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Freeitude

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Yeah, I know I said 2 posts a month, work has been killing me lately (as it does any pharmacist) so I haven’t had much free time as of late.

Anyway,

Freeitude – The attitude that everything in a pharmacy should be “free” because of the past events of a persons life.  Also called Entitleitude, Pooritude, or Douchebagitude.

One of the most annoying shoot-yourself-in-the-face moments in a pharmacy is when a patient who is on a state/county/city funded drug assistance program/welfare gives you both barrels because they have to “drive across town” to pick up a balance of a $200 medication that they are getting for free.  This act of ungrateful entitlement makes pharmacists and their staff wish for a reduction in population, and mandatory sterilization of the people involved.  It also makes them bitter, and have a general hatred for humanity.  The icing on this cake is that these patients are angry at the world (especially you and your staff) like its YOUR fault that they got hooked on drugs/were born stupid/got hurt and cant work/excuse #424 and put into this situation.  Its annoying, very annoying.

I mean seriously, if someone offered to give me something worth over $200 for $0 (hell, even $5 or $10) would I get pissed off if I had to return the following day to pick up the rest of it? Fuck no! I’m getting $200 bucks worth of goods for nothing!  I’ll gladly return with a smile on my face, a huge thank-you, and an appreciation that cant be measured.

The amount of bitching these patients do about their meditations also lowers my outlook for my fellow man.  Bitching they only received a Lumigan 2.5cc bottle instead of a 5cc bottle (you look up how much Lumigan costs) is like getting upset because the state gave you a black corvette instead of a red one.

Sometimes its not even the constant drone of complaining/whining/bitching these patients bombard me with on a daily basis, its the lack of basic courtesy.  I expect a “thank you” after I save your ass from a drug interaction or getting that prior auth which your doctor would have never obtained on his/her own.  Instead I just get a complaint how I don’t have that $1000 special-order drug in stock even after I told you to give me a week to order it.  Its like I’m expected to be everyone’s mom/dad/babysitter and forget that the sole reason why I am there is to protect you from dying because you’re an idiot with your medications.

Now if you are paying cash for your medications, then you have the full right to bitch at me (as I have the full right to increase the price of your medications the next time you come in), but getting shit for free? Sorry, you have absolutely no room to bitch.  You are getting a handout from the generous taxpayers in your area, be grateful that we are forced to care for you.

Let me put it bluntly; If pharmacists weren’t around, you would of died by now due to a drug interaction or be dead from not getting the proper medication.  We save lives on a daily basis, and no matter how fucked your day/life/etc has been WE are not at fault, so show us some fucking courtesy like your dead-beat parents should of taught you and stop yelling at me for shit that’s 100% not my problem.  Go bitch at the EMTs for putting the IV line in your left arm instead of your right arm while you are bleeding out after that drunk driving accident instead of us.

All of this for $2 dispensing fee.  The kid who vacuums my car at the car-wash makes more in a tip than I do off of your Rx.

Comments #

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-24 14:25:58 -0700 #

I find this post very interesting not because of the moot point you’re trying to make but the fact that you seem to be on par with an adult who isn’t registered to vote complaining about the president. You’re tone is that of a child and it really gets tiring, I’m surprised you haven’t done anything to try and change this.

These people complain and bitch because they have the right to. The government offers a service to those who qualify and when it seems to be delivered with complication then they of course will be angry. It’s like someone trying to tell you to watch your language or to not speak your mind. Your right to free speech is something that is guaranteed by the United States Constitution and when someone tries to tell me, a veteran of all people, to not say “shit” or “fuck” then I get a bit angry. The same can be said for these people, their right to this free medication is guaranteed by a certain state or federal law and when it gets hindered then anger is expected. If you don’t like it then change the law! Organize a group of pharmacists or health care professionals to change it, hell if you do it then I’ll join. Until then this is nothing more than your average whine whine whine post from someone who is angry at doing their job.

I can cite some stuff from your post to parallel my free speech analogy. You wrote “I mean seriously, if someone offered to give me something worth over $200 for $0 (hell, even $5 or $10) would I get pissed off if I had to return the following day to pick up the rest of it? Fuck no! I’m getting $200 bucks worth of goods for nothing! I’ll gladly return with a smile on my face, a huge thank-you, and an appreciation that cant be measured”. I got told once to leave a town hall meeting with my Congressman because I said “bullshit”. He could easily have said “hey you should be thankful that you have the right to speak to me in a public forum like this, people of soviet russia would have killed for this right but just because you want to use profanity you think you can do whatever you want” but he didn’t. It’s just the way things work.

A lot of what you said seems to be “woe is me, I have to do my job so please cry for me”. How selfish of you that you seem to be so angry that these people don’t thank you. I’ve taken bullets for people and have pulled many people out of situations they shouldn’t have been it but I never expect a thank you since I’m just doing my job. You could call me humble I guess.

I’m not condoning their behavior, I’m trying to get through to you so you will understand that if things suck then change them. Get a new job, go into a different profession, OR do something to better your profession. Complaining about socialized medicine isn’t helping either, you’re in a state that disagrees with you.

Don’t think I’m out of touch, I’ve worked in the trenches both in pharmacy and in the military.

Comment by JWC on 2010-04-24 14:26:28 -0700 #

Very well said I’ve worked at a Pharmacy Now for 10 years, which is also a mail order pharmacy and for 8 years I worked in the Order Processing Dept that dealt with patients who had prescription medical coverage. The last two years Ive been working on a Patient Assistance Program which deals with the patients who are living below FPL Guidelines and without or little medical prescription coverage and it sickens me how hard it is for them to even fill out the form correctly. Especially when it is a simple one page form that also requires none and I repeat no “Proof Of Income” so they dom’t have to mail in their Paycheck stubs, W2 statements, notta. All they need to do is fill the form out, mail in their Rxs and the payment for each medication they are ordering, and this is Mail Order so they are getting on some maintence medications (Metformin, Levothyroxine) $20 for a 6 month supply, and so when their order is delayed because THEY or their DR or HCP didnt follow through on their end and follow what the application cleary indicates what is needed to get enrolled onto our program and we are trying to help them save $ and make sure their order is correct they call us up and start cursing me out I just get extremly appalled as well. It makes me sick especially when they are ordering a Controlled Substance. (The Clonazepam and Alprazolam are generally the most ignorant go figure). It makes me soooo want to assist them further its insane how ungrateful these people are and yet it cost me $45 every two months to get my own Rxs filled its crazy!!!!!

Comment by Dr. Grumpy on 2010-04-24 14:40:05 -0700 #

Yes. And they bitch at me, because they want some fucking free samples (like $100 of Maxalt, which is 6 pills) but don’t want to drive the 2 blocks to my office to get them, and want me to mail them.

I’ve never mailed samples. You want something for free, you can get your ass over here to pick it up. Yet they never have a problem driving out to the boondocks to buy cigarettes at the discount store, either.

Yeah, I hate these entitlement douchebags, too. They piss us all off.

Comment by Hurry Up! I want my Goddamn (free) drugs, NOW! on 2010-04-24 16:50:05 -0700 #

You don’t happen to work at the outpatient pharmacy of your local county/indigent hospital, do you? Sure sounds like it.

Comment by peon on 2010-04-24 17:01:31 -0700 #

People getting drugs for free and still complaining. Yes, it makes you begin to think that population control would be a good thing. Honestly, I don’t see how some of these dumb folks exist. Some of them don’t seem to have enough sense to get inside out of the rain. Sometimes it seems this whole country is turning into a welfare state. Did you know that 47% of the population pays no taxes? Is it no wonder this country is in debt up to our eyeballs? For every person paying taxes, there is another person that pays no taxes. This means that half the population is supporting the other half. Uggh! Seems to me like something is WRONG with this picture.
It is really pathetic to know that these folks getting these high price drugs are completely clueless about the cost of the drugs. I have one woman that gets $2500/per month of just insulin alone. That does not even take into account the other meds she takes. And, this country is going to provide Medicare and Medicaid for all of these folks??? Uggghhh? Who is going to pay for it? Just watch the government get more and more control of healthcare, then they will say,”Ohhhh, my God…we can’t afford it!”. Then, they slap on price controls, restrict surgeries, and slash what they pay all the providers. It is like they are clueless as to what is coming. But, they really aren’t. The whole fiasco is just away for the politicians in Washington to get control of every aspect of our lives. Just watch it is coming…unless the Tea Party movement and similar movements can reverse the current trend.

Comment by JohnRx on 2010-04-24 18:10:28 -0700 #

TAP, I love your posts and like usual completely agree. I work for Rite Aid (I know, I know). Anyways, we’re starting this new rewards card that gives ppl 25 points for each prescription. A person with state insurance was complaining about why he could not get his points. I finally told him “don’t you think you get enough for free for not doing a damn thing.” You should have seen the look on his face. Practicing pharmacy would not nearly be as bad if these fuckers had to pay something for their rxs. I thought there was no such thing as a free lunch. Where do these idiots get off bitching about even the smallest copays. No charge = no responsibility. It is the most frustrating thing about my job. I am sick and tired of busting my ass so your fat, stupid, lazy ass can get $1,500 worth of oxycontin for $0 then sell them and make a better living than I do. Oh well, even with all this bullshit, I still love my job.

Comment by RxDawg on 2010-04-24 19:12:01 -0700 #

” The kid who vacuums my car at the car-wash makes more in a tip than I do off of your Rx.”

When is the pharmacy profession going to give the big FU to insurance for this?

Comment by Sad pharmacist on 2010-04-24 22:31:28 -0700 #

Great rant TAP. I agree 100%. This is a topic that my wife and I discuss on nearly a nightly basis. We have a saying: People want their drugs for free and they want them yesterday. Many people think that medication is something that society owes them for one reason or another. It makes me so misanthropic that sometimes I hope that the Mayans have it right about 2012.

P.S. Maxwell you are a troll.

Comment by Julia sass on 2010-04-25 03:05:25 -0700 #

Maxwell, that was truly a beautifully written comment! TAP, you know I love you, but the man’s got a point. I know I start to feel like all the bitching and complaining I do about my job starts to become a self fullfilling prophecy.. But you must know that all the hate mail and difference of opinion we see here just makes your blog that much more interesting to read.

Comment by Kristen on 2010-04-25 06:29:11 -0700 #

I have worked for large chains and now am a full time tech at a local independent pharmacy and there were people with entitlement issues at the chain and there are those people where I am now.. there will always be those people. and I’m not talking about the families and those who use the welfare system as it was intended.

Comment by Sara on 2010-04-25 10:11:45 -0700 #

They complain and bitch because they have the right to? The government offers a service to those that qualify?

Bullshit.

Yeah, I really don’t buy your preachy comment dude.. because first of all, these people are driving around in a freaking BMW, Lexus, you name it, they got it… so how exactly do they qualify? You worked/work for the military? Rigggggggggghttttttttttttttt…

Nothing in life is free, because me, you, TAP, and every hard working citizen out there is paying for it through taxes.. so stfu please. And yes, you must be a TROLL.. question is, who are you working for really?

Comment by Hopelss on 2010-04-25 12:11:42 -0700 #

Now that you’ve been properly chastised by Maxwell you can change your blog name to “The Humble Pharmacist” and tell stories of the great people you meet and how thankful you are to be alive so people can shit on you each day.

Now back to reality. Would you vote for someone who ran on the platform of “earned fertility”? I would. I would in a heartbeat. Something along the lines of an intelligence test that when passed grants you the right to have the contraceptive removed. A little Hitleresc I know but less ethnic. Improvement of the human race the same way we breed horses.

“It is surprising how soon a want of care, or care wrongly directed, leads to the degeneration of a domestic race; but excepting in the case of man himself, hardly anyone is so ignorant as to allow his worst animals to breed.” -Charles Darwin

Comment by theangrypharmacist on 2010-04-25 12:21:13 -0700 #

If you came into the pharmacy and started swearing at me, I’d tell your ass to leave too. Its called common courtesy, and you would think you would have learned that in the military.

Comment by theangrypharmacist on 2010-04-25 12:33:52 -0700 #

No, I wouldn’t. Last thing we need is to have the government tell us if we can have a child or not. The government needs to start staying out of our own daily lives (even though we know thats not going to happen).

I’m for depo-injection birth control upon the acceptance of a welfare check renewed every 3 months or you get cut off. I tend to have little care nor compassion for those who expect everyone else to care for them and give no effort to take care of themselves.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-25 12:44:14 -0700 #

There’s a big difference between you and a state representative. You don’t work for me and none of the money in my paycheck goes to you. At all. However, my money gets sent to this person to spend on my behalf so why would it matter if I’m using language you consider to be “swearing”? I’ve worked for many years as a pharmacist and the fact that you complain over and over and over again demanding “common courtesy” is really tiring. I’m sorry you’re in my profession.

I learned to give respect to people who have earned it, I don’t bow to the average person on the street because they want to be treated like a king like you suggest. If you want the average patient to bring you a red carpet and velvet ropes for you to use then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-25 12:52:36 -0700 #

Sara, thanks for responding to my post! Let me address something you wrote, I’ll quote then respond.

“Bullshit.”

It’s not bullshit, there are laws on the books that grant people that kind of service if they qualify. Look up the law if you don’t believe me or call your local welfare office.

