Pharmacy recommendations?

feralmarlin23 said:It’s not the doctor or the pharmacy—they're just one of many. It's the staff at the pharmacy, because the crew there hasn't changed in years. I honestly think they see some pretty sweet financial perks from all this since it's such a massive business. Now, the manager of that pharmacy is actually threatening me with a defamation lawsuit! All because I asked how much of a kickback they get for pushing those generics. It wasn't even when someone was standing there; it was the next day when I went back for my regular meds (not the generics) and the place was totally empty. Just a casual question, you know?

There’s no way those salaried employees are seeing a single extra cent in their paychecks.
It’s a safe bet that a pharmacy owner is getting a solid discount on their stock.

Don't go thinking pharmacists actually get a kick out of having to explain the same comparisons over and over again. It's not exactly the highlight of their day.

I honestly can't tell if the owner actually works behind the counter at that pharmacy, or if it’s just the staff running things based on whatever orders they get handed down from corporate.😁

feralmarlin23 said:It’s not the doctor or the pharmacy—they're just one of many. It's the staff at the pharmacy, because the crew there hasn't changed in years. I honestly think they see some pretty sweet financial perks from all this since it's such a massive business. Now, the manager of that pharmacy is actually threatening me with a defamation lawsuit! All because I asked how much of a kickback they get for pushing those generics. It wasn't even when someone was standing there; it was the next day when I went back for my regular meds (not the generics) and the place was totally empty. Just a casual question, you know?

😂 In my local CVS, the same two pharmacists have been there for 24 years, and for the last decade, the techs haven't changed either. That’s totally normal in smaller towns where you don't see a drugstore on every corner. Honestly, I don't get how you turned this into some massive issue... 😕

I bet they make a killing off all that since it's a huge business. My boss at the pharmacy is actually threatening me with a defamation lawsuit just because I asked how much markup they get on those generic substitutes. And not even when it was busy—just the next day when I went back for my actual meds (not the generics) and the place was empty. Just asking, you know?

Honestly, I think you're reading way too much TMZ or some other trashy tabloid, fueling these crazy conspiracy theories. Next thing you know, you'll be claiming those poor pharmacists live in mansions thanks to selling you "substitutes." Look, if they offer a generic, it means they're doing their job by saving you the 25 miles trip back tomorrow for the exact brand you wanted. It's the same damn drug, same chemistry, same purpose—just a different label. It's not like they're selling you cheap knockoffs made by toddlers in a basement somewhere.
And hey, that pharmacist worked her tail off for five years at a top-tier university just so you could accuse her of this nonsense...

Alright.
The issue is settled.
I have no desire to write any more about this or leave further comments.
I know exactly what I need to do—or not do.

Following up on this article

http://www.nytimes.com/news/health-and-medicine/pharmacy-shortages-and-safety/

Are you guys planning to bypass the pharmacy and just pick things up wherever you can find them? Or do you still feel more comfortable relying on a pharmacy to handle the storage, distribution, and professional advice?

I'm probably just gonna stick to the pharmacy. It's right around the corner from me and honestly, it's just become part of my routine to grab stuff there. If they ever decided to shut their doors for some reason, I wouldn't sweat it—I'd just head over to a 🙂store like
instead.

This list covers some real essentials,

but pretty soon, even some over-the-counter meds might be sold this way.

We’re headed toward a situation where you can just grab medicine at a place like Walmart, yet people will still head straight to the pharmacy to ask how they should actually take it.

Sure, the tech-savvy crowd will just look up advice online, but what happens to the folks who get left behind without that digital guidance?

Of course, some people will argue, "Hey, it's their choice," while others will expect pharmacists to remain the experts and not withhold vital information from patients just because of how things are being sold.
Pharmacists have to make a living too, and if this keeps happening, sales are definitely going to take a hit.
Anything under prescription regulations can't be sold without an RP, and besides, Medicare doesn't settle those claims for 300 days!!

I honestly don't see a huge wave of people hitting up the pharmacy just to pick their brains without actually buying anything... I mean, let's be real, the pharmacist's vibe and how they handle you is exactly why someone would choose a CVS over a corner bodega or a gas station, assuming everything else—like distance, price, and hours—is pretty much the same.

