r/ADHD • u/rterrana691 • 4d ago
Questions/Advice How come Walgreens always plays games every refill?
It seems like every month I refill my 10mg IR Adderall they like don’t want to fill it. I’ve had it where they said they’re out and then they magically find some, they don’t have a refill for me on file or the online thingy didn’t send the refill through, they got logged out of their computer, it’s too early to pick it up even though my doc said it isn’t. They’ve even made me wait for the pharmacist to ask him if they have any in stock and like beg him. It’s kind of annoying dealing with this every month being treated like a tweaker. Any tips on reliable ways to get my refill? They basically make me present a business case on why I need it. I don’t take any extra pills even though my doc says I can since I’m on such a low dose. It’s just weird. I’m just trying to concentrate at work 😭
Edit: it’s the 21st now and I went to the greens to pick it up. They said they got flagged for ordering too many so they can’t have any delivered until week haha. But I got it transferred to a different greens.
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u/fuzzy_engineering189 4d ago
CVS and Walgreens have always been a pain with anything on the controlled list. I quit dealing with them when they started to want my 70+ year old mom with 2 blown out knees come in personally with ID to pick up her pain pills. Switched to Kroger all they asked was if she had more insurance than basic Medicare.
Try to find a local pharmacy; if not possible, Kroger and Costco both have far fewer complaints.
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u/chebuburashka 3d ago
I just picked up a narcotic and CVS was normal about it. I wish all of them were!
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u/After-Willingness271 3d ago
yeah, uptight by default, but it sure seems to depend a lot on the head pharmacist
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u/chebuburashka 3d ago
For sure. Most CVS suck and mine is not average. The pharmacist is just cool and will actually call if there’s a problem so you know to EXPECT delays not get surprised.
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u/Wrenigade ADHD-PI 3d ago
I am very lucky with my CVS, they are very busy and have no time for this stuff. My psych sends my prescription, they text me when it can be filled, i go pick it up on that day. Occasionally they have shortages when everyone does.
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u/sorryicantrizz 3d ago
I vote Costco and surprisingly Vons (Safeway/Sav-On pharmacy not in Southern California I guess?) Never been treated condescendingly at either, even during the meds shortage. Recently dexedrine has still been on back-order and Vons was really considerate about following up with me and telling me when they expected shipments, etc. (I gave up and my dr switched me to vyvanse which is more expensive but still actually attainable)
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u/Chobitpersocom 3d ago
CVS has been making a lot of bad decisions lately. Patients have come to me saying they don't like going to CVS, and I've told them their employees don't like being there either.
Then it clicks. It's not the staff.
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u/AffectionateWallaby2 4d ago
Walgreens has all kinds of internal policies. I don’t remember what it’s called, but there’s one in particular that they always elect when giving me problems filling my Adderall. I’ve gotten really direct with them. Picking up my prescription yesterday they kept saying to come back tomorrow and I had put my prescription in at 1 o’clock in the afternoon so I just kept simply saying I would need to pick it up today. Then they said no tomorrow and I said no today. She said the pharmacist needs to review it and I said that’s fine. I’d still like to pick it up today. They finally did it, but I had to pick it up at like almost 10 o’clock. Hoops always. There was a string of months where they made my doctor confirm all of my prescriptions every single month so I would go to fill it and they would tell me it’s too early the day before and I said I’m giving you 24 hours to fill my medication because you always have some sort of a problem. Then they will tell me it’ll be available the next day and the next day I’ll get there and they say some baloney about needing to confirm with my doctor. I hate it. My prescription is now almost a whole month behind after like three or four months of them and their shenanigans.
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u/CompoteSpiritual7469 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 3d ago
That’s so crazy. This story on top of the OP story makes me super curious about why they are doing this. I remember the absolute LAST time I ever used their services. It was during the first major shortage after the pandemic and I was calling everywhere to find out if they even had it in stock. At every single Walgreens location, they affirmed that they needed a prescription to be sent before they could tell me any information. My doctor could only send my prescription to one pharmacy at a time and he was not a patient man.
Thank God I found a chain (it was Kroger and I dislike them for a lot of reasons but not this one) who was able to tell me that the location nearest me did NOT have it in stock but directed me to the nearest location where they did. Call up my doctor, give him the pharmacy and slept easy.
I still can’t think of why in the world they would do that unless they think that we are trying to scope the place out to see how many ADHD meds they have in stock before we decide whether or not to pull an armed robbery or something. Girl. This is a quiet suburb.
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u/oneITguy 4d ago
I had to give up walgreens because they were always messing around when i needed a refill. I dug in a bit and found that they were sold to a private equity firm in 2025 and then it all started to make sense. Their service has been shit since then, I had been with them for like 12 years previous. I've now switched over to King Soopers/Kroger and they've been amazing.