“these people are driving around in a freaking BMW, Lexus, you name it, they got it… so how exactly do they qualify? You worked/work for the military? Rigggggggggghttttttttttttttt…”

If you are dealing with patients who are on welfare that drive fancy cars then that is a true shame. Sure there are people who bend the system but you are suggesting to the rest of us that they ALL do it which I disagree with. I don’t know why you would question that since not being in the military would add nothing more or take away anything from my comment. My business is my business just like yours is!

“Nothing in life is free, because me, you, TAP, and every hard working citizen out there is paying for it through taxes.. so stfu please.”

I must “stfu” because my taxes go to pay for medications to people who can’t afford it? You are an American citizen, I presume. You are as equal of a citizen as I am so why must I “stfu” because you disagree with my opinions? That’s not very professional.

Comment by theangrypharmacist on 2010-04-25 12:56:36 -0700 #

So you’re implying that you should be able to say what you want because /we/ fund this Congressman’s paycheck, yet I have to sit and take both barrels from an ungrateful fuck because /we/ fund his welfare check/medication? Its okay for you to bitch about getting kicked out for saying “bullshit” but heavens-oh-my I’m whining about someone not thanking me.

I never once said to “bow to the average person on the street because they want to be treated like a king like you suggest” nor do I wish anything other than a ‘thank you’ or at the very least some appreciation for what they are given to them paid for by us.

I’m starting to doubt that you are even a pharmacist. If you are, you are probably one of those salty bastards who treat everyone like shit/addict until they have ‘earned your respect’.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-25 12:58:55 -0700 #

Why would a depo-injection be needed anyway? In one of the states I worked in there was a regulation where the amount of dependents you applied to welfare with would not change. So if you registered with you and one child, you were locked in. Having 5 more kids wouldn’t matter because they would not be covered. I guess California doesn’t have that kind of law which goes back to my original post: if you don’t like it then CHANGE IT!

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-25 13:09:34 -0700 #

No no no, I’m not saying that at all. I’m saying that these people who are rude to you should NOT be a surprise to you. I’m not saying that these people have a right to yell at you because they don’t. I’m saying that the anger comes from the fact that they have a law on their side and complications (whether they be your fault or the welfare offices fault) can cause anger. I didn’t bitch about getting kicked out, I simply stated something that happened to me. I haven’t brought it up again like you have in your response to me!

Are you really telling me that no one thanks you? Since you aren’t suggesting that then what do you want?! I’m sure that there are some patients that do thank you and some that don’t, things can’t always go your way. I wish more patients thanked me for filling their prescriptions and giving them better service than CVS but it’s just the nature of the beast.

Salty bastard? I haven’t heard that one before! I have more incentive to treat my patients with respect whether or not they give it to me in return because them spending money in the store raises my paycheck, increases competition, and raises the quality of the service I have to give. In this kind of a market if I don’t do that then I have no more job because they all go to CVS or Walgreens. Sure there are some patients you can make assumptions about and most of the time they come true but those make up a minority of people that come in.

EDIT: Let me add that there is a difference between “complaining” and “yelling”, sorry if my first initial comment wasn’t clear.

Comment by 2BAPharmD on 2010-04-25 13:47:51 -0700 #

Change … you keep throwing that word out there, Maxwell. In order to change anything, we’d need an advocate to speak for us, since our corporations, managers and their ilk are content to ramrod us into being glorified burger-slingers. Who should our advocate be? APhA? I won’t be holding my breath, that’s for sure.

Comment by FoulVulgarBastardPharmcist on 2010-04-25 15:50:54 -0700 #

TAP nails it on the head again. The public sucks.
Max, eat a big fucking bowl of dick and go away. Unless you puke dick. Then post a link to the pix. And fuck you again. You aren’t military or pharmacist I bet. Pharmacists are more in touch with reality and military would stay more in line and shut the fuck up. You are the crazy fuck that goes to all the town hall meetings and writes letters to the editor you spend hours crafting. Fuck you again.
Wait..let me click to edit…give yourself a couple of 7.62 suppositories as well. Fuck you a third time.

Comment by WrongAid on 2010-04-25 17:10:00 -0700 #

Hey! Where’s the rant on the 15 minute guarantee Rite Aid is rolling out. I think I’m actually looking forward to it. All prescriptions free at Rite Aid where I will purposely take 16 minutes to fill all scripts. I hope one of you armchair executives trolls across this and realize every goddamn one of your RPh’s hate you and don’t give a fuck about your company. Another great decision from the top!

Comment by Hurry Up! I want my Goddamn (free) drugs, NOW! on 2010-04-25 17:48:18 -0700 #

Oh my goodness! While I am appalled at the unseemly combination of entitlement and lack of gratitude that some, but certainly not all, aid recipients exhibit, and while you know I have a man-crush on you, TAP, I have to agree with Maxwell, as well. The whole “ungrateful, entitled, 2010 Escalade driving, top-of-the-line brand new iPhone having, 1000 free oxycontin drug-dealing, steak and lobster eating, lazy-ass, non-productive, non-contributing welfare deadbeat” topic has been done to death here on your superlative illustrious blog. Yeah, kinda’ to the point of beating a dead horse into Alpo. Don’t get me wrong – I certainly don’t begrudge you your desire for the respect you deserve and sometimes (hopefully, only sometimes) do not receive. But aren’t there some other ventable issues you run across in your professional life that have received less play on your blog that you could address?

@peon: get an education, for christsake! Parroting hand-me-down knee-jerk partisan platitudes does not a cogent, coherent post make! I shan’t be wasting any more time on you, so reply or don’t reply as you desire.

@JohnRx: “A person with state insurance was complaining about why he could not get his points. I finally told him “don’t you think you get enough for free for not doing a damn thing.” You should have seen the look on his face.”
I’ll bet that look was priceless! However, unless you own your own pharmacy, I would imagine you can’t deal with problem patients like that on a regular basis with impunity. Damn shame! But, all that mighty mega-corp pharmacies care about are their profits – the dignity of their pharmacists doesn’t even make their list of priorities.

@Julia sass: I feel ya’, sista’!

@Sara: “They complain and bitch because they have the right to? Bullshit.”
Actually, they do have the right. See, we got this thing called a “Constitution” in this country (I presume you are in the U S of A), and this “Constitution” has this thing called “The First Amendment.” I guess you must be unfamiliar with both.

“The government offers a service to those that qualify? Bullshit.”
Bullshit??? How do you think these people on aid/assistance got on assistance? Do you think the “Medicaid Fairy” came by one night and sprinkled magic Medicaid Fairy dust on these “dead-beats and cheats” that magically turned them into Medicaid recipients? Of course the government offers a service to those that qualify!

“these people are driving around in a freaking BMW, Lexus, you name it, they got it…” Ah yes, the “Welfare Queen” stereotype rears it ugly head (once again – see paragraph one, top of post above for the full version). News flash – the majority (overwhelming majority) of aid recipients get around on the bus, using a bus pass provided them by their local social services office. I’ll bet you even begrudge those unfortunates their bus pass, don’t you, Sara?

“[To Maxwell].. so stfu please.”
See the bit above about “The Constitution” and “The First Amendment.”

“And yes, you must be a TROLL..”
Actually, I don’t think Maxwell is a TROLL. I think he merely has a different point of view than you do. Granted, it’s easier to hurl epithets than to contemplate the fact that maybe, just maybe, not everyone agrees with you and your world-view.

“question is, who are you working for really?”
Paranoid, much? My guess is he must be a lobbyist for the people on public assistance – ’cause those welfare people have all the bucks and can afford to hire a lobbyist!

Let me just say, thank you, Sara! You are an absolute goldmine! Please post again real soon!!!

@2BAPharmD: “Change … you keep throwing that word out there, Maxwell. In order to change anything, we’d need an advocate to speak for us,…Who should our advocate be? APhA? I won’t be holding my breath, that’s for sure.”

And it appears you won’t be stepping up, either. Why don’t YOU, 2BAPharmD, be that advocate? Why don’t YOU rally the troops? Too much work, I guess. You’d rather just sit back and piss and moan. Oh, that’s gonna’ help your situation. Ok, let me walk you through this, 2BAPharmD (and the rest of you who bemoan the fact that pharmacists are like cats – too damn independent to be herded/grouped together for a common cause). You gather as many dissatisfied and disgruntled pharmacists as you can find, you all throw some money in the kitty, AND YOU HIRE A LOBBYIST to press your agenda at the state AND federal levels.

Jesus Christ, I should charge for this shit!

Comment by Tony on 2010-04-25 18:08:46 -0700 #

is it just me or is this blog getting redundant? Yes, we get it freeloaders complain a lot and want to get high while you work hard. I complain about those types of patients too…..like once every few months, you bring it up every second. Boring!!!!!

Comment by Joe on 2010-04-25 18:16:57 -0700 #

JohnRx wrote: I finally told him “don’t you think you get enough for free for not doing a damn thing.”

No, you didn’t. You handed him his meds and stayed quiet like a little bitch.

Comment by Hurry Up! I want my Goddamn (free) drugs, NOW! on 2010-04-25 18:59:54 -0700 #

Wow, I thought my previous post might not make the cut and get posted, and now I see FoulVulgarBastardPharmacist’s post. It appears my concerns were unfounded.

And FoulVulgarBastardPharmacist, thank you for adding to the discussion in such a thoughtful, intelligent, informed, and introspective fashion. You really opened this dialogue up.

Actually, your post sounds as if you paraphrased Jay’s little speech from “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”:

Jay: All you motherfuckers are gonna pay. You are the ones who are the ball-lickers. We’re gonna fuck your mothers while you watch and cry like little bitches. Once we get to Hollywood and find those Miramax fucks who are making that movie, we’re gonna make ’em eat our shit, then shit out our shit, then eat their shit which is made up of our shit that we made ’em eat. Then you’re all you motherfucks are next. Love, Jay and Silent Bob.

Your line “Max, eat a big fucking bowl of dick and go away. Unless you puke dick. Then post a link to the pix. And fuck you again.”

echoes of

“we’re gonna make ’em eat our shit, then shit out our shit, then eat their shit which is made up of our shit that we made ’em eat.”

Merely dick cycling versus eat shit cycling.

Say, FoulVulgarBastardPharmacist, didn’t they teach you in school that plagiarizing was wrong?

Given your impressive vocabulary, eloquence, and your inimitable ability to turn a memorable phrase, I look forward to your reply.

So bring it, bitch!

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-25 19:26:15 -0700 #

Actually the town hall meeting I mentioned in my post was about raising the sales tax to 11% to fund a shopping center that eventually failed but even then, what’s wrong with that?

You proved my point! You just don’t care about your profession or your career enough to give a damn. You can claim I’m not in touch with reality or that I “eat dick” but you are the perfect example of what’s wrong with our profession. It’s like your hitting your head over and over and over again with a baseball bat while yelling “THIS HURTS! WHY CAN’T WE GET RID OF BASEBALL BATS? THIS HURTS”.

But judging by the amount of language in your post, you aren’t a pharmacist. Or you might be a low tier CVS pharmacist which would make sense.

Comment by kizell on 2010-04-25 20:08:52 -0700 #

Unless you have been living on the moon for the past 10 years, it is not hard to “qualify” for state assistance. All it takes is some nifty paperwork. I’ve dispensed medicaid assisted medicine to kids whose parents live in a nice country club, and I can’t tell how many state supported buttfucks come driving up to the drive-thru window in a car nicer than mine. Welfare has turned into an entitlement instead of a necessity for some. But our state politicians secretly love the expanding welfare sector, b/c it brings power to their particular institution. If so many people are dependent upon you, then your job is secured and comes with great benefits b/c you have maintained your relevance in society.

Comment by RxDawg on 2010-04-25 20:48:38 -0700 #

I don’t know if I’m ready for the government to say who can breed and who can’t, but here is some food for thought. The uneducated breed like rabbits. The educated career driven citizens do not. They have less children and they have them later in life. Will that effect us as a race in the long run? Who knows. If that happens in nature, the lesser offspring die off due to competition. But in America, we take care of those with less and promote them till they can breed again. It really comes down to what is bigger, the genetics or the environment. I’d like to think the environment plays a bigger role, and that pretty much anyone thats healthy enough can do anything they put their mind to. But if I’m wrong, and the genetics is a bigger piece of the puzzle, then the human race is going backwards in evolution and were fucked.

Comment by anonymous Pharm. D on 2010-04-25 21:09:47 -0700 #

Excuse me, but is the Angry Pharmacist’s sole purpose to entertain YOU? If you do not like the blogger’s rants because they are too “redundant” for your taste, then stop reading the blog and/or write your own. Put your money where your mouth is. And last I checked, the First Amendment to the Constitution protects this blog as well, since we’re all in the Constitutional spirit.

