Pick a pharmacy based on location. Years ago, that’s what I did. Unfortunately, the location was based on proximity to my doctor’s office, not my house. Since we only had prescriptions to fill if we’d been sick enough to see the doctor, it made perfect sense to use a pharmacy near his office. Now, however, when I go to the pharmacy more often than I go to the gas station, I need something closer.
I finally took the plunge.
There are four pharmacies in town. One has a drive-up window, and I considered the convenience of calling to order my refills and not having to even go into the store to pick things up. It was very tempting, but I suspect that I’m going to need a good relationship with my pharmacist and don’t see it happening at the drive-up. Two of the pharmacies always have long lines of people waiting, and I think mistakes are more likely to happen when things are rushed.
Only one pharmacy left to check. It’s a good location. As an added bonus, I’ve talked to two of the pharmacists there in the past and they’ve been extremely helpful.
Last week I took in new printed prescriptions and talked to the pharmacist on duty. I told him that I really try to fill everything at the same time, but with two of the meds filling for 28 days, and the others for 30, things don’t always match up nicely. He was terrific, looked at all the meds I’m taking without expressing shock, and took care of everything. It was a bonus, when I went back the next day to get everything, to discover that he’d filled the mtx with 32 instead of 28!
I think I made a good choice. Thanks, PC!
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∞ itis 
I love our pharmacy. The people there know me when I walk in and if there are any mistakes they always fix them without getting cranky. I need name brand for 2 prescriptions and that was a problem at first until I explained WHY and then the mixup never happened again. I never thought I have any kind of feelings about a pharmacy at all, but since I now have to go all the time and spend about half my husband’s paycheck there each month, it is nice that they are kind and good at getting things done.
I’m glad it looks like you have found a good one for you too!
Sounds like you have a keeper! 😀
At this new place, the pharmacist & tech both recognized me when I returned the next day to pick up my meds. Then again, most people my age aren’t picking up that many prescriptions!
We are fortunate to have a pharmacy within a 5min walk. We can see their building from our front windows, and we live in a Highland village. The pharmacist knows us all by name and rarely makes mistakes. The only trouble with the NHS is that the rule is that the cheapest prevails, so sometimes the meds will be from a different wholesaler; that means the tablets can be a different colour and shape. Confusing, especially if like me you need to take 19 tablets daily!
My old pharmacy always bought whichever brand was cheapest, so I know what you mean about getting a single bottle with multiple kinds of tabs in it. The pharmacist would usually put a warning label on it, though, so that I’d know it was the same thing and not a mistake.