Help! My Pharmacist Won’t Fill My Prescription!

Photo by davidsteltz - http://flic.kr/p/6gLEP3 - For illustration only

Reader’s Question

Help! I have been taking Celexa 40mg since 2001. I dropped off my prescription at the pharmacy three days ago, and the pharmacist has yet to fill the prescription. We have been using the same pharmacy for two years and I have been refilling the same medications. I have actually given him the bottle, yet he refuses to fill it.

What’s gone wrong?

  • The bottle indicated that there was one refill, and he has misplaced the bottle or thrown it away.
  • He has accused me of taking more than the prescribed amount.
  • He said he called the doctor and couldn’t get through, yet we go to a clinic that is open seven days a week.
  • And the list goes on…

Am I in danger of having any withdrawal symptoms (which I know are none too pleasant) or has it been in my body for so long that a few days won’t matter? The other thing is, can I report this guy to someone?

Psychologist’s Reply

Celexa is a type of antidepressant medication known as an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor). In general, antidepressant medications such as SSRIs should not be discontinued abruptly. Suddenly stopping antidepressant medication may result in adverse side effects and withdrawal symptoms. While it is difficult to say whether you will experience any negative side effects as a result of not taking your medication for a few days, and it is likely that any adverse reactions you may experience will dissipate once the medication dosage is resumed, discontinuing antidepressant medication abruptly can be serious and should not be considered lightly. In other words, it is important to take your recommended dosage of antidepressant medication consistently and it is not in your best interest to start and stop taking antidepressants, even if just for a few days, without consulting with your medical doctor. Should you ever decide to stop taking your antidepressant medication altogether, gradually reducing the dosage of the medication under the direct supervision of a healthcare professional is generally recommended. Not knowing your full medical and medication history, I would suggest that you contact your prescribing medical doctor or healthcare professional directly as soon as possible to discuss your concerns and questions with him/her.

If you believe that your pharmacist acted in an unprofessional and/or unethical manner, you can contact your local pharmacy licensing board to discuss reporting options. In the US, each state has its own professional board for pharmacy.

Please read our Important Disclaimer.

All clinical material on this site is peer reviewed by one or more clinical psychologists or other qualified mental health professionals. Originally published by on and last reviewed or updated by Pat Orner Oliver on .

Ask the Psychologist provides direct access to qualified clinical psychologists ready to answer your questions. It is overseen by the same international advisory board of distinguished academic faculty and mental health professionals — with decades of clinical and research experience in the US, UK and Europe — that delivers CounsellingResource.com, providing peer-reviewed mental health information you can trust. Our material is not intended as a substitute for direct consultation with a qualified mental health professional. CounsellingResource.com is accredited by the Health on the Net Foundation.

Copyright © 2024.