Comment by The Redheaded Pharmacist on 2010-04-25 21:11:05 -0700 #

Well the angry tone and the frustration that are part of the tone of TAP’s rant is definately understandable. It is a tough thing to be a retail pharmacist. You see people at their worst sometimes. You see people on their bad days. And yes, you have to deal with patients that are less than appreciative or thankful for your work.
You can’t choose who your customers are in most cases. If you are an independent owner you can allow yourself a little more freedom with regards to how you deal with difficult people but for the most part any retail pharamcy must deal with whomever walks through the front door.
And part of what comes through the front door includes customers and patients on assistance programs. The thing about assistance programs like Medicad is the fact that on the one hand they are much needed programs that are in place as a kind of safety net to help people that are struggling but on the other hand there are problems with who qualifies for these programs and the attitudes of some of the recipients of those programs can be les than pleasant to say the least.
I have personally dealt with patients who were on Medicaid or other assistance programs that I wanted to jump the counter and punch in the face. There are those patients that have a complete disregard for common decency. They will treat the pharmacy staff like dirt every time and have that “entitlement attitude” that TAP talks about in his post. It can be easy for a pharmacist that has dealt with so many problem customers time and time again over the years to make generalizations or assumptions about patients on assistance programs based on previous issues with other customers. We all can get a little bitter over time.
I personally hate people that don’t live by the golden rule whether they are living below the poverty line on Welfare and Medicaid or if they are rich beyond my wildest dreams. Some people learn that you should treat other people with respect and some do not. Unfortunately, you have to deal with both types of customers in retail.
What I fear is that I become bitter and angry and hateful myself as a result of dealing with too many people that are like that themselves. But it is easy to get frustrated whaen you have to deal with so many difficult people all the time at work that seemingly don’t appreciate what you do or even give you a minimum level of respect or common courtesy. In the end I just try to do my best and deal with the problem custoemrs as best I can but I realize that I am human and that I will make mistakes. And my patients are human too and some of them will be jerks even though they are getting that Lumigan for free.

Comment by Hurry Up! I want my Goddamn (free) drugs, NOW! on 2010-04-25 23:50:55 -0700 #

anonymous Pharm. D –

Fuckin’ A right! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

God bless the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, and the First Amendment!!!

USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

How’s that for Constitutional spirit, you snarky little twat?

Come to think of it, there’s only one group that’s more revoltingly entitled and lacking in gratitude than “the entitlement douches” or “welfare dead-beats and cheats.” And that group would be all the healthcare providers (and given this location, especially pharmacists) who can’t stop bitching, pissing, and moaning about those on public assistance.

USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

FLAME ON, MOTHERFUCKERS!!!

Comment by Hurry Up! I want my Goddamn (free) drugs, NOW! on 2010-04-25 23:55:56 -0700 #

At last, a rational, thoughtful post from a pharmacist on this topic. My undying thanks, and my hat’s off to you, The Redheaded Pharmacist.

Comment by Hurry Up! I want my Goddamn (free) drugs, NOW! on 2010-04-26 01:19:20 -0700 #

And by the way, while y’all are railing against the “entitlement douchebags” (understandable since that’s who you deal with), you seem to have forgotten the doctors, pharmacists, other healthcare providers, and administrators who defraud Medicaid and Medicare for MILLIONS of dollars. The amount of money spent on the “entitlement douchebags” is just a speck of sand on the beach compared to the amount of money the criminal Professional “ENTITLEMENT DOUCHEBAGS” have stolen from the States and Fed.

Your collective myopia is understandable, but not excusable.

USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

Comment by Chuck in MI on 2010-04-26 06:25:43 -0700 #

AP,
You are so mean! Making people be responsible for their own problems?? WTF is this country coming to? Making them spend $3 in gas to pick up meds? That $3 really eats into their cigarette/alcohol/oxycontin/lotto ticket/doobie fund. And without cigarettes, alcohol, oxycontin, lotto tickets, or doobies, what fun is life?

Just kidding. I love your blog.

p.s. I hear companies are laying off workers just to pay for the new Health Care bill. My source is reliable but you will understand if I can’t reveal it. So, you will not have a job, or the dignity to take care of yourself, but you will have basic, sloppy, gov’t healthcare. (As a kid, I used to be on Medicaid in the 1970’s. There were limited doctors who would take Medicaid back them. The doctors were awful (giving the wrong antibiotic for the infection, or wrong dose) and the wait was several hours with an appointment.)

Comment by Chuck in MI on 2010-04-26 06:28:59 -0700 #

One more thing, AP. Are you allowed by your employer to tell me, the customer, that you have averted a dangerous mixing of drugs? Because I sure as heck want to know if my doctor is doing stupid things on a regular basis.

Thanks.

Comment by Chuck in MI on 2010-04-26 12:21:11 -0700 #

TAP,
I have a relative in Michigan who must get medication monthly at a state agency in order to get his STATE welfare check. However, I believe he gets all the federal aid (welfare) with no strings. His meds make him stable enough to work full time, when he can find it.

He’s actually a nice, hard-working guy, but he cannot function without his meds.

I agree there should be more strings attached to federal welfare of all kinds, including corporate welfare.

Comment by WrongAid on 2010-04-26 13:01:38 -0700 #

First thing you’ve said that made any since. 100% true. There are some specialty practices that truly earn their money but most general MD’s are in the business of making sure [the elderly and stupid] come back often and have lots of tests. That’s part of the reason for all the drug abuse we as pharmacists see every day and come on here to rant about. After all, there’s no better or more reliable customer than an addicted one.

And the pharmacies. I’ve asked this question before and have never received a real answer. What came first? Lying about the true cost of a drug or the insurance companies lowering the dispensing fee. I mean hell, we charge the insurance company sometimes 1000% what some generics truly costs. That’s where Wally World stepped in and brought the industry to it’s knees. They don’t need the profit. Just the mouth breathers in the building.

Anywho, went off on a tangent for a second. I agree about the fraud. the only solution being an elimination of ALL third party payment systems. Whether it be government or private. Straight back to pay-as-you-go. Maybe there would be room for catastrophic coverage for operations or cancer, etc.

Comment by Steve on 2010-04-26 13:57:40 -0700 #

I work for Rite aid as well John (unfortunately) and I agree. The new wellness program, especially in my area (70% medicaid), is not going to do very well and as usual i am going to be bitched at on a daily basis.

Comment by Steve on 2010-04-26 14:04:40 -0700 #

As often as you keeping bringing up “change” maxwell I think I know who you voted for!!! We have yet to see what that “change” will do to the profession. Especially when it gets to the point of controlling the pharmacy business the way that it will affect the Physician world.

Comment by Steve on 2010-04-26 14:09:40 -0700 #

Kudos to Anonymous Pharm. D!!!!

Comment by Cracky McCrackhead on 2010-04-26 14:36:09 -0700 #

I do my best to always be kind and say thanks to the techs and pharmacists filling my order. I pay cash and thank God that I wasn’t caught passing forged scripts. You see in my business being pleasant and kind to pharmacy folks makes life so much easier.

Comment by FoulVulgarBastardPharmacist on 2010-04-26 14:53:32 -0700 #

I am glad I can amuse someone Hurry Up guy. You are more fun than Maxwell. Practically a Cracky McCrackhead. And I don’t copy. I am an original motherfucker. I guess I did hark back to my alt.tasteless days with the reference to a bowl of dick and posting gifs, but I have never seen the Jay and Silent Bob Movie. It sounds decent enough.
Fuck all of you again, and Maxwell a fourth time with a 2 foot 60 grit covered pestle on a reciprocating saw so I can watch your guts fall out into my 4 quart combo mortar/casserole dish. Then I will cook it up with jalapenos, eat it, regurgitate the foulness, stuff it up the dog’s ass….ah nevermind…

Comment by AnotherAngryRXTech on 2010-04-26 16:43:11 -0700 #

I’ve gotta go with TAP on this one as usual. Usually, people are placed in the kind of situation where they need welfare if they lack the ambition or motivation in life to succeed. Not saying that’s always their fault – parental issues could have caused that… who knows. We’re taking the PSSA’s in my school (PA State Standardized Test) and there are kids that refuse to do it altogether. How much do you want to bet that they’ll be one of the aforementioned customers coming in demanding their free meds?
Anyway, you get out of life what you put into it. Just because you’re too lazy to goto college to ensure a real job, doesn’t mean that you need everything handed to you. Don’t give me the ‘college is expensive’ crap. Financial aid, scholarships, loans, etc. are all available for EVERYONE. They should be grateful that they live in a country where they’re able to get free meds, or clean ones for that matter. Or even one that has so many laws and restrictions to make sure they don’t get killed by a mistake. So Maxwell, while I thank you for your service to our country, at the same time you can’t argue with the man. This blog is a place for people who work in Pharmacies to vent about customers, and generally the people who complain the most are the people who are getting their meds for free because they can’t take care of themselves. Instead of spending all their money on lotto tickets, cigarettes, crack, etc. maybe they should buy a nice suit to wear to a job interview?

Comment by RxDawg on 2010-04-26 17:37:59 -0700 #

That would be thieves. That changes for rude assholes to criminals.

“The amount of money spent on the “entitlement douchebags” is just a speck of sand on the beach compared to the amount of money the criminal Professional “ENTITLEMENT DOUCHEBAGS” have stolen from the States and Fed.”

Ummm, you have some proof of that? Cause I’m betting no.

Comment by John the J Man on 2010-04-26 18:40:29 -0700 #

I can’t stand people like Maxwell. You know, the human race has had indoor heating for a long time now. Your head can’t possibly be up your ass for the warmth.

In my eight years working in a retail pharmacy, I’ve come to the conclusion (and this conclusion isn’t unique to only myself) that people on Medicaid as a collective whole are the loudest, and most obnoxious people out there. Helping the needy is one thing. Helping people who just don’t give two shits let alone one is another.

Oh well. It’s not like the idiots will ever go away, whether they’re staring at you from the other side of the register or posting self-riteous gobble-de-gook on sites like this. For Shits sake it’s called “The Angry Pharmacist.” ::sigh:: No amount of explaining, no amount of consultation, and no amount of patient leaflets will EVER get rid of “stupid.” Perhaps this Maxwell character is a democrat… ?

Comment by TecNVA on 2010-04-26 21:05:09 -0700 #

So, I have been a technician since 2002 and have pretty much seen it all, as I’m sure you all have. There are weirdos and druggies, slackers and know-it-alls, jerks and idiots and the occasional courteous customer. I would love it if my patients said “thank you so much” on a daily basis, but they don’t and that’s life. I never condone their bad behavior but what benefit am I gaining from getting pissed about it…higher blood pressure, a headache and an urge to physically confront someone? And what are they getting…as usual, their free or low-copay drugs and the knowledge that what we think doesn’t really mean crap because if we value our jobs, which are waning rapidly, we’ll do what we’re hired to do and get over it when the shift has come to an end, all to wake up and repeat it the next day. TAP, I know that you’re frustrated, and I am too, but the best thing I can ever think of to do is to vote…one thing that hasn’t been taken away from us…yet!

Comment by rph3664 on 2010-04-26 21:51:57 -0700 #

You must not have children. Certainly there were some at that event, and just because Joseph Biden uses profanity in public doesn’t mean it’s okay.

Comment by commonsense rph on 2010-04-26 22:05:06 -0700 #

We are all ranting and raving because we have to deal with these ungrateful
free loaders for life,complains to front store manager and stupid Rx supervisors/District managers, treats the pharmacists like if we stink like shit and lectures us about the customer service bull shit, customers are always right.

When these freeloaders complains, they issue gift cards and tell pharmacists to ask them how high should we jump when they bark..ughhhhhhhh!

Comment by I love humanity; its people I cant stand on 2010-04-26 22:20:31 -0700 #

People who pay out of pocket for expensive medications are just as bad as those who pay nothing, since the first expect you to kiss their ass because of all the money they spent, and the second are like flies on a shit sandwich.
So basically, they all suck, and its your fault. The signature on the Rx is missing, the date, the pt name, the drug dose, the qty, the number of refills, and their insurance is only accepted on Mars, etc; think of all the permutations (9 factorial?) of things that go wrong for what you are in their eyes at fault. Oh, the doctor is leaving the office, call him right away!
Its basically down to who is easiest to blame and guess what its you- you are right there!
Just tell them you have to take extra long to fill it for their safety!
If they complain about pricing, tell them you want them to get nothing but the best medication; they are worth it. Tell them you are out of stock, computer lines are down, and need to consult their doctor etc. Let them come back the next day. If not, here, take it and go elsewhere. That’s what they really want anyway.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-26 22:56:02 -0700 #

and complaining to the internet so of course things won’t change. Medicaid will still run the way it’s running because no pharmacists out there have the balls to say anything or try to organize anything. It’s almost as bad as the pharmacists who complain about working conditions but say HELL NO to unions or anything remotely close to that. It’s all talk and no walk which perfectly describes you.

You can say I have my head up my ass for warmth but when summer hits at least I’ll know where to find the cold: your useless willpower.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-26 22:57:51 -0700 #

Uhhh hello?! I don’t see firefighters complaining and crying because they had to put out another fire. This is your job, deal with it. If it gets to the point where you’re like a firefighter putting out matches then find a different job, go into a different profession, OR DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE YOUR PROFESSION FOR THE BETTER.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-26 22:59:04 -0700 #

The only person who has that attitude is someone who doesn’t own their own pharmacy.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-26 23:03:51 -0700 #

Obviously you read my original comment but didn’t comprehend it, that’s fine.

