Pharmacy recommendations?

Brandon Lopez6 said: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.

It pays off for me because they’ll come back next time they need advice (once they realize I provide solid, accurate, professional info), and eventually, they’ll buy something or bring in prescriptions. And hey, maybe next time I can suggest something else that actually helps them out.😍

I'm really looking at this from the perspective of the entire pharmacy industry here; I'm not worried about my own specific shop.😉

swiftbear86 said:It pays off for me because they’ll come back next time they need advice (once they realize I provide solid, accurate, professional info), and eventually, they’ll buy something or bring in prescriptions. And hey, maybe next time I can suggest something else that actually helps them out.😍

I'm really looking at this from the perspective of the entire pharmacy industry here; I'm not worried about my own specific shop.😉

🤣 I probably shouldn't say where this sentence is headed...🤣🤣

Look, I don't personally know anyone who goes to a pharmacy just to chat with the pharmacist—you know, someone who’s an absolute expert on everything. Anything they actually need to know about their meds, they get from their doctor. Maybe it's different somewhere else, but that's just how it looks from where I'm sitting.

Brandon Lopez6 said:🤣 I probably shouldn't say where this sentence is headed...🤣🤣

Look, I don't personally know anyone who goes to a pharmacy just to chat with the pharmacist—you know, someone who’s an absolute expert on everything. Anything they actually need to know about their meds, they get from their doctor. Maybe it's different somewhere else, but that's just how it looks from where I'm sitting.

That comment really shows you don't quite grasp what a pharmacist actually does.

Even doctors aren't experts on every single medication out there. It's not even their job to have every drug memorized; their job is to provide an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment.
Plus, everyone pretty much sticks to their own specialty.😁

I'm sorry the pharmacists at your local drugstore haven't earned enough respect through their expertise and service for you to see them differently.😉

People actually prefer coming to our pharmacy over seeing their doctor sometimes.😉

Halmed has released an official statement to clear things up

For me, Pablo is the only way to go when I need a pharmacy.👍
The staff there are genuinely kind and helpful—they’ll actually take the time to walk you through everything.🙂
Unfortunately, the people at Farmacia aren't nearly as friendly. They aren't exactly approachable, so you basically have to pull information out of them tooth and nail, unless you get one of the rare nice ones,😁 which is why I avoid them whenever possible.😢

I honestly don't get why everyone is treating this like some massive "breaking news" event when these regulations haven't changed in at least 15 years.🙄
Basically, back in the day, you had to go right back to your doctor with a paper prescription just to get the date updated if it had expired.

Now, suddenly, everyone is losing their minds in the comments about bureaucracy...

And regarding this news about being able to pick up meds at any pharmacy within the European Union—don't overlook the fine print mentioned at the end. You actually HAVE TO PAY for the medicine upfront. Then, once you're back home in the States, you have to deal with Medicare to try and get reimbursed.
There’s even a chance you won't get all your money back, since the price of the medication might be higher over there than what we're used to here!😁

What are your thoughts on pharmacies adding more services to the mix?

http://news.com/us/health/pharmacy-services-expansion...---330879.html

I should mention that we’ve been providing extra help at our pharmacy for quite a while now, and we don't charge patients an extra dime for it.
They’re looking at introducing things like monitoring how well a specific treatment is working, but I honestly have my doubts about how Medicare is going to foot the bill. They’re already lagging way behind on payments for prescriptions and basic services—we’re talking over 200 days late on average, even though the legal limit is supposed to be 60.

Have you guys run into any of these extra services at your local drugstore?
Checking blood pressure and tracking therapy progress
Weight checks and helping folks stay on track with weight loss goals
Diabetes support and teaching people how to use their glucose monitors

Here is a perfect example of how we get ripped off at local pharmacies. I honestly cannot believe the margins they are pulling. Twinlab products are a prime example of where they just bleed you dry. My parents aren't really used to ordering things online (except when I do it for them), and I lost my mind the other day when they bought this without checking with me first:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xlifvqczl2...72838.jpg?dl=0

Basically, the price for these Omega fatty acids is $83 for a 90-capsule bottle.

Now look at this identical packaging: http://bit.ly/1Y0i49a

That only costs $14 (plus $4 for shipping), making it $18 total, which comes out to $40. I assume people would grab a few more items so the shipping fee becomes negligible.

How on earth can the difference be double???
This is just one instance; sometimes the gaps are way, way larger.
Go ahead, be a fool and keep buying from the pharmacy if you want.

