I would strongly encourage anyone considering MediVera to read this before placing an order…read more
My doctor initially prescribed compounded semaglutide through MediVera. I was using it for Long COVID symptoms as well as weight management, based on the treatment plan we had discussed. I started at a low dose to allow my body to acclimate, and I responded well. My doctor then increased the dose for my second month as planned.
The second prescription was a completely different experience. I had essentially no response. I had no meaningful weight loss, and more importantly, I did not experience the improvement in my Long COVID symptoms that I had experienced with the first prescription.
I contacted my doctor, and she had her nurse look into the situation. I was told there had been a known issue involving the pharmacy.
I then contacted MediVera myself and provided all of my information. I was told that the pharmacy manager/supervisor would call me back. I was also told that the vial may have gotten too warm before it was shipped or that it may not have been formulated correctly.
Nobody ever called me back.
After discussing everything with my doctor again, we decided to switch to tirzepatide because we felt there was better evidence for what we were trying to accomplish with my Long COVID symptoms. I also had to allow time for the semaglutide to clear from my system before starting the new medication.
When I was ready to have the new prescription filled, I called MediVera again and specifically asked for a supervisor. They struggled to locate my information despite having my previous prescriptions. I eventually discovered that they had my name spelled incorrectly in their system.
This was particularly concerning because I had provided and verified my information during previous calls.
When I brought up my concerns again, I was once again told that someone would follow up. I was then told I could proceed with the new prescription and that if I had a problem with it, they would replace it.
My question was simple:
What about the medication I had already paid for that I was concerned may have had an issue?
The pharmacist gave me several explanations. When I explained why those explanations didn't make sense based on what I had previously been told, his response was simply:
"That's right."
At that point, I no longer felt confident in the pharmacy's handling of the situation.
I understand that medications don't work the same way for everyone. That is not the reason for this review. My concern is the handling of a potential medication-quality issue, the lack of follow-up, inaccurate patient information, difficulty locating my account, and the failure to meaningfully address medication I had already paid for.
I cannot independently determine whether my medication was improperly stored, shipped too warm, or incorrectly formulated. Those were possibilities communicated to me by the pharmacy. What I can say is that I raised the concern, was promised a follow-up from management, and never received that call.
For me, the biggest issue isn't simply that the medication didn't work. It's how the situation was handled afterward.
Based on my experience, I would be very cautious about using this pharmacy and would encourage patients to ask detailed questions about quality control, storage and shipping procedures, and what happens if there is a concern with a compounded medication.