Comment by Feeduppharmacist on 2010-04-27 01:04:50 -0700 #

The one thing I really dislike about my job is that I now assume the worse of people. Some scrubby jerk will walk up to the pharmacy and I will say to myself in my head “I bet this guy is on medicaid but doesn’t have his right card.” What I hate is the shocking frequency I’m right about this type of thing now. I wish I was wrong. I wish there were a bunch of cases were I decided someone looked like an idiot and was proven completely wrong. But that isn’t the case. The scum of the earth have a way of proving you right most the time.

Comment by Murray on 2010-04-27 01:23:24 -0700 #

I developed a self defence mechanism that served me well over my last three years in pharmacy. The nice customers got my full attention and the pharmaceautical care they deserved. The arseholes could go to hell and back, they got nothing more than their scripts filled. If the Doctor had fucked up, I did’t care. NZ is not as litigous as the US. Fortunately for myself, and I guess for the arseholes I have dealt with over the last 25 years, I quit pharmacy. I now spend my days with my lovely Filipino wife and my two beautiful sons in a wonderful warm country where I can live very well on $100 US a week,

Comment by Purduealumni03 on 2010-04-27 03:22:43 -0700 #

Hilarious!!!!!!!!!! And so true!

Comment by Jennifer on 2010-04-27 12:09:51 -0700 #

I had a patient come in today and ask that I run out of the pharmacy and get some items on her shopping list. I told her where she could locate them, so she pulls the “I’m from another county and don’t understand English” bullshit, to which I replied, “If you don’t understand English, then why are you speaking it?”–just a random lazy piece of crap wandering the streets. nothing to do with your post, but worth mentioning:)

Comment by John the J Man on 2010-04-27 15:37:24 -0700 #

🙁

Comment by random on 2010-04-27 16:18:20 -0700 #

Maxwell its not like firefighters complaining about putting out fires its like a firefighter complaining about a person to lazy to get off their couch to leave the house to escape a fire but expects the firefighter to pick up them and the chair to take them out of the building. Then bitches about the water damage to the mayor causing the firefigher to get yelled at.

Comment by Steve on 2010-04-27 21:42:56 -0700 #

Uh oh…. there is that “change” word again…..

Comment by John the J Man on 2010-04-27 22:26:10 -0700 #

Here here random! It’s pointless arguing with people like that. He simply has a different point of view I guess… though I kinda have the urge to say something along the lines of “Mister, can I have my ball back?”

Some things are just unavoidable in our work. Some of us turn it outward and do something constructive (sculpting, painting, poetry, reading, knitting little kitten sweaters). However every now and then the need to vent rears its ugly, pimple-ridden really needs Duac head.

I’ve given up trying to get through to these individuals at the pharmacy. If they can meander about and complain and complain without feeling the need to be sorry about their constant bitching, then why should I feel sorry for complaining about them on occasion? Sorry sir. You’re not getting your $14,000 brand name Actiq when those little pain pops come in generic. Don’t like the flavor? Medicaid stipulates that this is just a giant truck load of not my freakin’ problem. I’ll phone your doctors office and tell them that a paper PA (groan) is required. I don’t know about you, but I can wait the two weeks it seems to take them.

Ahhhhh… see? All better.

Comment by My demerol is better than yours on 2010-04-28 00:13:53 -0700 #

Murray: Hallelujah, AMEN!!!!
I couldn’t agree more. I realized a while ago that I have a finite amount of energy, and when I look at my daily obligations (kids, wife, house, dogs, job), the job really doesn’t rank highly on what matters most to me. This being said, I spend everyday at work trying to find the path of least resistance to preserve as much energy as I can for the other items on my list. Truth be told, most days I succeed, some days I do not.
I remember a man a few years ago who was rotten to the core. I was called to the consultation window because he presented to one of my techs as a patient who required a consultation. My friendly approach was quickly snubbed by his remarks of “how long does it take to count pills and put them in a bottle”. He went on to say how he was going to “have my job” and yada yada yada. Well, he did actually complain and was issued the standard $25 stfu gift card from the store manager and proceeded to rub it in my face. Future dealings with him further validated his belief in his own importance and his lack of knowledge/respect for what we do for work. So, I did exactly what he wanted. All I did was fill his prescriptions correctly from that point on. He was a type 2 DM PT whose renal function was dwindling as he appeared to not really be taking good care of himself. Never once did I offer to contact his doctor about changing his renally metabolized meds to a “safer” alternative. Though I don’t remember everything he took all this time later, I do remember that at the time I had found several medications that utilized the bodies other mechanisms for elimination and may have preserved some of his kidney and very well may have extended his life beyond what he had left. Up until the last time he came in, this pompous ass berated myself and my staff about wait times, poor service, making multiple trips, etc. In the end, he was going to dialysis three times a week and was still taking high doses of atenolol. Was I the only health care professional that saw this problem, maybe I was, but the idea of intervening with such an ungrateful fucker was (and still is) something I am unwilling to do.
Six months ago, I was able to intervene on a patient who is dying of cancer. While picking up his Duragesic patches, he complained of loss of appetite and overall wasting. My observation of this man matched what he was telling me because I would guess he had lost approximately 50 pounds in the two years since I have known him. If there was anything I could do to help this man, I would do it because he is exceptionally pleasant, we have a mutual respect for one another, and despite his prognosis, he exudes a positive attitude I am not sure I would be able to have if in his shoes. After suggesting Megace and explaining how it worked, his oncologist clearly agreed and provided him a script within a couple of days of me suggesting it. I am happy to report he has gained some weight back and his quality of life has improved. Sadly, his cancer will still kill him but I find solace in knowing that I have done everything I can for this person.
Both individuals qualified and received state aid however the amount of energy I put into each of their cases was/is directly proportionate to the attitude/respect they have given to me and my staff. There are a lot of things in pharmacy that piss me off, if it were up to ME, I would change a lot, but in the meantime, I’m here for the ride.

Comment by Mae Mae on 2010-04-28 07:49:24 -0700 #

Well, let’s see:

1.) We take away ALL govt’ funded medicine
2.) We take away ALL NARCOTICS so the Pharmacy will not have to complain anymore about filling them, filling them early, constintly checking with the doctor, worrying about loosing their liscense ect…
3.) We will stop giving ALL MEDICINE TO ANYONE WHO WAS HURT WHILE THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL, LIKE A DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT
4.) We will make all the dr’s hard up on writing any script, therefore limiting the # that has to be filled

OK, NOW I THINK I HAVE SOLVED ALL THE PROBLEMS FOR THE ANGRY PHARMACIST…. YOU ARE GOING TO BE LAYED OFF BECAUSE BUSINESS IS REALLY STARTING
TO SLOW DOWN ……..

Comment by Alex on 2010-04-28 11:53:02 -0700 #

Hey Sgt Maxwell: I have news for you the “Right of Free Speech” does not give you the right to say what ever the fuck you want to anyone at anytime. This right is in the constitution so that we citizens can speak up against our government with out being charged for sedition as was the case in the American colonies; in other. words, we have the right to criticize our government with out being arrested.

Comment by Alex on 2010-04-28 12:01:43 -0700 #

As a pharmacist of 20 years I have worked retail a total of maybe 2 years and occasionally fill in for a friend of mine. I do not know why you guys do it or how? Our problem as a health care profession is that our income is based on selling a product where as most of the other health care professionals get paid to provide a service. So you do not make a sale because you did your job and prevented an adverse effect may be even death but you will no get paid for that service.

Comment by britttech on 2010-04-28 13:53:08 -0700 #

i work at target, we get the same thing with the coupons! No, you cannot get $10 free at our store if you haven’t paid us a dime anyway.
oy vay

Comment by britttech on 2010-04-28 13:56:52 -0700 #

i have plenty of welfare patients that either work under the table or do not work at all and have nicer cars than I do.
it is a shame, however we have no place in contacting the state.

one bad eggs spoils the bunch, and in most (more like ALL), there are MULTIPLE BAD EGGS

Comment by britttech on 2010-04-28 14:08:41 -0700 #

it does not say in our job description to be yelled and cursed at. which occurs on a daily basis.
our job is to help people with their meds, not be the punching bag of their bad day

Comment by britttech on 2010-04-28 14:14:21 -0700 #

EXACTLY!!

Comment by britttech on 2010-04-28 14:15:16 -0700 #

they are planning on LOOSENING the requirements for adult ADD. Comments?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dsm5-in-distress/201004/dsm5-plans-loosen-criteria-adult-add

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-28 17:13:17 -0700 #

I’m sorry a US president corrupted the word “change” for you.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-04-28 17:16:36 -0700 #

Oh yes it does, it protects us from government intervention. I can call you a “pussy motherfucker with dice for testicles” to your face and a cop won’t arrest me for it. You might try to beat me up (notice I said “try”) but the cop won’t arrest me because I’m practicing my right to free speech.

Since you want to bring up the Constitution, where does it say that the right to speak is solely for things against the government? It doesn’t say it anywhere because you are a Constitution rookie and NOT an attorney 🙂

Comment by Jane Doe on 2010-04-29 07:41:45 -0700 #

Actually what TAP says about the entitlement minded people are true and no, I’m not a pharmacist. But it’s amazing what you find out when you talk to people who do work in that industry. Or are forced to stand in line behind someone in full rant mode because they let their insurance lapse and they no longer get their meds for *free* But the rant is never for an antibiotic strangely enough. I kiss my insurance because my meds are spendy and I may not be treated properly if I had to pay the full amount. I would quickly go broke.
That being said I’m always polite and patient to my pharmacist. Why be an ass when they are always busy? Yet somehow I get bumped to the front of the que. And just this week several locations were phoning one another to get the meds I needed (Only one location had the thirty day supply). If I had been a huge ass that would of never happened. I would like to thank them properly but I don’t know how (chain pharmacy people).

Comment by Sarah G on 2010-04-29 07:48:17 -0700 #

I worked in the records section of my local PD for several years, and if you call the COP those names, the cop will find a reason to arrest you.

Comment by FoulVulgarBastardPharmacist on 2010-04-29 15:21:59 -0700 #

What a bunch of repetitive oral diarrhea. What message board ya think Max just got banned from? whiningoldopinionatedtownhalldouches.com?
Not ambulatory anymore I bet. Probably smells like BO, pee, and perfume. Maybe flesh melded to the couch fabric like that big fat sow a couple years ago. Not the one that lived for years sitting on the toilet, the one a few years before her. Maybe Max is another Eric the Midget and TAP is his Stern. Nothing to do but wait on hold for hours or relentlessly reply to previous posts with HIS fucking correct world view. I’m not feeding the troll again on this one. Brace for entitled correct knowing old fuck impact. I feel for you TAP. I bet Max Fuckwell sends a lot more than you publish. WE WUV YOU TAP! FUCK YOU AGAIN M.F. !

Comment by John Adams on 2010-04-29 18:23:30 -0700 #

Well put, Maxwell. And thank you for saving me the trouble of responding in kind.

Sarah G – of course the cops would!
But Max was talking about calling Alex a “pussy motherfucker with dice for testicles” to his face, not the cops. And given Alex’s post, I would have to agree that Alex is a “pussy motherfucker with dice for testicles”

Comment by RxDawg on 2010-04-29 20:10:51 -0700 #

Ever heard of simple battery mr. internet tough guy?

Comment by Pharmacist123 on 2010-04-29 21:07:48 -0700 #

Maxwell’s a douche. Maxwell if you don’t like what he has to say – don’t come to this website. Go make your own so you can talk about how wonderful you are and how much your patients love you. Angry Pharmacist is right on the money with this and I, like many others, enjoy reading his rants.

Comment by Pharmacist123 on 2010-04-29 21:12:06 -0700 #

I second this Maxwell – EAT DICK AND GET THE FUCK OFF THIS SITE!!

Comment by Damn that 1-800--* number!! on 2010-04-29 22:47:19 -0700 #

@FoulVulgarBastardPharmacist– I just had to agree with just about everything you said about “military Max”. Being a military *coughs* medical worker myself, I have to agree that Max’s comments are vaguely inclusive to what he’s supposed to stand for, as far his ideals about entitlement and expectation. I suppose that’s what you get used to in our “other”(military) world–entitlement and expectation. As long as you don’t fuck up, or fuck someone else’s wife (and get caught), youre almost guaranteed commission, bonuses, free health care for you and your girlfriend’s aunt in Minnesota. Understanding that the military doesn’t necessarily give you EVERYTHING (they do) on a silver platter, granted you agree to get your ass almost blown off (or in many cases, blown completely away)every war-burdened decade or so, some of us don’t understand that this IS the life WE CHOSE!!!! But whether it be military, welfare, disability (or in some cases, those 3 all together), we can’t expect people in the REAL world to bend over and let us fuck them in the ass because of the decision we’ve made about our lives. No one made u join the military, no one made u get pregnant at 14,15,16,19, and 20 years old, no put that bottle of gin in your lap for the past 10 years but YOU!! I just put my spin on it. I could go much deeper, if needed, since no one besides Max can comprehend what he is TRYING to say.

