daily, they are in for a world of hurt until the pharm fixes this issue.
most people dont realize it, but 2 milligrams is a large dose.
Edited by funkybreakz (09/16/08 08:28 PM)
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cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile, nothin left to do but smile smile smile!
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#767068 - 09/16/08 08:46 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: nadia7]
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PrivateRealm
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 03/18/03
Posts: 3067
Loc: In my realm, I'm QUEEN
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I dont know what med the other person got, or the qty, but, i do know that it takes a lengthy period of time to have a withdrawel effect on ANY medication, so that would be the last of my concerns, Anyway, it looks like they were already taking benzos if what I read in your mail is accurate..you received their meds. take a deep breath, I am sure that the other person will contact them as well, and have to re-send your order. Good Luck!
Yes, withdrawal can occur within hours of any dose of benzo or pain medication depending on the dosage and amount.
_________________________
Anne~~~
"A person's true identity is rarely apparent in the life that they lead."
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#767665 - 09/17/08 05:13 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: UnionJack]
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Strawberry
GOLDEN EAGLE
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 01/29/06
Posts: 5336
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Now it gets even more confusing: I get home, see that I've been sent someone else's medication, and then run to check my email. Lo and behold, I now have a tracking number from my OCS, as scheduled. However, once I plug the tracking number into the shipper's system, it comes up as going to a city and state that are not mine. So, I got tracking, but the package is going to someone else.
First thing I would do is take care of myself, call the fed ex phone # and give them your name and tracking # and tell them you suspect the wrong address is on the package that has not been received. They can switch it to your address.
Then you deal with the OCS and tell them the problem, because if you dont call Fed EX your OCS will more than likley take at least a few more days to figure it out, when they get to it. the pills you have, can sit and then only one person is going to be upset. That would be the person who does not receive his meds for a while, as this is figured out. Either way, one of you or both of you won't be happy, cut the number down to just one of you. I'm sure the OCS can spare another $25 in wholesale drugs, and make things right.
_________________________
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#767674 - 09/17/08 05:27 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: Strawberry]
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SakuraHaruno
Journeyman
Registered: 04/28/08
Posts: 95
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I tried to do that with fedex (call and change the address) they wouldn't do it, they told me the shipper has to do it.. Maybe it depends on who you talk to or what kind of mood they are in at the time?????
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#768018 - 09/18/08 08:29 AM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: UnionJack]
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1932CM
Journeyman
Registered: 12/26/01
Posts: 55
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Hopefully you have heard from the OCS by now, if not I would think this is definitely a situation where it would be okay to call the pharmacy to advise them of the mix-up. They may not be able to take back the medications you received by mistake, but at least the pharmacy will be aware of the problem since the OCS seems to be asleep at the wheel. There's no excuse in my opinion for the OCS not to respond within 48 hrs, unless of course they have been affected by the hurricane last weekend or some other disaster. Personally I would hold on to the presciptions until I could contact the pharmacy or OCS. I hope someone gets back to you soon.
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#768574 - 09/19/08 09:30 AM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: Jeremiah]
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iris
Veteran
Registered: 05/26/04
Posts: 590
Loc: waitin for spring
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The exact smae thing ahs happened to me. xxx please and as per our Rules... do not comment on PM's sent or received xxx
Edited by Administrator (09/28/08 02:05 PM)
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#774693 - 09/28/08 01:58 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: Jeremiah]
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UnionJack
Stranger
Registered: 06/03/08
Posts: 8
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OK, sorry it took me so long to update; I've been working crazy hours and haven't had a single minute to pop back in.
The OCS returned my call two days after the wrong meds were received. They said that they were going to overnight my correct medication to me that night (and said they would send me tracking w/in the hour) and that the carrier would show up with a "recall" envelope into which I would place the wrong medication. The switch would be made, and everyone would be happy. I asked about the legality of me shipping controlled medication and the OCS said that because they were recalling the meds, it wasn't legally considered ME shipping anything, but them shipping. They also offered to send me an email explaining the situation in detail, and taking full responsibility for the issue, to cover me legally, JIC. I agreed to this course of action.
I never received a tracking number that night, and never received an email. The next afternoon, the carrier arrived with my medication, but had no "recall" request at all. I'm pretty good friends with my delivery guy, so I was able to ask him if he was double-triple sure that there was nothing for me to send back and he said no, nothing, period.
And that is pretty much the end of the story. I did not hear from the OCS again on this issue (despite emailing them one more time), and felt that I really went above and beyond in terms of my own due dilegence and responsibility. I suspect what happened is that the OCS came up with the "recall the meds" fix on their own, and once they checked with the pharmacy, the pharmacy said that it was not legal to return medications, so the OCS just dropped it.
After a few days of not hearing back from the OCS, I destroyed all the medication, and I felt a lot better once it was gone, that's for sure. On the one hand, it felt like such a horrible waste, but on the other hand, there was simply no other course of action that felt right.
And that is all!
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#774735 - 09/28/08 03:28 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: UnionJack]
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landshark_74
Board Addict
Registered: 04/11/06
Posts: 336
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I hate to see perfectly good meds thrown out...I mean, the pharm would toss them anyway, so why didn't you keep them? Remember: an OCS that acted like yours will not be around too much longer, and you may need the pain pills to get you through until you find another doctor or service. Sure they were Lorcet (10/650), and they have a bunch of APAP, but any port during a storn, right? What you did was absolutely the right thing to do, but I hope you don't regret it.
Also, I guess I'd say I "destroyed" the meds on the internet, too, but I would have kept 'em.
LS_74
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#774816 - 09/28/08 06:51 PM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: landshark_74]
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SakuraHaruno
Journeyman
Registered: 04/28/08
Posts: 95
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Yeh sorry but I agree with landshark, also I think the mark up on these pills are outrageous, so the two orders you did get you probebly paid for...Oh sure some will say OMG you better not keep them but come on folks who could throw perfectly good meds away???????? Even meds you could use (the pain pills) JMO
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#774994 - 09/29/08 05:33 AM
Re: What would you do? Wrong meds received!
[Re: mentoramy05]
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stevo1
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 08/08/06
Posts: 1732
Loc: Top of The World!
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Yup ....You should have Kept them....I would have!!! .....But too late now....Glad to see that you did get the correct Meds.
_________________________
Stare into my Avatar.....You are getting Sleepy....Very Sleepy....Relax..... Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - It's All Small Stuff!
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