As I write this, I'm on my fourth day taking Levaquin 500 mg. pre...

Hey "Luv",

Unfortunately, when an RX is received at a pharmacy, the tech (usually it is a tech that inputs scripts) has to type the directions EXACTLY as the Dr has written them. To change ' take 1 tablet every day after meals' to 'take 1 tablet ONCE DAILY after a meal or with food' would be illegal. It must be input exactly as written.

Having said that, one would hope that the tech or at least the pharmacist would have caught it and phoned the Dr. I don't know why they didn't as we should never assume anything when dealing with people's health!

One thing that frightens me as a professional and as a consumer is to see how busy and understaffed many retail pharmacies seem to be. It is a mistake waiting to happen, Just last night, I was at a national chain pharmacy picking up an RX for my dog and while waiting I heard the pharmacist say (not very discretely) to an intern 'well, which prescription did you give her?' followed by them saying 'well you better try and catch her' followed by the intern running out to swap medications with the patient! Oy! HUGE, huge no, no!

Of course, as with any profession, some people are more knowledgable and competent than others but it is a law, pharmacists can not change anything about an RX without the permission of the Dr. It is a shame (literally!) that the filling team didn't catch and clarify your directions.

Be well!

An Urgent Care doctor perscribed Levaquil 500 mg. for my 16 year old son for a bad caugh, vomiting. We do turst our doctors, and someone should have told me that it is NOT to be givin to minors without a parent consent! If I had knows that I deffinatly would have questions and not let them give this to my son!!! I know I shoud be informed myself, but when you rush your child to an Urgent Care because he is so sick.... we tust an antiobitoc given by a doctor!! After the 2nd pill my son could not control the muscles in his face, his jaw was crooked, twitching all over his face, but the jaw and face was so distorted! He could not speak clear at all. I thought he was having a STROKE! Oh, the vomiting got wayyyyyyy worse. I rushed him to ER room and that doctor could not believe that a doctor perscribed this to my 16 year old son, and also could not believe that RITE AID filled this RX!!!! PRAISE GOD that the ER doctor told us to get Benadryl and the symptoms of this would subside until this drug is out of his system, which took 2 days! I am very very upset mostly that the doctor at Urgent Care did not tell us as parents any side effects this could have and that it is not for minors!!!! My son had a "Distonic" reaction to this medication. My son is fine now and has not aches or pains or reaction at all and he is very athletic. His cold is still here but I know he will be fine as that is what we pray for!!! I just thought this was GREAT information to pass along. God Bless and be healthy.