Comment by Sirhc on 2010-04-30 11:03:28 -0700 #

First I would like to say this site is awesome! I’m addicted to it! I find myself checking everyday for an update! Second, I read a lot about Vicodin on here. I take Vicodin for an accident I had. I’ve tried other meds before I would take the Vicodin. The thing I don’t get is how can someone become addicted to it? I hate when I have to take it. It makes me sick to my stomach and spend about two hours trying not to throw up after. After the sickness goes away I feel much better and the pain is somewhat gone. I would love to be able to break it in half and only take half, but I read online that you should never break or crush your meds so I’m scared to do this. I am ALWAYS nice to the staff and pharmacist. They have all given me so much help! I greet with a smile and always end with a thank you, have a great day. I’ve been in line where people act like complete @$% holes. I don’t know how the people behind the counter can stand there with a smile. I’d be fired within the first hour! I still don’t understand how or why anyone would want to become addicted to these pills. I can’t wait for the day I don’t need them! Try not to let the jerks out there take away what you went to school to do, something that you enjoy. Just rememeber Karma is a bitch and these types of people will get it in the end. You guys are not my pharmacist, but thank you! Thank you for doing your job and really helping the people that really want the help and not just there to scam everyone.

Comment by Kim on 2010-04-30 11:30:47 -0700 #

I am in TOTAL support of IQ tests to pro-create! However, I do like the depo-shot with welfare idea, but agree with Maxwell. I think there needs to be a federal standard to limit the amount of dependants. The whole system is messed up in general. There are no checks and balances. I taught breifly at a school for medical assisting and pharmacy tech. One of my students got pregnant and then preceeded to tell me that she didnt need to finish school, because now she qualifies for housing assistance, food assistance and healthcare. REALLY? F’ing REALLY?

This is alittle off the subject but I wonder if someone could do a comparitive study on food assistance/medication/healthcare. I have seen to many people of food assistance spend it all on “shit” food. If you are on food assistance you can also assume they are on state healthcare aide. I will bet a million dollars that there is a correlation with their healthcare costs directly to the food they purchase. Sooo many carts are filled with frozen pizza, fruit punch, fruit loops, gushers, plain crap. No shit kids are developing diabetes at 5 y/o. Personally you if are going to use state programs that come from our tax dollars there should be limits and restrictions.

Comment by RphInternthathasaclue on 2010-04-30 20:36:38 -0700 #

I completely understand what you are talking about. Recently the state of OHIO switched all of the welfare patients from a outside PBM back to a state run plan. I loved this because with the old PBMs every drug was $0.00 and 75% of the OTC section was covered. Now OH medicaid is back in control and $2 co-pay for high brands and $3 co-pays on drugs that require a PA, and very few OTCs are covered and only the ones from like rugby and watson…which if you’ve seen the packaging of some of these its laughable how generic they look. When the switch happened you should have heard the whining that ensued. A pregnant lady had to be on 100mg Lovenox bid for 9 months. The cost for that amount of lovenox could buy me a pretty nice new car.
ME: “$2 co-pay” ….
Ungrateful bag: “why is it $2 don’t they cover that”…
ME:”yes they cover it you just have a co-pay…without the insurance its like $1500.00.”….
UGB: “Well my doctor told me that I wouldn’t have to pay anything”…
ME:”well your doctor was wrong do you want to get it”
UGB: “I don’t have $2 to spend on drugs”…
ME: “Really?!? Did you know that you could cook two meals for what that McDonald’s cost (she was in the process of eating a Big Mac while in the drive-thru) and take that money and buy your medication that will save your life?..

Well I got a call to our corporate office for that one. The PCI told me to hold my tongue even if I’m right. This freeitude got under my skin the most a few weeks later when a foreign woman came in to to get a product for dark spot on her face(can’t remember the name of the medication) her medicaid doesn’t cover cosmetic medications and it was around $250 which she gladly shelled out yet she doesn’t have enough money to pay for her 2 HTN meds or her metformin so my hard earned tax dollars goes to pay for those.

Comment by The Newly Detached Pharmacist on 2010-05-01 07:50:16 -0700 #

As a chain rph for the last 3 years, I have found a coping mechanism for these dregs, I mean patients. You must sever all emotional response from these bottom feeders. Do not react. Serve them the best you can and paint on a robotic smile. Run the polite program in your brain and keep it looping. Remember that these are people you wouldn’t let in your home or near your children. With all that they don’t have going on, you as a pharmacist and your staff are the least of their problems. Just remember that you’re not dealing with regular people. These are the mutated inbred trash that results from indiscrimate breeding. You cannot use reason with them. You cannot over explain things to
them. Keep things short.

Remember that you are just doing a job. Earn your living. Think to yourself “my shift will be over in only 14 more hours, I can make it. I’ll clench and go to the bathroom tomorrow”. Get through it.

Comment by rph3664 on 2010-05-01 20:57:33 -0700 #

Sounds like a good idea, but most women cannot use Depo because of the side effects. It’s unusual for a woman to get a second shot.

Comment by bob on 2010-05-02 16:28:54 -0700 #

thats the difference between an “idea” and “reality”… TAP was just stating a (great) idea…We all know that no politician would ever agree to such terms.. no matter how much we wish..

Comment by Techy on 2010-05-02 20:35:14 -0700 #

I’ve been wanting to complain about somethings myself, so here goes. You know what I hate? I hate when you answer the phone and someone says, “I’d like to call in a subscription?” First of all it;s a PREscription! We don’t sell magazines! Then you say ok, not wanting the conversation to go on any longer than nessesary, and ask who’s this for? Most common responce you ask? Me! Well of course, me, why didn’t I guess, we only have thousands of patients, and I recognize every single voice on the phone. What the F! Then you try to end the call with, “ok it will be ready in a couple of hours.” This is a statement not a question! It doesn’t give you the chance to ask, HOURS! don’t you just have to put a lable on a bottle? Or even better, why don’t you tell me about your entire Fing day, and why you need it in 10 minutes because your kids are in school, and you forgot to call yesterday, and you have a Dr appointment at 1! Guess what, I don’t care at all!!!! I don’t need, or want, to hear about anything in your life except you name and your RX #’s. If you want to talk about your day call your mom! THis is just the tip of the iceberg for me, If you like this please comment and I will post again!

THanks

Techy

Comment by Rx Mole on 2010-05-03 06:40:40 -0700 #

I agree with your conclusions and frustrations about entitlement and freeitude. The number of people “working” the system on the backs of those doing it the right way is frustrating.

I work for a manufacturing company in the midwest and we have began working with local pharmacist to help our employees establish a working relationship with a pharmacist and find the best cash price on prescription drugs. The idea is to help our employees become better consumers and establish a consistent dialogue with a pharmacist. We also are focusing on cash price to cut out the outragouse market manipulation by insurance companies.

The address is http://www.rxmole.com. The site is beta and doesn’t get much activity yet, but any opinions / suggestions you can make from a pharmacist perspective is appreciated.

Comment by Andrew on 2010-05-04 00:41:18 -0700 #

I’m not sure if you read your comments, but if you do, PLEASE write a book. Your blog is hilarious. Way too hilarious for you not to be profiting at least a little.

Comment by Karrirx on 2010-05-04 09:34:22 -0700 #

That’s why, among many changes that need to be made, I think we should just go to a flat tax. You buy it..you pay tax on it. When they buy their cigarettes and beer they are paying taxes and contributing to society. I have never been more afraid of what is about to happen in this profession until now. What I will say is that I think there will be alot of Congressmen and women given the boot come November.

Comment by Karrirx on 2010-05-04 09:54:40 -0700 #

I just don’t see how some people don’t get that this is a blog where pharmacists can come and complain about things at work!!! We know that it’s not going to change..we know that people are going to be rude..we know that the majority of people on welfare are lazy and don’t want to work. This is like “therapy” for me!

Customers drive me crazy!! I started out as a drug clerk at the age of 16 in 1992 and now have been pharmacist for almost 6 years…but there are days where I love my job and there are days where I hate it. We ALL do.

People who don’t “get” this blog..then get out and don’t read it!!! I personally love it! It makes me feel better that I”m not the only one going through this stuff. Kind of like blogs for parents..your kids drive you crazy..some days you like ’em, some days you don’t..but it’s nice to hear other moms/dads going through the same thing.

Comment by Karrirx on 2010-05-04 10:02:09 -0700 #

My husband is a paramedic..and trust me..fire fighters and EMS workers do complain about their jobs. Think firefighters don’t complain about putting out a fire that some dumb butt caused by falling asleep smoking a cigarette?? Or how about when someone calls 9-1-1 at 2:00 in the morning because he has an STD and wants someone to come “look at it” instead of driving himself to the ER..or I know..how about you wait until the next day to go see a doctor?? A) it’s not an emergency and b) the medics need their sleep for more EMERGENCIES!!!!!!!!!!!

Not complaining about your job is like not complaining abour your spouse..nothing can be that perfect in someone’s life!

Comment by crazeecatladee on 2010-05-04 15:54:43 -0700 #

I don’t know. I don’t even have the strength to argue this anymore because I’ve been so beat down by this (I work in a pharmacy that is 90% indigent patients) so…in the words of one of my favorite singer/songwriters, the lovely Kathleen Edwards:
“don’t get me wrong, here comes my softer side
and there it goes, cuz I been on the road to long to sympathize
with what you think you’re owed”.

Comment by AMBER AUSTIN WELFARE PATIENT on 2010-05-04 18:43:28 -0700 #

YES TAP, WE AS MAXWELL HAS SAID HAVE A RIGHT UNDER WHITE MANS LAWS TO EAT AND POP PILLS FOR FREE. THE TAXPAYERS ARE THE ONES WHO DECIDED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR LUNCH OR DOPE. SO WHY COMPLAIN NOW JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTH WYTE BOY AND KEEP FILLING OUR PILLS. MYLAN 777

Comment by AMBER AUSTIN WELFARE PATIENT on 2010-05-04 18:46:03 -0700 #

YOU ARE 100 PERCENT CORRECT

Comment by AMBER AUSTIN WELFARE PATIENT on 2010-05-04 18:47:25 -0700 #

EXCELLENT JOB MAXWELL YOU ARE CERTINLY A MAN OF THE PEOPLE. I LOVE A RPH WHO DOESNT COMPLAIN

Comment by AMBER AUSTIN WELFARE PATIENT on 2010-05-04 18:54:55 -0700 #

BY THE WAY REPUBLICANS SUCK

Comment by AMBER AUSTIN WELFARE PATIENT on 2010-05-04 19:01:06 -0700 #

BE GLAD YOU HAVE A JOB AND WELFARE PEOPLE TO FEED YOU. 90 INDIGENT MEANS 10 CASH TAKE THAT 90 POOR PEOPLE AWAY AND WHAT DO YOU GET. YOU BEING POOR BROKE AND HOMELESS. SOME OF YOU FOOLISH RPHES ARE ANGRY AT THE PEOPLE THAT PAY YOUR BILLS. WOULD YOU LIKE 90 PERCENT OF THE POOR TO DISAPPEAR. YOUR OUT OF A JOB CAUSE DRUGS IS ALL YOU KNOW. THANK YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FOR PROVIDING FOR ALL PEOPLE RICH AND POOR ALIKE. THE SINNER AND SAINT ARE BOTH FED BY THE LORD. THE RICH AND POOR ARE FED BY THE LORD. WHEN CURRENCY BECOMES USELESS IE VERY SOON THEN YOU RPHES CAN COMPLAIN. ITS THE SAME EVERY POST POOR ME POOR ME YOU PEOPLE MAKE A NICE LIVING OFF THE POOR. IF WE DISAPEAR TOMORROW U WILL FILL OUR SHOES. KAPEECH

Comment by WrongAid on 2010-05-04 22:37:17 -0700 #

COME ON!! Which one of you fuckers is Amber ^ The correct spelling of most of the big words is a dead give away. No bitch this stupid could possibly have spelled ‘currency’ or ‘indigent’ or ‘tomorrow’ or ‘providing’ or…..shit I’m tired.

Comment by STUDENT 2010 on 2010-05-05 16:18:52 -0700 #

Your an idiot…we aren’t complaining about the fact that people have Medicaid its complaining about the misuse and overuse of it. Your case worker will tell you that if possible try and pay for the medicine…in said case many places offer the $4 generic list…now if you come to my counter and pick up free shit from the pharmacy and whip out wads of $20 bills from your bra and buy a whole bunch of crap you can live without…I’ll come here and bitch about you…Its not about rights, you already have them and know pretty well how to use them but its the lack of social responsibility that kills us. If you want to rant about the poor and the jobs they provide then fine I’ll give you that point…Now what about you learning not to completly milk the system and once in a while paying for shit out of pocket(I mean bra)…Go create your own change and then we can talk…

Comment by Jerry on 2010-05-05 20:44:35 -0700 #

I hear all these pharmacist bitching about customers who complain about service and how ungrateful these customers may be. I’ve been in furniture sales and I have these same asshole pharmacist come into my store bitching that the price is too high and they start to act like Monte Hall at a car lot playing “Lets make a deal”. Well heres one for you moron pharmacist. When you come into my furniture store, I don’t ask you to first fill out a couple of forms asking for your stupid personal information, signing that I have received a copy of HIPPA (which 99% of you don’t comply with), and then ask you if you have insurance. You morons gladly let honest working americans who go through pharmacy technician courses work in your pharmacies for FREE. Then when they graduate from pharmacy tech school, you don’t hire them for wages. Ohh, but, if you do decide to hire one, you want them to be young cute girls who shake thier ass in your face, and they have to have 2-5 years of pharmacy experience, you want them to know all the medicines, iv procedures, you want them to practically be astronauts or rocket scientist, but you only want to pay them minimum wage. Now you bitch that the customers whine and that they shouldn’t because its free! Fuck you! My tax dollars paid for those medicines, you got paid for those medicines by my tax dollars, and you didn’t give them nothing for free. If these people are not what you want on your clientele list, why don’t you tell them to take thier business somewhere else or better yet tell the government providers all the shit you’ve been posting on this website. Come on you spineless idiot, at least put on your “big boy man pants” on, get honest with yourself and realize that these customers are your bread and butter, your not giving free medicines because the government is PAYING YOU FOR IT, and your just an ungrateful piece of shit pharmacist!