Honestly, it feels like you get ripped off no matter where you turn around here—and man, pharmacies are the absolute worst example of that. Whether it’s supplements, high-end medical skincare... or even just perfumes and clothes... they just get you everywhere.

Look, here’s the deal. The real kicker in all of this is how disconnected wages and prices have become—they just don't match up anymore. In some places, you see high costs paired with high pay, or vice versa, but it works. Here? It’s just a total mess with these low wages and sky-high prices... and honestly, it isn't just at the pharmacy, it's everywhere. As for shopping online, I'm not really sold on it—quality can be hit or miss, and I just don't find it super reliable...

Samuel Davis3 said:Here is a perfect example of how we get ripped off at local pharmacies. I honestly cannot believe the margins they are pulling. Twinlab products are a prime example of where they just bleed you dry. My parents aren't really used to ordering things online (except when I do it for them), and I lost my mind the other day when they bought this without checking with me first:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xlifvqczl2...72838.jpg?dl=0

Basically, the price for these Omega fatty acids is $83 for a 90-capsule bottle.

Now look at this identical packaging: http://bit.ly/1Y0i49a

That only costs $14 (plus $4 for shipping), making it $18 total, which comes out to $40. I assume people would grab a few more items so the shipping fee becomes negligible.

How on earth can the difference be double???
This is just one instance; sometimes the gaps are way, way larger.
Go ahead, be a fool and keep buying from the pharmacy if you want.

Based on what you said, we still don't actually know what kind of markup you think an American pharmacy is running, right?
And why on earth would you expect a price at a local pharmacy here in the US to be identical to some random website overseas?

Plus, there are times when a manufacturer or a distributor decides to cut back their margins for the US market, which means you might find a better deal through certain domestic online pharmacies.

Don't forget you've got to account for that 25% sales tax, too.😁
And look, free advice is always available—as long as you're willing to talk to a pharmacist instead of just avoiding them.😁

Yesterday, I stopped by my local pharmacy hoping to pick up a single sterile needle to deal with a hangnail.
Apparently, they told me they only sell them in packs of 100, acting as if they were running some tiny rural drugstore where they refuse to break open a package to sell just one. It’s quite funny, though, because I went to a pharmacy in Cleveland today and picked up a small pack of five without any hassle at all.
From a medical standpoint, does it really make sense that you can't just buy a single sterile needle when you need one? If I had known the entire bulk pack was such a bargain, I would have grabbed it, but they didn't mention the full set was only about $0.20 to $0.30; I assumed individual needles would be much more expensive. What am I supposed to do if I urgently need a needle and they won't sell them individually? Am I expected to share a needle with a stranger? Even if they won't sell a partial pack, wouldn't it be easy to just write off the cost of one missing needle as a business expense rather than wasting the whole thing? $3.75 If they threw away a whole pack just because one needle was missing, it wouldn't even dent their bottom line.

It’s honestly ridiculous; I’ve never run into any issues whether I was living out in the rural countryside or right in the heart of the city. Usually, whenever cold season rolls around, my sinuses start acting up, so I just head down to the local pharmacy to grab some saline solution, a needle, and a syringe to rinse everything out—and I have yet to encounter a single person who refused to sell me those items individually. Especially if you're in an area where there are families with young kids, because that kind of nasal irrigation is such a standard part of life for toddlers up to two years old, so you can bet they'll have it in stock.

It’s just pure stupidity.
A pharmacy is supposed to sell you a single needle if that's what you want, regardless of why you need it. Even if you're just using it to fix something up.😁

swiftbear86 said:It’s just pure stupidity.
A pharmacy is supposed to sell you a single needle if that's what you want, regardless of why you need it. Even if you're just using it to fix something up.😁

Is there an actual regulation stating that a pharmacy is required to do this?

I am at a loss as to where else to inquire, so I will attempt my luck here. Is it possible to purchase the following items at a local pharmacy:

- benzene (for cleaning purposes)
- iodine crystals
- potassium permanganate (KMnO4) crystals

Additionally, does anyone know if they carry test tubes with cork stoppers?

Which pharmacies in Pittsburgh actually sell antidepressants or anxiolytics—or just prescription meds in general—without asking for a script? I'm not looking to get interrogated about whether I have a prescription or who they're for... just looking for somewhere that won't make a scene.

The only thing you can grab is medical-grade isopropyl alcohol for cleaning. You won't find any iodine crystals or potassium permanganate here, and they only carry plastic specimen tubes for urine samples.

If you really need glass test tubes, your best bet is to check with Hospitality.

Not in any of them. It’s either a standard prescription or something private; no sane person is going to sell you prescription-only meds without a script.