AboutBarbara Judge Expertise Outpatient pharmacy and general health. I have recently completed a Pharmceutical Care Certificate Program offered by Purdue University (Spring 1999 completion). I have personal experience dealing with terminally ill persons and their needs, as well as their families` needs. I graduated in 1984 from Pharmacy School and have been a Licensed Pharmacist since then. I have 18 years retail pharmacy experience. Prior to my pharmacy training I have 3 years hospital experience as a Nurse`s Aide.
Question QUESTION: Hello,
I received my refill of alprazolam thru the mail this week and the pills are small round and yellow and supposed to be 2mg. This is not what I normally receive, I normally receive the bar shaped ones in white. Should I worry that they are not correct? There are no markings on the pills except for scoring on one side, which I am also not used to.
ANSWER: I would contact your mailorder pharmacy to have them verify what the tablets that you were prescribe should have looked like. Without any tablet markings I cannot tell you what the tablets are. I would not take any until you contact the mailorder pharmacy for verification.
Thanks
Barb Judge
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hello,
I contacted the pharmacy and they claim the pills are what they are supposed to be. Is there any other way to make sure than to just take their word for it? They also claim pills sometimes come from other countries and don't have the same markings as what is made in the U. S. I checked a pill identifier online and the only yellow alprazolam it shows has markings on it. Thanks
Answer I also looked at the online identifier and the only yellow alprazolam available in the US does have other markings on it. If this was purchased through a reputable, US licensed mailorder pharmacy they should be using drugs that can be identified. While some may have been manufactured in other countries, they still have proper tablet markings to allow proper identification. If you purchased the medication through an internet mailorder pharmacy or a website you found all bets are off. They may be selling you anything they choose. Unless the internet mailorder pharmacy has a seal or approval from the NAPB (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) many of these are actually operating outside the US and not subject to US rules of law. In that case I can't help you nor can I tell you anywhere to find help. If you choose to take the medication you do so at your own risk.
