Let me just start by saying I have no positive experiences while filling prescriptions here. First, this CVS is by far the worst I have dealt with as far as answering the phone. I am not exaggerating when I say I have had 20 minute hold times only to be disconnected! Even my health providers experienced issues using the Dr's line.
Now, the parts I despise about this pharmacy. My first really bad experience started before 8:00 AM Friday morning. I physically stopped in on the way to work to get a medication they had filled countless times before under insurance (with refills on my file) filled. I had made a mistake (**My fault I know**) and ran out before I needed to travel that night after 8:00 PM. Never did I expect to get the answer that I got before he even asked what medication I needed. "We are too busy and can't fill it until Sunday." This was not in a calm nor sincere tone as he began to immediately turn away. After that, I calmly told him that I had not been paying attention to my supply and I had researched the night before looking for other Pharmacies along the route of my trip and found none that would be open. I was told that if I didn't like his answer, to go to another pharmacy. I managed to tell him what medication it was and how if you stop taking it for three days you have to start again at the lowest dosage. He still did not want to help. This was maybe half a year ago before I moved all my medications to a CVS closer to my home rather then my work place.
So, the need to again attempt to take advantage of a 24 hour pharmacy arose when my Dr. wrote my prescription up for the first of the month on my ADD medication rather then the last day of the month. She dated the prescriptions so she could give me three hard copies on my last visit for three months because in California, you need a paper copy for ADD meds and they can't be called in. We didn't consider that with the date on the first, it provides a day at work and driving without ADD meds if you cant pick up your medication before you go to work or if the 1st falls on a weekend. Much to my surprise when I went to fill my prescription at the CVS I normally go to next to my house (Great staff there) their hands were tied since she had put a future date on these three unlike in the past due to Federal law when providing multiple refills for the same ADD medication. So if I filled my prescription in advance of the work week, there had been no issues prior to this since I was getting a fresh prescription each month with no date.
This is where the 24 hours CVS in San Ramon comes into play. I spoke with my normal Pharmacist and she suggested I fill it the morning before work the next day at a pharmacy that opened earlier which seemed like a great plan, issue resolved.
So I took the paper script to the San Ramon CVS. When I got there, they told me they didn't have the full 30 day supply of that medication and they'd have it by Wednesday. I asked for a partial and they said they do not do partials on this medication because it is a controlled substance. I was treated like a drug seeker as soon as she looked at the prescription. I had to step away from the counter and call my normal CVS. They let me know that the federal law states that partials are allowed for that medication as long as the remaining is picked up in the next 48 hours. No problem! This place is next to my work. I brought it up with the San Ramon CVS Pharmacist and I was then told that this was -their- policy and that I could go to another CVS if I wanted yet again.
This CVS employs non caring Pharmacists that seem to be paranoid that everyone taking ADD medications must be abusers and drug seekers. Be prepared to be treated rudely for filling any prescription here, and worse, like an addict if you are picking up anything controlled!
CVS nor the federal government have any policies in place preventing partial refills, and due to a prejudice Pharmacist, I had to deal with a day without medication at work and the 66 mile round trip commute. (If you have ADD, you know how safe driving is and how much work you get done without your meds) My Dr made a mistake that would have been resolved if this Pharmacy not only followed CVS guidelines, but Federal Law. Oh, how about understanding and looking at a situation and evaluating it rather then assuming this person that never gets their scripts filled there anymore is a drug abuser? This is by far the worst Pharmacy I have ever dealt with. I mean really, do people just come in and deal with the bad customer service and Pharmacists that make it clear they don't care ? read more