But, since we're already talking about the absolute nonsense coming out of Medicare lately—why on earth would anyone decide that you can't buy a half-liter bottle of saline solution without a prescription? Like, seriously? How is that even being abused?

Actually, that isn't a decision made by Medicare, it’s more about how Halmed handled the drug's re-registration.
Since this physiological saline is registered specifically as an infusion solution, you technically need a doctor's recommendation to get it.

Of course, if someone wanted to misuse it at home by using it as an infusion, they could.

But that's a different story—most people are just picking it up to rinse out their noses, throats, or wounds.
De facto, a pharmacist could actually face penalties if they sold it without a prescription while it was still in its original packaging.
That’s why you see pharmacies splitting it up into smaller bottles.

I’m pretty sure the big retail chains are going to drive prices way down, so really, we're looking at an issue of unfair and incompetent competition.

swiftbear86 said:Actually, that isn't a decision made by Medicare, it’s more about how Halmed handled the drug's re-registration.
Since this physiological saline is registered specifically as an infusion solution, you technically need a doctor's recommendation to get it.

Of course, if someone wanted to misuse it at home by using it as an infusion, they could.

But that's a different story—most people are just picking it up to rinse out their noses, throats, or wounds.
De facto, a pharmacist could actually face penalties if they sold it without a prescription while it was still in its original packaging.
That’s why you see pharmacies splitting it up into smaller bottles.

I’m pretty sure the big retail chains are going to drive prices way down, so really, we're looking at an issue of unfair and incompetent competition.

Look, if a pharmacy and a place like Walmart both pay the exact same wholesale price for a Band-Aid—say, five bucks—and the pharmacy marks it up to twenty while Walmart sells it for fifteen, I don't see how Walmart is the bad guy here😉.
Whoever decides to gouge people on prices is going to get burned, and honestly, that's on them. 🙂

If a major retail chain can afford to slash prices, there's a pretty good chance a local pharmacy could do the same if they wanted to😉.

swiftbear86 said:Actually, that isn't a decision made by Medicare, it’s more about how Halmed handled the drug's re-registration.
Since this physiological saline is registered specifically as an infusion solution, you technically need a doctor's recommendation to get it.

Of course, if someone wanted to misuse it at home by using it as an infusion, they could.

But that's a different story—most people are just picking it up to rinse out their noses, throats, or wounds.
De facto, a pharmacist could actually face penalties if they sold it without a prescription while it was still in its original packaging.
That’s why you see pharmacies splitting it up into smaller bottles.

I’m pretty sure the big retail chains are going to drive prices way down, so really, we're looking at an issue of unfair and incompetent competition.

If we're going by that logic, we might as well require a prescription for table salt and tap water too, since people could technically misuse those at home. Honestly, how many people in the entire history of medicine have actually hurt themselves just by messing around with saline solution in their own kitchen? There are literally thousands of substances way more dangerous than this sitting on shelves in every pharmacy and grocery store right now.

I only brought it up because it was a specific example I ran into myself (I used it to store my contact lenses)—you know, the whole idea of regulating and restricting something that's been easily accessible for decades. I'm positive there are plenty of other examples like that out there...

Brandon Lopez6 said:Look, if a pharmacy and a place like Walmart both pay the exact same wholesale price for a Band-Aid—say, five bucks—and the pharmacy marks it up to twenty while Walmart sells it for fifteen, I don't see how Walmart is the bad guy here😉.
Whoever decides to gouge people on prices is going to get burned, and honestly, that's on them. 🙂

If a major retail chain can afford to slash prices, there's a pretty good chance a local pharmacy could do the same if they wanted to😉.

Look, I’m talking about actual medication, not these general items on a list.
You obviously don't need a medical degree to sell bandages, condoms, diapers, or toothpaste...😁
A pharmacy might order five boxes of Band-Aids, whereas a place like Walmart orders fifty boxes and gets a massive bulk discount.😁

Tyler James5

Table salt is a food item, but that saline solution you mentioned in the glass bottle? That's registered as a drug, so the logic you're using just doesn't apply here! Selling and dispensing medication falls under an entirely different set of federal regulations that we have to follow strictly.

