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 I had been prescribed Clonazepam by my primary care physician for several years, and always filled it at the same pharmacy near his office. Several months ago I began seeing a Psychiatrist and asked that my Clonazepam prescription be transferred over to his care. I filled his prescription at a different pharmacy near his office.I told both my primary care physician and my psychiatrist of the change. My primary care physician stopped writing prescriptions for Clonazepam as obviously I would be getting twice as much as I needed if two physicians were writing for the same medication. This has worked well for at least three months now. However, yesterday I went to my primary care physician to have other prescriptions filled and unbeknownest to me he mistakenly wrote a prescrition for Clonazepam as well (he must have been so used to refilling it that he mistakenly wrote it). This morning I opened the pharmacy bag and saw the prescription for Clonazepam and now I don't know what to do. My Psychiatrist just refilled my prescription last week, and since I use two different pharmacies I don't want to be accused of "doctor shopping" to obtain twice as much Clonazepam as I need. The Pharmacies say that they can't take back the prescriptions. Should I just inform both doctors, keep both prescriptions, and go twice as long until my next refil from my Psychiatrist? Or do I give the medication wrongly written to my primary care doctor? I don't want legal trouble.
Thanks,
Walter
Answer Since yours was a single instance of obtaining one extra prescription in one month you should not have any legal consequences. I would inform both of your doctors and I'm sure your psychiatrist will have no problem with not writing your clonazepam prescription for a month while you use the meds your primary care physician accidentally prescribed for you. I'm sure both your doctors will find your honesty rare. I know as a pharmacist I sure do. Unfortunately neither your primary care physician or the pharmacist who dispensed the extra prescription have a good way to dispose of the medication. You are the one who can use it best and sound honest enough to do so. Keep both your doctors informed and you should have no problems. People have problems and become "doctor shoppers" when they show a pattern of behavior over a period of time involving usually multiple doctors, and multiple pharmacies, and often times multiple names, not even their own.