Comment by Rivalry on 2010-05-06 08:31:16 -0700 #

The problem with your “argument” (if you can call it that) is that most of the 90% that are on welfare are ABUSING the system, not using it correctly or with good intentions. I’d be much happier if those people just effed off and left me alone. Working for a big chain, I’d still get paid the exact same no matter how many of you welfare tards did or did not come to abuse me.

Go OD on your Ativan, noob.

Comment by JP on 2010-05-06 10:52:13 -0700 #

GREAT point about the shit food. Every week I am in line at the grocery store, and if I see the cart in front of me full of Doritos and soda and 5 kids running around I know damn well they are about to pull out their food stamps card to swipe. I have often thought we need regulations on what they can buy. If it’s my tax money feeding your kids I should be able to set a mandatory percentage on fruit, vegetables, milk and lean protein. I guarantee this would ease the future medical costs associated with lifelong Type II diabetes, which as you point out is now starting in childhood!

Comment by anonymous Pharm. D on 2010-05-06 21:09:02 -0700 #

Maxwell, my how you flatter yourself. My comment was intended for all those who just troll/flame and/or be reluctant to understand other pharmacist points of view. I took no real issue with your point of view, actually, which yes, I understood. Guess all those years of education payed off for something. I can respect the change arguement since as a whole, our profession is way too passive and have too many of those who would rather stab each other in the back and take the check than fight and unite. If the intent of your numerous commentaries was to inspire us to fight and unite, then your tone could use some adjustment.

Goddamn free drug troll: Narc withdrawal is a bitch, isn’t it?

Keep up the great posts, Angry! Hope the workload lightens up a bit so we can hear more from you.

Comment by WrongAid on 2010-05-08 03:32:57 -0700 #

Jerry, you came to the wrong forum again. It’s “The Angry Furniture Salesman” you’re looking for.

Comment by YoungCuteRXTech on 2010-05-08 19:08:56 -0700 #

Hey Jerry, let me fill you in on something – 90% of the pharmacists on this blog site do NOT own their own pharmacy and therefore do NOT have the authority to tell these pain-in-the-ass customers to go somewhere else. If they did, guess what? That pain-in-the-ass customer would go bitch to the spineless store manager and get a damn gift card to reward the pain-in-the-ass attitude that they’ve displayed, and that pharmacist would be disciplined if not fired.

And another thing, those customers who have government funded prescription coverage are not the ones whose tax dollars are paying for their meds – how could they be if they’re not working???

I know that others on the blog have driven this point home already, but since you haven’t seemed to notice, I will remind you, once again: This blog is called THE ANGRY PHARMACIST!! What did you expect?

I have always considered myself liberal, but until I worked in a retail pharmacy, I did not realize just how ungrateful those patients who are on government aid can be. I earn $9/hr as a Certified Pharmacy Tech, and am struggling to make ends meet. It takes everything in me to smile and swallow my pride when one of these ungrateful a**holes treats me like I’m s**t on their shoe. The nerve!! So until you are in the same position, you have no room to insert your ignorant comments on this site. You obviously have no clue how it really works.

Comment by YoungCuteRXTech on 2010-05-08 19:25:53 -0700 #

Oh yeah, and another thing: We make you fill out that HIPAA paperwork because it’s required BY LAW! And 99% of us DO adhere to HIPAA regulaitons, which winds up biting us in the ass when a customer wants to pick up the prescription history for his/her spouse or adult child and we have to tell them that it is against the law for us to disclose said information, to which they will 90% of the time respond by bitching us out. You should see how obnoxious these people get when we are simply trying to do our jobs and follow the letter of the law!!

I’m college educated and can’t find a job in the depressed area that I live. I’m sucking it up until the economy gets better and I can get the hell out of this thankless job!!

Comment by YoungCuteRXTech on 2010-05-08 20:06:11 -0700 #

OF ALL PATIENTS THAT COME TO OUR PHARMACY, WE (MEANING THE CORPORATION THAT WE WORK FOR, NOT OURSELVES) MAKE THE LEAST REIMBURSEMENT OFF OF MEDICAID! 12% REIMBURSEMENT ISN’T EXACTLY PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE…IGNORANT PEOPLE SUCH AS YOURSELF MAKE ME WANT TO PUKE.

$9/hr certainly isn’t a “nice living,” but I am thankful that I have a job (trust me, if I could find another job, I would take it in a heartbeat). What I am NOT thankful for are the people like you who walk into our pharmacy expecting for us to kiss their ass because they know how to work the system and don’t have to pay a dime for their meds.

It’s really sad, because I used to feel sorry for those less fortunate people who needed government assistance to live. But now I see how a large portion of these people have grown to expect handouts without contributing to society in any meaningful way. Welfare/Medicaid was never designed to be a permanent, you’re supposed to use it to get back on your feet when you go through rough times. How dare you get uppity with us when this is the only place we have to vent our frustrations?

I’m not looking for sympathy here (we all are going through hard times, no matter what industry we work in) but a little common decency and courtesy would be nice. Why do people like you try to make it so hard for people like me who are just trying to do our jobs? That’s not very Christian.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-05-09 16:44:13 -0700 #

Whoa whoa whoa, first I’m a military guy who doesn’t want anything from you and now I’m a military guy that thinks he’s entitled to something? Who the hell are you to tell me that? I didn’t join the military because I’m stupid or poor, I joined because I wanted to defend my country. I graduated with the same degree that TAP has only with a different school and name on it. As a member of the military, you don’t owe me a goddamn thing. I did my job and if you feel the need to thank me then so be it. I don’t expect a goddamn thank you for doing what I’m paid to do.

Like I have said in the comments over and over, these people get access to “free meds” because the government allows them by law. If you don’t like then CHANGE THE LAW. If you think change is something best left to Obama supporters and liberals then shut your damn mouth and deal with the angry customers. In life, you get this because you deserve this.

You can make fun of me for suggesting “change” but as long as your sitting on your ass not doing anything, you are getting exactly what you deserve.

EDIT: If what you said it correct that most of these people don’t own their own store then this blog and the opinions of “most” of these people are truly angry ramblings and should not be taken seriously. I should have known this was just water cooler talk and not “let’s actually do something to make our jobs and lives better for everyone” talk.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-05-09 20:16:58 -0700 #

You wrote “The problem with your “argument” (if you can call it that) is that most of the 90% that are on welfare are ABUSING the system, not using it correctly or with good intentions”

Unless you have some documentation for that, you’re simply repeating BULLSHIT.

Comment by commonsense rph on 2010-05-09 21:13:00 -0700 #

Max, I don’t know what you have been inhaling but you probably thinks your shit doesn’t stink! huh!!!

Jerry, I think you should see a Psychiatrist for more serious issues you have. We pharmacists do not control the price of drug and we are here to help sick patient to deliver health care services. Yes we are Professionals and NOT a Salesman. When we go shopping furniture and cars, we are expected to negotiate the price to get the best deal.

Go to drugstore and get some Miralax to loosen up your constipation!

Comment by commonsense rph on 2010-05-10 08:31:46 -0700 #

i am a life long Democrat but the Minnesota Welfare System wants me to clap for Gov Pawlenty’s recent spending cut.

Sometimes, these freeloaders thinks they are too good for 10.00$ jobs.
The Government needs to cut the benefits and stop extending the unemployment
check to motivate them.

Comment by Falstaff on 2010-05-10 18:01:02 -0700 #

Maxwell’s right.

To the semiliterate and bitter author of “Freeitude.” Lord, you f-cking suck, guy! Love your self-applauding quote “If pharmacists weren’t around, you would of died by now due to a drug interaction or be dead from not getting the proper medication.” “You would OF died…”?? Trust me: nobody who writes and spells like that has EVER saved another human being’s life through astuteness… People who don’t suck write like this: “…you would HAVE died…” You strike me as one of those pharmacists who’s CONVINCED they’re perpetually “smarter than your customers/their physicians.” The kind who invariably act baffled when you actually use a chemical, rather than a brand, name for medication–the kind who misread an Rx for zaleplon, and fill with Ambien (zolpidem–as though that brand name–idiots like you think in simplified terms–MUST cover all prescriptions starting with “z”). Your kind’s the kind who are RESPONSIBLE for innumerable f-cked-up prescriptions… Trust me: you’re an idiot, pal.

And ONLY an idiot like you would have such CONTINUOUS CONTEMPT for your customers. This is–look around you, you’ll see what I mean–why you’ll never be successful. …go ahead, have a look at your life. Ignorant f-cking loser.

Comment by toddq on 2010-05-10 19:19:42 -0700 #

I used to be able to relate to these welfare rants on TAP but now that I am working in a wealthy suburban area I rarely have to deal with the welfare people. It is now more of the old medicare people who are paying copays and in donut holes. At least the old medicare people are senile and docile compared to the young ghetto welfare customer threats I used to have to deal with. I was actually fired and lost my job over 2 ghetto welfare customers who were yelling and threatening me. Just remember to have thick skin when dealing with these losers.

Comment by kizell on 2010-05-11 20:21:41 -0700 #

You should probably know that HIPPA is a law that was not indoctrinated by pharmacists……..not one. Do you blame police officers b/c there are speed limit signs? Do you blame bartenders that don’t serve alcohol to minors? Do you blame the gun shop owner for running a background check?

For chain pharmacists like myself, we are not involved in any way over the hiring and payment process for techs, so if you want to complain about that one, point to the corporation, not the pharmacist.

Your tax dollars paid for those medicines, but mine did to (at a high rate too)

Do you know of any corporation that supports its employees telling disgruntled customers to go away? Seriously, did you not think at all before you posted this?

You should also look up reimbursement rates and auditing procedures for this welfare crap………..you might be shocked to find the pharmacies are getting a raw deal while the pharmaceutical industry is getting all the pie………..they are the ones paying off state politicians to get their expensive overrated drugs covered at a huge cost to you and me, not the pharmacy

Comment by Rivalry on 2010-05-12 08:05:37 -0700 #

The documentation I have is a list of patients that come to my pharmacy on TENNCARE that drive luxury vehicles. The documentation I have is the numerous patients on TENNCARE that tell me, “Prior Authorization? Don’t worry about it, I didn’t really need any of those medications anyways.”

Besides all of this, I don’t need documentation to know any system that gives something out for free is abused by people.

Comment by Rivalry on 2010-05-12 08:09:20 -0700 #

I work in a wealthy area as well (probably the most expensive homes in the county), but that doesn’t stop some of these people from obtaining state funded insurance. I mean, you can afford a $400k home but not health insurance for your family?

Comment by James on 2010-05-13 15:19:25 -0700 #

Jesus!!!
So, let me get this straight, instead of speaking up and maybe saving a fellow human-being from a lot of pain and suffering, you decided that, since this (seriously ill) man was rude to you, it was ok to let this him die a slow death from kidney failure?
Oh yeah, I forgot . . . it’s ok because you let the “nice, respectful” man live.

Wait a minute, am I gettin’ trolled?
This can’t be a true story, no one would brag about being such a cold hearted prick.
Or, maybe . . .

Comment by jimmbo on 2010-05-13 18:48:32 -0700 #

Yep, I agree proper spelling and grammar save lives every day.

Comment by jimmbo on 2010-05-13 18:54:57 -0700 #

There is always a way to report welfare fraud in your state IF YOU CAN PROVE IT!!! do a little research call your local welfare office. Do something dammit!!

Comment by Crackhead McCracky on 2010-05-14 17:06:12 -0700 #

Dude! Last time I was all nice and smile, the pharmacist dude refused to fill my Vic and Dan on the basis that he couldn’t verify it with the MD. Man, I came in at at 8:55pm specifically so that he couldn’t call anybody. My bud told me just to come in to the pharmacy huffing and puffing and snarling and they will fill any thing for you. Don’t be nice man, it doesn’t pay!

Comment by GoingDental on 2010-05-14 19:22:33 -0700 #

“These people complain and bitch because they have the right to. The government offers a service to those who qualify and when it seems to be delivered with complication then they of course will be angry”

78% of the illegal immigrants that are covered under Medicaid do not qualify. Thanks for playing…

Comment by Ktech on 2010-05-14 19:49:03 -0700 #

Wow, I just heard of this website tonight and I have totally been missing out!! I’ve been a tech for 5 years and I’ve seen so many things that I wish I never saw. I was going to school to be a pharmacist but I quickly changed my major when I started working as a tech. I didn’t realize how many people feel the same way about their job as I do. My main goal is customer service but every day it dwindles. It blows my mind the things that people say to me. I try so hard to put on a smile and treat everyone with respect but more than half of my customers think I work for them and expect me to do everything they say. I have my good days as well as my bad. A few years ago, I had an elderly patient with a script for test strips and her medicare B stated that she had primary insurance. She was 90 at the time and had no idea what I was talking about (she didn’t have any other insurance, it was mistake on medicares end). Due to HIPPA and all the privacy regulations it was something that she had to fix. I must have called 10 different numbers and finally someone told me they could fix it for me as long as she was there to give the ok. I had her come down to the pharmacy right away and got it fixed. She cried. I felt so sorry for this little lady. Days like that, makes me proud of my job! Then I have days when nasty, scum of the earth people come in and crumple up their scripts and throw it at me because they have a $2.50 copay (a drug that costs $500 out-of-pocket). There are customers that have put me in tears. This job has made me such a hard and cynical person. I took this job because I wanted to make a difference but every day is a battle!