Sorry, but can you seriously not see how absurd this whole thing is? Like, it’s suddenly become this "high-risk substance" overnight, even though they've been selling it over the counter forever...

I mean, looking at it from a pharmacy's perspective, sales for the solution must have absolutely tanked, right?

edit: my bad.

p.p.s. yeah, I actually had someone asking me for a prescription for it at the pharmacy today.

There’s this massive gap between how things actually work physiologically and the legal fine print that labels a specific substance as a prescription drug just because it comes in its original branded packaging. Once it's labeled that way, all those strict pharmaceutical regulations kick in.
It isn't some sudden shift either; it's always been this way, though pharmacies used to be a bit more relaxed about following the rules to the letter.
Back then, there wasn't much oversight, but nowadays, they can slap you with a fine for even the tiniest deviation from the manual or the law.
Did they actually ask you for a prescription when you went to the pharmacy?

The whole thing is ridiculous—you see Andol advertised on TV constantly without needing a script, yet if you want Aspirin 100 protect, suddenly you're being told you need a doctor's note.
Honestly, I don't want to spend my energy worrying about losing my livelihood just because someone decides they aren't in the mood to pick up a prescription, or because I think a rule is nonsensical.

The people sitting in those high-level positions are the ones calling the shots. We have our own Chamber of Commerce, so they should really be looking out for our interests.

Besides, a pharmacy could take that exact same solution from the exact same bottle and whip it up as a compounded preparation. It wouldn't be sterile anymore, but for a nasal spray, it doesn't necessarily need to be.
They actually make more profit doing it that way than they do selling the original bottle, so sales wouldn't drop—if anything, they might actually go up.😉

Yeah, people were hitting me up asking for the recipe, so I figured I’d just put it all down here; plus, it’s become super obvious that they jacked up the price way higher just by changing the packaging. Honestly, that felt like their whole game from the start. But whatever, no point in tilting at windmills...

swiftbear86 said:Look, I’m talking about actual medication, not these general items on a list.
You obviously don't need a medical degree to sell bandages, condoms, diapers, or toothpaste...😁
A pharmacy might order five boxes of Band-Aids, whereas a place like Walmart orders fifty boxes and gets a massive bulk discount.😁

Tyler James5

Table salt is a food item, but that saline solution you mentioned in the glass bottle? That's registered as a drug, so the logic you're using just doesn't apply here! Selling and dispensing medication falls under an entirely different set of federal regulations that we have to follow strictly.

Honestly, they should just grab 50 units right out of the gate. It’d be a total no-brainer if the pharmacy just picked up two packs of something and walked away making enough profit to act like they sold 382. Pure math. 😬

I don't get why everyone's getting so worked up about someone trying to sell stuff at a discount during a crisis. Honestly, if you aren't the one owning the pharmacy or working on commission—and let's be real, that's pretty much how most people in pharmacies make their living—then what's the big deal? 😁Honestly, why do you even care if I moved 8 units or 68 today? Either way, the paycheck hits the same. 😉

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Tyler James5 said:Yeah, people were hitting me up asking for the recipe, so I figured I’d just put it all down here; plus, it’s become super obvious that they jacked up the price way higher just by changing the packaging. Honestly, that felt like their whole game from the start. But whatever, no point in tilting at windmills...

It’s not even about having a real motive here. It’s more like they just can't be bothered to actually forgive anyone—they'd rather use "physiological reasons" as a convenient excuse to dodge any kind of accountability.
It’s not like they just woke up one day and decided to hike the price for the fun of it. There isn't some random markup happening behind closed doors. It actually follows a very specific formula. You have to account for the cost of the solution itself, the packaging, the label, the labor involved in weighing everything out, the distribution, and then that 25% tax hit at the end. Once you run all those numbers through the grinder, you land right at that $8 mark.$3.25😁

Look, it doesn't cost you anything to just ask your doctor for a private, recurring prescription. You can specifically request that they mark it for multiple refills—say, five times—so you can just head to the pharmacy and grab what you need without all the extra hassle. If you feel awkward about it, just tell them you need it for your contact lenses. It’s a total lifesaver.
It’s wild how much you end up shelling out just for half a liter. You feel like you're getting robbed. $4.00.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Honestly, they should just grab 50 units right out of the gate. It’d be a total no-brainer if the pharmacy just picked up two packs of something and walked away making enough profit to act like they sold 382. Pure math. 😬

