Shoppers Drug Mart complaint: Wrong Medicine

Complaint from Akshara reported on 24 June 2023 about Shoppers Drug Mart

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My complaint:

I’m writing to notify a complaint against Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacy ( 629 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1H 2A4 )

I visited pharmacy yesterday June 22, 2023, and pharmacy has given me a wrong medicine.My Endocrinologist have prescribed TAPAZOLE 10 MG TABLET whereas the pharmacy gave me MAR-METHIMAZOLE 10 MG TABLET

I understand that Methimazole is generic of Tapazole. However the pharmacy did not notify me that Tapazole is not available.
The medicine as per the prescription is Tapazole why would they give me Methimazole without notifying me ?

The reason I refuse to accept METHIMAZOLE is that my Endocrinologist advised me not to intake Methimazole at any cost.

Initially I went on emergency to my Family doctor Dr.Lenus Louis. After taking bloods tests and scan it’s ed that I have Hyperthyroidism. My family doctor referred me to the Endocrinologist, in the meantime he prescribed me MAR-METHIMAZOLE 5 MG. When I went to see Endocrinologist Dr.Tharsan Sivakumar, the doctor advised me to stop Methimazole tablet.

To be added, both medications are available in Shoppers Drug Mart as per their website. Even though Methimazole is generic,
Methimazole and Tapazole are two different tablets.

TAPAZOLE – DIN: 02296039
METHIMAZOLE – DIN: 02480115

When I went to pharmacy today June 23, 2023, to ask about the wrong medicines, The pharmacist Tina was extremely rude. Instead of listening to my concern, she said it’s the same tablet and when I ask her to provide me Tapazole, she said it’s not available. When I asked for refund she said they wouldn’t do and blamed me that I didn’t not check the medicine and let the pharmacy know the correct prescription.

In the first place, it’s pharmacy ‘ s mistake.
The prescription was sent directly to Pharmacy first and I had to take a copy of prescription from them. Why would she blame me, like it’s my mistake. Also it’s my first time visiting Shoppers Drug Mart. How would the Pharmacist Tina expect me to check the drug , while they have the prescription. She insist me to take the METHIMAZOLE with me.

Is it advisable to intake a medicine that’s not advised by my Doctor?

It’s the pharmacy responsibility that they have to provide the correct medicine as mentioned in prescription. If that medicine is not available, they should let the customer know first.

Why would I pay for the medicine that was pharmacy ‘ s mistake. How could the pharmacy refuse to care, when it’s their mistake. Isn’t their job to provide the patient with correct medications.

Also, I have paid $100.28 for 147 tablets. But the pharmacy provided only 19 but charged for 147. They did not even notify me that they will provide only 19 tablets now and I have to come and collect the remaining medicines. At this point, the pharmacy robbed my money.
How would I know in the first place about this while I’m visiting for the first time. The pharmacy did not explain me the medications.

I have Overactive Thyroid and because of the Pharmacy’s mistake I can’t have my medicines for next few days as well. Tina is extremely rude, extremely poor customer service, disrespectful to a sick patient. The pharmacist Tina literally argued when I refused to take METHIMAZOLE with me.

Suggested solution:

I wouldn't even give 1 star for the Pharmacist behaviour. It's not the way they behave with the patients.

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