Comment by MD Student on 2010-05-14 19:50:51 -0700 #

“First thing you’ve said that made any since. 100% true. There are some specialty practices that truly earn their money but most general MD’s are in the business of making sure [the elderly and stupid] come back often and have lots of tests.”

No, MDs are in the business of ordering a lot of tests to cover their own asses from all the headhunting lawyers out there. All it takes is one time that you don’t order that extra test and you miss something weird and get sued. Of course, if there was a well-defined standard of care in this country…

Comment by MD Student on 2010-05-14 20:04:22 -0700 #

But I agree with TAP. My dad is a pharmacist, and he tells me this gem a few months ago:

Welfare people at drivethru: Can you fill this script for cold medicine? We’re going to Aspen and we don’t want our kids getting cold (in an Acura SUV, might I add).

Free pills, an Acura SUV and a trip to Aspen. All things my hardworking dad can’t afford or get because he gives half of his salary to taxes for these deadbeats and actually uses the rest of his earnings to support his family. Funny how that works, huh?

Comment by mTech on 2010-05-16 10:07:42 -0700 #

Then they should get an implant. In WA the more kids you have the fatter your welfare check is. I actually know people that had more kids just so they could get more “free” money.

Comment by Melody Lefeber on 2010-05-16 20:40:17 -0700 #

Oof..angry, angry little man/woman.

I’ll have you know, Mr./Ms. FancyPants, that I found your site while searching for dosing tips for Amoxil because I bypassed my local legitimate pharmacy and went straight to Mejico to purchase my drugs for nearly nothing.

And here I am getting a headache from your bitching while staring at my 500 mg/5 mL bottle of unmixed Amoxil powder trying to read the my-4-year-old-writes-better-than-this chicken-shit-scratch handwrting so I can figure out how much I’m supposd to take and–by the by, what the hell’s a “potid”?

All on my lonesome.

You: Deep breath in…out…in…

You should try meditation; I practice with some of my students. Preemptive PS: You think pharmacying is bad, try teaching middle schoolers.

Comment by Wontbuyjerrysfurniture on 2010-05-16 22:18:33 -0700 #

Hey Jerry,
WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT, you idiot. The government doesn’t have any money of it’s own, it only has the taxpayers money ( 53% of the population ). So we are paying ourselves. I would love to dump the vast majority of the welfare populace, and greatly lower the taxes of the 53% of us that are supporting their ungrateful behinds.

Comment by Crackhead McCracky on 2010-05-18 15:58:21 -0700 #

But, but… middle schoolers, pharmacy customers, crackheads… same thing, no?

Comment by toddq on 2010-05-18 23:02:29 -0700 #

I know a woman on welfare but she is dating rich guy who takes her on trips and buys her gifts.

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-05-20 14:24:24 -0700 #

Are you talking to TAP or this MD student? Those directions should be on a printed label, not hand written. “potid” probably means “po tid” which means “by mouth three times a day”. But I’ve never been to a pharmacy where they give the patient directions in sig codes so I call bullshit on that.

And please my fellow pharmacists, don’t freak out that I just revealed sig codes that some of you think are private. It’s called google, people aren’t stupid these days.

Comment by Old Tyme Rx on 2010-05-20 17:09:38 -0700 #

Haha, laughed my ass off reading this, so true. Don’t know what’s worse, the indignant, “unedumacated”, unemployed druggie, or the anal-retentive, university-trained asshole who knows evrything about everything, except what his insurance copays are, or the fact that the doctor has to write “brand-medically necessary” on the script his uppity ass wants “BRAND” on. This guy comes in today and tells me how “disconcerting it is that my doctor writes for brand and YOU give me generic,” and then proceeded to ream my ass for 10 minutes about knowing the “regional salesperson” for his insurance company (WTF???) and how he’s “going to let him know about what goes on at my pharmacy…” yadde, yadde yadde. So I tell him I don’t HAVE a contract with his fucking insurance company, my contract is with Medco, and they say either the script has, “brand medically necessary” IN THE DOCTORS HANDWRITING, or he has to request brand and sign the back of the script. So this real smart SOB says, “WHY?” Because, you sorry ass, when Medco audits me, they make ME pay the difference between the cost of the generic and your have to have it so it look like I have money brand. The crap we put up with everyday for a buck fifty dispensing fee. After 35 years of this happy horseshit I am definitely of the opinion that the world would be much better off without so many people in it…

Comment by Merri1 on 2010-05-20 21:08:45 -0700 #

Melody,

I’m not a pharmacist or healthcare provider, but I can tell you “p.o. tid” means to take it by mouth three times per day.

However, I would be wary of ordering medications from Mexico for the following reasons: A. If you haven’t seen a doctor, you can’t possibly know that you need an antibiotic – bacterial and viral infections can manifest the same symptoms. B. If you are certain you need a prescription, Wally World has most antibiotics available for $4.00 (ie a doctor prescribed it after determining you have a bacterial infection and believes amoxicillin is the best antibiotic to cure it). C. Since meds sent from Mexico aren’t inspected by the FDA, you may or may not have amoxicillin in that bottle, and it may or may not be tainted with something else. Personally I wouldn’t risk my family’s – or my – health that way. D. Taking antibiotics incorrectly is one of the reasons drug-resistant bacteria exist.

Sorry about the off-topic post TAP (couldn’t resist responding this time). I don’t always agree with you but I do enjoy reading your blog.Don’t stop writing! =)

Comment by Crackhead McCracky on 2010-05-24 11:58:34 -0700 #

Mr. Well, I am very impressed with your knowledge of sig codes sir. May I enlist you in decoding the scripts we crackheads often got for $50 a pop? We often have no idea what they say except for the amphetamine part. I always thought potid means have your id potted (mind you not your ego, a man can only pot so much of himself) right away! Wow! Now I know not only can I pot id right away but I can also do it three times a day!

Comment by Chuck in MI on 2010-05-26 06:55:46 -0700 #

In Michigan, battery does not include verbal abuse, because verbal abuse is impossible to prove in court.

After N. Korea attacks a S. Korean boat, the Captcha word is: armed asiatic. Ha!

Comment by Maxwell on 2010-06-01 19:54:07 -0700 #

Cops do not dispense medication so your making an irrelevant point.

Comment by PharmDStudent on 2010-06-05 22:05:12 -0700 #

I’m assuming she doesn’t know what potid means because she didn’t go to the local pharmacy to get it translated into plain English and put on a label. She is sitting there with who knows what in a bottle from Mexico, while reading the medical lingo on a prescription written by a doctor.

Again just my assumption.

Hoping she actually had amoxicillin and actually got the proper dose.

Comment by ANTI-TAP on 2010-06-07 12:37:43 -0700 #

HELLO: TAP JUST GOT ONE QUESTION FOR YA DAWG? WHEN YA GONNA VILL MA VIKES?

Comment by KahunaRx on 2010-06-07 19:30:40 -0700 #

If we are going to slam somebody for proper English and no typos then I would like to draw attention to your “…actually use a chemical, rather than a brand, name for medication…” It’s brand-name, not brand, name. also, …(zolpidem – as though that brand name – idiots…) – another piece of amazing English. You should know that people rarely use proper English on a blog, especially when they are ranting about things that piss them off. So you are just as much of an idiot as anybody you sorry SOB.

Comment by KahunaRx on 2010-06-07 19:42:46 -0700 #

Maxwell is an idiot.

My favorite story: Two 30 something women pull up to a drive through on a hot as hell July day. The woman sitting shotgun is pregnant with her bare feet on the dashboard and her window up, cigarette blazing. The woman driving has her window cracked enough to ash her cigarette and yell at the drive-thru microphone. Three kids all under 6 are screaming and crying in the back seat. They are there picking up over $1,200 worth of asthma, ADHD, and depression medications for a total cost of $12.00. This is at the time when Medicaid bumped the copays on name-brands up from $1 to $3. So now I have both women yelling at me because their copay went up about $4. It did not help that it was payday so I got to see the amount of money I was paying for their medications. What made it worse is that when I drove home, I saw the two women and about 6 other adults sitting on their front porch drinking beers at 3 in the afternoon on a Tuesday. Fuck medicaid. If you have two kids and can’t afford them: mandatory sterilization. Keep ranting AngryPharmacist…you’re saying what we’re all thinking!!!!

Comment by KahunaRx on 2010-06-07 19:54:08 -0700 #

Change can’t happen until politicians stop pandering to the requests of lobbyists representing the most corrupt corporations in the country. The state pharmacy organizations generally have much less lobbying power (and funding) compared to the medical associations, insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and large chain pharmacies. Nobody cares about providing quality health care, they just care about profit margins and the wallets of their stockholders.

Comment by RxtechBeck on 2010-06-09 06:41:57 -0700 #

Maxwell you obviously think ” your above” this ranting and if all your gonna do is disagree with it then find another site to play on say like walkalloverme.com or something. There are thousands of people who abuse medicaid that’s never gonna stop. There are also thousands of rude people who are looking for someone to be rude to and I believe they think someone in customer service is the prime target for the fact that they should just take it and not be rude back. WRONG. I don’t care if it drives business away because I will not be treated rudely by anyone and let them get away with it for any pay check! I’m going to stand up to them because I don’t know what some of your patients are like but mine will gladly come back the next time and try to push you around again. Not gonna happen. So how about letting people rant on here and keep your mouth shut and go play on a website that wi go protest with you or whatever it is your wanting 🙂

Comment by rph3664 on 2010-06-10 15:32:09 -0700 #

The women who can’t take Depo usually can’t use implants either.

Mirena, anybody? There are issues with that too.

Now, I’ll tell you where you will find people who as a rule advocate involuntary sterilization, and it’s at your local alternative school.

Comment by rph3664 on 2010-06-10 15:33:43 -0700 #

IDK, two of the people near the top of my List Of People Who Should Not Have Reproduced are a husband and wife who are both pharmacists.

Comment by NarcoticDreams on 2010-06-10 19:23:22 -0700 #

Hey man, read some of your posts. Somewhat funny stuff. Wondering if you’d like to do a point/counterpoint thing regarding drug addiction. You know, how you see addicts, why you see them that way. We could touch on a multitude of topics. Harm Reduction, Prohibition, you name it!

Interested in doing something like that?

Oh yeah. . .
Could I get 10 insulin needles too? BD Ultra-Fines my man. My uh, grandmas in town.

Comment by Solid_Snake on 2010-06-12 14:07:52 -0700 #

Seriously, now you are just being too childish. The Angry Pharmacist, people go into a healthcare profession knowing the demands and dedication that will be required. These people have a right to complain, and you still have to do your job with a smile. Why, because you chose that profession, and no one forced you to go into that career. I can’t believe a healthcare professional is acting like such a whiney twit. I think this Angry Pharmacist should shut the hell up. Anyone who shares this man’s position should just give up their career, and find a job that suits them like ditch digging, maybe… There are plenty of kids out there that can take that job of yours and do it ten times better, okay.

Comment by TechMelody on 2010-06-13 18:23:48 -0700 #

Amen!
First I have been a California technician for all of 3 years now, and I am so anti-TAR you wouldn’t beleive it! If the doctor writes for Humira and the patient “has been on it for years” then that is one thing, but if they are over their “75 pills in 90 days” limit of hydrocodone, then nope. Go back to the doctor, get something else. I once had a doctor write for Darvocet N-100 and I had to send a TAR, it was denied, and the reason was to rule out formulary medication. Medi-Cal won’t cover Darvocet but will cover Methadone and Morphine IR, wow California, what an amazing message that sends! While I am against the 6 drugs per month limit, how about making over the counter medicaitons non-dormulary?!? That might save our broke state some money!

What makes it even better is all the people bitching about your blog. You endure 4 years of pharmacy school, and work for some ungrateful company that wants you to do your job cheaper/faster, and you are doing the best you can with limited technician help, and people wonder why you are complaining, like just anyone could do your job.

Keep you the funny blogs, because pharmacy is a crazy job to understand!

Comment by Enough Already! on 2010-06-14 23:03:55 -0700 #

Hey TAP, how about a new post/topic? This “Freeitude” thing is pretty well played out.

Surely there must be something other than Freeitude that pisses you (and the gang) off.

By the way, if any of the previous posters can tell me how to get into a $400k house, a brand new Acura SUV, trips to Aspen and other resorts, AS WELL AS BEING ON THE DOLE, please spill it!

Comment by Shalom (R.Ph.) on 2010-06-16 08:17:17 -0700 #

I used to get all pissed off when I’d see Medicaid patients buying lotto tickets. This is what my tax money is paying for?

