So, after dealing with the nightmare people at the CVS Pharmacy (on Hollywood Way, here in Burbank) on the phone a few weeks back, I finally got my prescriptions. On Thursday, February 12th, I picked up the three medications. Two topical items, and a liquid form of Erythromycin (because I can’t swallow a pill - I suck). The Erythromycin was in the form of two bottles, each with a week’s supply inside. Remember that…
Now, the fun kicked in…
I was to take the Erythromycin four times a day. Simple instructions: shake the hell out of the bottle, and take the dose. So, I took a dose on Thursday night, four doses on Friday, and one dose on Saturday. I go to take the seventh dose, and there isn’t any more liquid. There’s just some sludge at the bottom of the bottle.
I go to grab the second bottle, and start to pour out a dose. The medicine RUSHED out. I found this odd, since the first bottle poured out like thick syrup. I had already been feeling pain in my stomach since starting to take the crap, and now I had a new feeling…panic.
I called the pharmacy. They were no help whatsoever. “Did you shake the bottle?” 
I called my doctor, who then called the pharmacy and ripped them a new ass. It turns out that due to poor mixing on the part of CVS, I essentially took near a week’s worth of Erythromycin in 36 hours. Not good. FAR from good. I already suffer from a bad stomach, but - wow - this was stuff I’ve never experienced. My stomach made sounds of hunger, yet I just ate. I was constipated, yet I was shooting out liquid.
Following the doctor’s orders, I drank a river’s worth of water, and after a few days, the shaking, dizziness and bad stomach hell was gone.
According to the pharmacy manager, they are “investigating” the matter.
Must be an involved investigation. I have yet to receive another call on the matter.
This is a public service announcement. Never, never, NEVER use the pharmacy at the CVS at 511 North Hollywood Way, in Burbank. For years, I went to them for my Mom’s meds when she was in the end phase of her Liver Cancer/Melanoma hell. It was never a good experience. I should have learned then. I know now.
Avoid incompetence! DO NOT GO THERE! You have been alerted!
Worst. Pharmacy. Ever!
I had a similar experience with Eckerd - now Rite Aid. I was prescribed ‘dicyclomine’, an antispasmodic medication for serious cramps. They are small blue capsules. I walked away from the counter with ‘doxycycline’ - antibiotics - big blue capsules. A 100 of them.
Had I not have taken dicyclomine before I would have gone home and took the antibiotics instead….”simple human error” in this case is just a little too scary.
Comment by medallion — March 8, 2009 @ 6:02 pm