I don't get why everyone's getting so worked up about someone trying to sell stuff at a discount during a crisis. Honestly, if you aren't the one owning the pharmacy or working on commission—and let's be real, that's pretty much how most people in pharmacies make their living—then what's the big deal? 😁Honestly, why do you even care if I moved 8 units or 68 today? Either way, the paycheck hits the same. 😉

Where exactly did I "get worked up"?

At the end of the day, people are going to shop wherever it's cheapest.
I work in a pharmacy, and I don't get any commissions. I earn my salary just fine, and personally, I’m against medication being sold in big-box retailers like Walmart.

Following the logic used above, I should be thrilled if I didn't have to sell laxatives, pain relievers, antihistamines, and stuff like that anymore. I'd get to stop dealing with people complaining about not having a bowel movement for three days, all while making the exact same money. 😁

swiftbear86 said:Where exactly did I "get worked up"?

At the end of the day, people are going to shop wherever it's cheapest.
I work in a pharmacy, and I don't get any commissions. I earn my salary just fine, and personally, I’m against medication being sold in big-box retailers like Walmart.

Following the logic used above, I should be thrilled if I didn't have to sell laxatives, pain relievers, antihistamines, and stuff like that anymore. I'd get to stop dealing with people complaining about not having a bowel movement for three days, all while making the exact same money. 😁

Logic? I have zero clue how you jumped to that conclusion based on what I actually wrote. 🤔

You claimed big retail chains would undercut everyone by selling the same stuff at lower prices and that it isn't "fair competition." If that's not a complaint... I don't know what is. 🤷
Nobody sells anything without wanting to make a buck. If Walmart can sell something cheaper, it just means the prices everywhere else are, well, sorry, totally inflated. 😁

Brandon Lopez6 said:Honestly, they should just grab 50 units right out of the gate. It’d be a total no-brainer if the pharmacy just picked up two packs of something and walked away making enough profit to act like they sold 382. Pure math. 😬

I don't get why everyone's getting so worked up about someone trying to sell stuff at a discount during a crisis. Honestly, if you aren't the one owning the pharmacy or working on commission—and let's be real, that's pretty much how most people in pharmacies make their living—then what's the big deal? 😁Honestly, why do you even care if I moved 8 units or 68 today? Either way, the paycheck hits the same. 😉

That line really stuck with me—it basically implies you can do less work and get paid the same.

And when I mentioned competition, I wasn't talking about Band-Aids or stuff like that; I was talking specifically about prescription medications.
We won't face any real competition there because they won't have a clue what they're selling. However, by buying massive quantities on credit, they'll have the wiggle room to drop their retail prices, while our Chamber of Commerce keeps us tied down with those strict margin regulations...
At the end of the day, expertise shouldn't be free.
I just don't want us to end up in a spot where we're giving out medical advice and health tips for products bought at a big-box retailer, only to receive $0.00, if you know what I mean.

Nobody needs professional advice to buy a Band-Aid; you've always been able to pick those up anywhere.
I'm strictly talking about medication.

Band-aids were just the first thing that popped into my head since I've actually got one on my leg right now, so I realized you were talking about actual meds 😉

To me, it just makes sense—if a drug is sold over-the-counter (and honestly, there aren't many of those left these days), then they shouldn't need some massive extra lecture beyond what's already printed on the box. I mean, I've bought tons of Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin, and stuff like that over the years and never once got a single recommendation at the pharmacy counter. Not even when I was buying things at 🤷
for the first time.
And regarding you giving out advice... look, I get that it bugs you, but that’s only going to happen in really rare cases anyway. Like what Chris Cruz8 said above, people rarely walk into a drugstore without picking something up.
But if we’re playing by those rules, then it wouldn't be worth your time to give advice to someone who asks about a supplement but can't take it for some reason (like St. John's Wort clashing with an antidepressant) and ends up leaving empty-handed.