Then someone on customerssuck dot com pointed out: Who gets the lotto money…? State government, that’s who. If they want to take their welfare check and give it right back to the government, that’s fine by me.

I just wish they wouldn’t fund those tickets by saying they “can’t afford” to pay their copays, which by state law you have to give them their shit anyway. That’s not just my tax money, that’s my own cash money out of my actual pocket.

(Law is that they still owe us the money, we just can’t refuse service on that basis. I did notice a slight drop-off in refused copays when I started keeping a book, putting their names and amounts owed in, and having them sign it. They weren’t happy about it, but there is exactly shit they can do about it: it’s perfectly legal. Not that coproate (misspelling deliberately left in, it’s appropriate) was gonna do anything with the book, it was just for my own satisfaction.)

Comment by Erin on 2010-06-16 20:01:52 -0700 #

You can’t help people who don’t want to be helped. This doesn’t seem to be a case of “oh, he was a jerk to me once he can die”, this patient showed a pattern of being resistant. I frankly would have done the same thing. Yeah, I’ll offer advice, I may even call the MD on his behalf, but I’m not going to go out of my way to be an advocate for someone who so obviously isn’t interested in my help.

Comment by FutureClinicalPharmacist on 2010-06-16 20:20:11 -0700 #

I’m interning at one of those corporate machines, so I can totally relate.

Today we had a patient call the MD line and leave a message saying “I want to get my prescription refilled” and nothing else. Clearly we replayed this message, laughed, and promptly deleted it.

I don’t even ask who its for, I ask for the person’s name, but easily half the time I look up the caller’s profile only to find they are calling in a refill for a child/spouse/parent. Clearly I need to refine my question to “What is the name of the person the prescription is for?” But that’s a bit cumbersome for a phone call that should take 30 seconds.

I also enjoy it when they phone in their refills with the TV on max volume. By the time the conversation is over, I know what they’re watching on television but not their name dispite asking several times, giving up and jotting down initials and a birthdate. People must think I’m retarded for asking them how to spell Williams, but I think they’re rude for not moving into a slightly quieter corner of the house.

Comment by Jane Doe on 2010-06-17 16:29:27 -0700 #

This site is called Angry Pharmacist for a reason. It’s a rant site in case you missed that. You’re not getting sunshine and rainbows here. And methinks judging by your tone that you’re a royal twat when you’re at the pharmacy counter. And bitter much? What program or job were you turned down for?

Comment by Another rph on 2010-06-18 12:26:55 -0700 #

This is a hot topic for me. For as long as I can remember the less people pay for their rxs the more they bitch. Should be the other way around.

Comment by Grxace on 2010-06-18 21:34:34 -0700 #

It’s the little things that kill me. It’s when they ask for a free medicine spoon. I just want to staple-slap them in the head and scream, “GO BUY YOUR OWN $1 STUPID MEDICINE SPOON!!!”

Comment by Chris on 2010-06-19 19:52:23 -0700 #

I love your stuff, take joy in this: America is going down hard soon. Next few months? Next few years? Who knows, but you can’t consume more than you create forever.

We are now the most obese, most illiterate, most drugged, most violent industrial nation on the planet.

We are screwed, and we deserve it. We ARE now the Evil Empire.

Comment by AngryReplier on 2010-06-20 05:08:37 -0700 #

WTF?!?! Nearly 2 months without a new post? Why do I waste my time checking this blog?

Comment by Chris on 2010-06-20 13:29:29 -0700 #

Why do I waste my time checking this blog?«

Because you ARE a waste of time little boy.

Comment by Diane S on 2010-07-02 16:37:02 -0700 #

Late to this conversation – they have the “right” to complain because they are “entitled” to their free stuff?

Bah! that’s a crap excuse. People that feel “entitled” to something from someone else just for the fact that they are breathing, that is junk. What entitles them to someone else’s money? What exactly makes them so special they are entitled to getting their crap paid for by everyone else? They feel free to bitch about it because “they’re entitled”. excuses, excuses.

Comment by Hueydoc on 2010-07-28 06:29:26 -0700 #

I have never, NEVER had someone tell me “I can’t afford my medicines- you need to give them to me” where I couldn’t reach over and point out the pack of cigarettes in their pocket/purse. I then explain to them that if they can afford their $10 a day habit, they can afford their medications. Usually I get incredulous looks, cussing and one guy even said ” But that’s important !” to me.
It’s also why I am so glad I don’t deliver babies ( since residency). The rule should be ” Don’t breed ’em if you can’t feed ’em”.
I have also noticed that certain medicaid mom’s start losing weight AFTER their kids get put on Adderall or other ADHD meds- and tell me their kids need bigger doses.

Comment by Hueydoc on 2010-07-28 06:38:20 -0700 #

I have reported patients to medicaid- guess what ? THEY WON”T DO ANYTHING!!!! In fact, they investigated our hospital after I filed a complaint and told us they “suspected us of abusing Medicaid patients:???!!!!

Comment by Hueydoc on 2010-07-28 06:49:52 -0700 #

We can see the parking lot from the nurses station in the ER ( and from my old office). yes, some of these people drive nicer cars than I do. I’ve seen them drive up in Escalades with $2000 rims , wearing a gold Rolex and whip out a Medicaid card. Many of them are milking the system by selling their pain medicine, or just dealing crack, many have under the table jobs where they do not report their income.
Welcome to the real world!

Comment by Hueydoc on 2010-07-28 06:52:48 -0700 #

1% of doctors have defrauded Medicare/Medicaid. 99% of doctors have benn defrauded BY Medicare/medicaid, asswipe !

Comment by The Skunkman on 2010-08-13 18:48:12 -0700 #

because I post stuff here-it’s worth coming back!

Comment by The Skunkman on 2010-08-13 18:50:46 -0700 #

I think those patients are copro. All is well with the book as long as you’re not a coprophiliac lol.

Comment by -insert clever name here- CPhT on 2010-08-24 21:07:02 -0700 #

Maybe its due to the fact that the people on welfare that take the bus and are nice only stop in once a month. Whereas the ungrateful baby factories with a Coach purse and a brand new Lexus are coming into the pharmacy every few days asking about their Xanax and their Soma and complaining that their Vanos cream isn’t covered. Not everyone abuses the system, but usually its the ones that do abuse it that are the assholes. And those are the ones that make you want to shoot yourself in the face.

Comment by Phillip on 2010-09-01 22:44:51 -0700 #

I don’t know how you can still love your job lol. I’m a pharmacy tech, and after working 1 month I changed my degree path to genetic engineering so that I don’t have to put up with the general population anymore.

Comment by Decyphur this on 2010-09-05 09:02:39 -0700 #

I am a Pharmacy tech. “entitled”? No one is, dont care he/she is pre-me or elderly. I dont give a shit. Treat everyone the same. Even if its hospice patient. Not that they deserve it, but everyone needs to get a grip. What I really like is when a young busty woman flirts with me to make her prescription be bumped up before others so she can get on her way, plus may I add leans over so I can take a peek at her cleavage lol. I love that. Although SHE still gets and hour wait just like the sweet old lady that came in with her walker and has a limp when she walks in the pharmacy. Come on people, Entitled? Fuck that. Or better yet, the old lady with a carple tunnel hand brace can still whack off her erectile disfunctioned 80 yrs husband while taking Viagra 100 mg. Come on! People lie and just to add a little drama start crying cause they cant afford it? BULLSHIT. They ALL need to be treated the same no matter what. Thats why the system is fucked up, Medicaid, Medicare, Insurance, Part D, all that combined is money rolling over. Question is who is getting rich over this money? and why do Phamacuetical companies monopolize the system? Come on people, ask WHY????

Comment by Anjali on 2010-10-05 22:32:37 -0700 #

I am a patient with almost 50 years of chronic diseases which requuire bucketfulls of medication. At this point I am not working and cannot get health insurance. I rarely get angry at any of my health-care people, I feel grateful for them including my pharmacist even though I have been hospitalized due to mistakes. So my point is, I am a certified paralegal specializing in legal research, and people were rude to me all day long, even though I worked in legal aide and advocacy programs. People would call and complain to my supervixow who would always believe the low-life patrons (not all, of course) and I would get reamed even though they would only pay ne nileage as an intern for two years. Then I would get dumped because they had to do something like actually hire me and pay me a lousy 15 bucks an hour. So not all of us have a bad atittude, like I say, I’m glad to be alive with lupus and MS and vasculitis etc., I don’t have the energy to get mad.

Comment by Vincent Oconnell on 2011-03-16 11:01:51 -0700 #

Ok, read the rant, I have to say your rants are hillarious. It is very entertaining, but this last one was somwhat upsetting. I agree with you fully, medicare is fucked…so is our justice system, so is our treasury system, our checks and balences is going down the shitter because people are to lazy to read. But, what keeps me going is everything that we are alloted. I mean think about it. These peice of shit costermers come in bitching. Guess what, differant countries they wouldnt be able to bitch. They are practicing there freedom that less then 1% of the United States population was willing on fighting for. I am a retired Military police officer. When somebody came up and refused to do as I asked I gave them there options. They can do it my way, or they arent doing shit and they can leave. I am not going to let somebody come on base if they wont let me search there car. I’m not gonna be an ass about it. I am going to tell them straight forward what is going to happen. If they refuse to do as I ask, I turn em around, they have a possibility of loosing there job, (high possibility at that), they wont ever be allowed back on because we are going to black list the vehicle, and the job wont get done. Now if he lets me search his car it is going to be a quick search, I am going to tell him he seems like a good person so I am prolly not going to find anything in there that would get him in trouble because he wouldnt be carrying that kind of contraban, if he needs me to I will let his boss know that he is running late because we did a random search and I will take complete blame for the time consumption. Normally they will take the route that sounds a bit more pleasing. Try that with your costermers instead. Dont think about the taxes that you pay out to pay for medicare. because remmember, some of that goes to your medicare as well, so you arent really paying that much towards them. Our economy sucks at this time so maybe (hopefully not) you loose your job, you cant find another so you cant afford to pay for your medical insurance. Lets say you went to work out and you accedently break something, or rip something. You are going to expect the benifits that all others get as well right? well, with you paying for medicare through your taxes they will still cover you. Yeah, you cant convince everybody to take there pills, that is understood. And yes, some are going to abuse them. People are retarded. But instead of looking at the people that are picking up expensive pills for cheap to (stock them) abuse them and misuse them why not look at the people on medicade that actually do care?? All you are truely doing here is steriotyping people on welfare. Not everybody on welfare is a peice of shit. Some actually are legitamatly trying to find a job to support themselves but like I stated before, the economy fucking sucks out there. Also, the people that give commenters a dislike because you disagree with what people say are doing it for the wrong reason. Now if somebody goes out of there way to spam these forums or just to tell everybody to fuck off and die dislike that one. What disliking does is it makes it so you can actually see what people are commenting and educated peoples opinions. Thank you guys for your time and sorry this was so long. And remmember, this is just my opinion. We have people that fight for the freedom of speech which I am expressing at this moment.

Comment by Celia Hoover on 2011-05-16 17:33:03 -0700 #

I would like to make an art house film featuring the existential hell of the Gucci sunglasses wearing medicaid recipient screaming about the prospect of having to take responsibility for anything pertaining to their coverage.

Comment by Linda on 2012-02-25 10:36:11 -0800 #

What do you say to an idiot patient who says “fill all my meds” besides telling them to call back when they acually get a brain?!?!

Comment by Linda on 2012-02-25 11:04:34 -0800 #

WOW! Have seen this scene way too many times and it pisses me off totally. I really hate the Drive Thru mainly because people can act like total assholes and we are supposed to give them whatever they want while being screamed and sweared at. And these douchebags sit and smoke in the car with their asthma-affected kids in the backseat.

Comment by Mary on 2012-04-11 18:50:41 -0700 #

It’s not the pharmacist’s place to make judgements based upon the financial capacity of the patients coming tp pick up their medications, just like it’s an ethical discrepancy for doctors to do the medical billing. You have NO RIGHT to say the patients have NO RIGHT to bitch based upon whether they are paying cash. Furthermore, let’s say a Patient Assistance program is not at all a publicly funded or taxpayer funded handout – but is directly sponsored by the pharmaceutical company – we’re talking a multi billion dollar corporation paying and that’s no skin off anyone’s back – so why do you give a fuck that a person has figured out to get their medicine sponsored. It’s people like you who have NO RIGHT to be serving the health needs of the public, you judgmental piece of shit. God forbid something ever happens to you in your life that leaves you unable to purchase health care, and that you should have to encounter sociopaths like yourself while trying to obtain your lifesaving medication. Your job is to give people their medicine, not to judge. If you hate people so much, maybe it’s time to switch careers because we don’t need any more sociopaths in the health sector. The financial industry would love to have you.

Comment by Srs12 on 2012-07-18 12:11:54 -0700 #

And pronunciation, and thorough Rx writing. Amazing, isn’t it?

The Angry Pharmacist
Author
The Angry Pharmacist
Started this site in 2005 out of frustration that pharmacy school does not prepare you for dealing with the ungrateful unwashed public. Was hugely popular until life called and I had to take a break. Now I try to provide low brow potty humor that applies to the pharmacy population at large. Except you clinical fucks, go play doctor with your white coats and snobby attitude.