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It has happened more than once in the past month and they keep blaming the pharmacy, which doesn't make sense. No pharmacy ever wants you to be out of your medication. It is seroquel and not some narcotic, so I don't suspect anything nefarious, just negligence. Most likely they are not ordering early enough or simply forgetting to order some things, which is unacceptable. I am just wondering if this has happened to others. If we move her to a new facility and have the same thing happen, it will be a huge disruption for a dementia patient and amount to nothing. For now, we are transferring her meds to pillpack and having them mailed to us so that we can ensure she gets all of her meds before bringing them into the facility.

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I worked for a Pharmaceutical Company. We were the middle man between the manufacture and the Pharmacy. Besides drugs we sold everything you see in a pharmacy. All Pharmacies deal with this type of company. None get their drugs from the manufacturer directly.

If we did not get a drug order by 8pm, it did not get shipped the next day. 20 yrs ago prescriptions for controlled drugs could not be faxed to us or phoned in. We had to have the handwritten prescription that usually dropped off in a box by the driver who drove the Pharmacy routes. The "cage" people would get them and process. They did their best to get the order shipped out asap. If we didn't have it in stock then we had to order it from the manufacturer. Customer Service took reg. orders during the day and those orders were picked and placed on trucks for Delivery the next day. My whse was in S Jersey and we delivered as far as NYC.

Also, certain drugs cannot be filled till the 30/31 days is up.
I am surprised you are allowed to bring in drugs. Moms AL did not allow it. They ordered and distributed the pills. When Mom moved in they said they would order Moms meds. I told them then, not as long as insurance records showed she had pills. Nurse said I was wrong. Got a call later that I was right and to bring back her meds.
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What I don't understand is that this is an exceptionally common drug with a generic available already. What do they tell you is the problem, given this has now happened several times? Who informed you she was not getting her medication because it was not in stock at the pharmacy? How many days did she not get it. I think you are addressing it well, but I don't understand why you should have to.
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Well they better solve this problem by going out to another pharmacy! It's not rocket science and it's a liability issue for them so they should be highly motivated to figure it out pronto. Keep pressing them to find another source.

It is true that the base ingredients to many of our American medications come from China (this info came to me directy from a buyer). It is also true that delivery is currently an issue (clogs at the ports, not enough truckers). So it is possible your pharmacy may be experiencing supply issues from the Pharma companies, however I've not heard anyone else complain where I live (MN). Is it a compounding pharmacy (where they make the meds right there in their own facility)? This may be a reason.
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cignal Jun 2022
thank you--not sure if it is 'compunding', i didn't know there was such a thing! it is called expresscare and they seem to deal mostly with nursing homes. shortages can happen but typically you are ordering early enough that you have enough to last through a shortage. clearly this memory care facility is not doing that.
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A prescribed medication not being given, or the proper dose not being given is HUGE.
I do hope they are documenting each time this happens.
The thing is you know it is happening to your loved one but to how many others is it happening to as well. And what other medications that might be more "critical" than Seroquel.
I would go by the "3 strikes" theory and if it continues I would contact the Ombudsman for your state since the administration does not seem to think it is serious.
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cignal Jun 2022
yes i worry about the other residents too, and about mom in the times of day we aren't there to witness. at least one of us (her 4 kids) visits every day and we are typically there when she gets her dinnertime meds but most of the other residents don't have daily visitors. the administration's unconcerned response is what's most galling. once i waited too late to pick up my own meds from a pharmacy and they were temporarily out of stock and i said oh no i don't have any at all and they gave me a couple tablets free. no pharmacy is going to just tell you too bad, you can't have your medicine.
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