This is one review out of 2 reviews for this Walgreens and this one is about the pharmacy and their lack of training their staff properly.I have a had a few incidents with this store and I've never felt compelled to write a review even thought the first time they cost me over 100 dollars in medical bills, a day of withdrawal, and a day of my life when I was supposed to be meeting friends I hadn't seen in a really long time and hardly ever do get to see.
On a side note, never go to Compass Health for health care they won't answer phone calls in emergency situations. They have been useless when I have needed them for mental health care. Karen Brandt and Sohail Punjwani. I am all for second chances but google that last name and you'll find things that make you want to see a different practitioner.
I was taking Effexor, a long acting anxiety medication. Not addictive, not a scheduled med. I decided the side effects were not worth it and I wanted to get off it. Sohail Punjwani told me after I asked with much concern after reading horror story about withdrawal symptoms and he told me I shouldn't have any. So I listened to my Dr because after all the internet didn't go to school for 6-8 years to become a Dr so I trusted him. My last dose unfortunately fell over New Years. They claim to have a 24 hour line you can call, this is false.
So I went to Walgreens thinking they could give me 3-5 pills to get me through the holiday until I could speak with my psychiatrist. I should have asked for a pharmacist but first contact was an "assistant" and she told me NO WAY would they do an emergency refill even in a small amount. She directed me to the little clinic at Safeway. I went there, they took me back did blood pressure all that made me wait. At this point I cannot stop crying, not sad, just a symptom of the withdrawal. The Dr came in, VERY COLD. Immediately said we don't deal with mental health issues here. Who knows if they returned my co pay or not. I didn't check.
This was the 1st so basically out of options. I went to the ER. 365$ is the bill I received and a weeks worth Effexor. I went back to Walgreens to fill and this time the maybe the assistant was on break THANK GOODNESS I guess because he very casually and almost in a condescending tone said why'd you go to the ER, I would have given you a few extra pills this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was livid but kept it to myself. Got the refill from the WALGREENS pharmacist because the ER has prescribed instant release and I take extended release so it was a completely wasted trip and I will dispute it because as normal person not familiar with medical terms and such did not even look at the script other than to see it was for Effexor and to see how many were prescribed.
This Walgreens associate/assistant (unqualified to be so). If you don't know the answer to a question, ask somebody that does! 365$ lesson for me to double check EVERYONE and I hate feeling like the complaining customer, I hate having to write this but I feel it is deserved. By assuming she knew for certain they couldn't help me I ran around, missed a function I had been waiting month to go to up in Denver because I COULD NOT stop crying no matter how I tried to calm down. She cost me a day of my life where I could have seen friends which is critical because I am socially isolated and it's a big part of why I am taking meds at this point so I was devastated to miss that. The little clinic treated me like a drug seeker although NOBODY takes Effexor for fun, it's not addictive, that's why it's not a scheduled medication.
Train your employees who work behind the pharmacy. Your position is powerful despite the schooling you may have obtained to get the position and you should be proud of that job, it's a very good job and I'm sure you do help lots of people but you hurt me physically having to withdrawal for the day and cost me a lot of money that I do not have. That bill has likely been sent to collections because I couldn't afford it but I was afraid of the consequences if I didn't get the med. Prescriptions are no joke and anyone working in a pharmacy should know the ins and outs of the rules and what can and cannot be done. I will never let an associate help me again when I have an issue like that, but I also will not fill with Walgreens any longer. At least the one in 19th and Uintah. Train your staff Walgreens, don't be Walmart. read more