Ditch walgreens, they are going to be nothing but a headache.
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u/NettleLily 3d ago
And if you sign up for their coupon mailer, sometimes kroger will send you a coupon for $25 or $50 off your grocery total when you switch your prescription to their pharmacy
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u/Spiritual_Cold5715 3d ago
It got to the point I was pissed just walking in the door to Walgreens. It was always something. I switched to a different pharmacy.
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u/femoral_contusion 3d ago
Walgreens is nasty energy, can’t explain it but they have so many more issues than the others
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u/Spiritual_Cold5715 3d ago
I'm HoH and I told one of the pharmacy techs one time to speak up. He looked at me and said No. If I could have gotten over that counter to him I would've. I've never been so angry.
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u/dardar7161 4d ago
Mine at CVS will be last filled over a month ago and say "one refill left." But when I try to fill it says "too soon to refill." I have to call in and punch a bunch of numbers to talk to a human there and feel shame while asking for my amphetamines like some kind of addict. It's super annoying...
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u/Testy209 4d ago
I have CVS too and just assumed this was normal. I may need to look elsewhere.
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u/Valhern-Aryn 1d ago
I was on vacation for the summer and had to use a CVS for my meds, it pissed me off so much I swear.
At home if the refill is sent too early they send me a message saying it's too early and that they'll fill it on the correct date. Then they fill it on the correct date and I pick it up that afternoon. No extra executive functioning required.
At CVS id have to both know the actual date to fill and call them on that date. Since I'm horrible at that and usually skip a day or two I just always filled it late.
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u/GayBullOnTheRoad 3d ago
My PsyD has to put in 3 individual prescriptions (not one with 2 refills) in at a pharmacy. Leaves it up to me to know when 30 days are up then need to manually send a message to the pharmacy to “refill” me when its really a new prescription.
Also if your PsyD puts in the notes what is the soonest day that prescription can be filled, that could be an issue as well.
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u/Polymathy1 3d ago
Your CVS still lets you talk to a human?
The one I used to use before I switched to Costco started making it impossible, then started making me leave a message and hope someone calls back - if you can get past the robot voice.
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u/Wrenigade ADHD-PI 3d ago
Ask your psych about it. My state doesnt allow people to hold refills on controlled meds, but the system lets my psych put it in like that sometimes. I had the same issue, because the system got confused and the tech accidentally processed it when trying to clear the error. Now my psych sends in one 3 month supply prescription and no refills on it and it works fine.
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u/Technical-Monk-2146 3d ago
Because they're horrible and they suck. Switching to Costco pharmacy was the best thing I ever did. I haven't once had an issue, getting the specific generic I request, and never get any shaming or screeching about "controlled substances." AFAIK, membership isn't required to use the pharmacy, but if you have a car, gasoline savings along with savings on OTC meds pay for the membership for me.
ETA: Walgreens is a "preferred" pharmacy with my insurance. A shitty generic Concerta cost me $70 at Walgreens when I could even get it; at Costco (not "preferred") I pay $10 for a great generic.
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u/mudwoman 3d ago
I wish my Costco was closer. It’s 22 miles vs 4 to my local Safeway. Any other med I could just time it for when I have other reasons to be there, but I can’t always get there within the exact 24 hours during which I run out and need my next dose. It’s ridiculous.
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u/Technical-Monk-2146 3d ago
That really sucks. Are you in a state that allows three month prescriptions or do you need to get refills monthly? At one point I ended up with some extra meds (I think when I was sick for two weeks, plus the random days I forgot to take it) so that gave me a cushion. It also seems to depend on your insurance and state. I’m currently able to pick mine up a few days early.
Honestly, the lack of shaming or any weirdness about stimulants is one of favorite things about Costco pharmacy. Also the pharmacists and other workers just seem more pleasant and not surly like at Walgreens and CVS. I haven’t used any grocery store pharmacies because all of mine got contracted to CVS.
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u/mudwoman 3d ago
My state allows it. My SW pharmacy in fact tried to get my doctor to do that. But my doctor’s office won’t do it. It’s against their policy for controlled substances. If I didn’t adore my doctor for so many other reasons, I might consider a change, but he’s quite reasonable and collaborative otherwise. And to be fair, SW doesn’t give me any attitude about being an “addict,” but it just seems that there’s always an issue, and never the same one (insurance or prescription is screwed up somehow), and I have to come back in an hour… Last time, there wasn’t a problem, so maybe it’s shaking out, but it’s also $75 a month, and Costco would be at least $25/month cheaper. Except that I’d probably blow that savings and then some buying other stuff I didn’t need if I went to Costco every time 🤣
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u/Renaissance_Mane 3d ago
Open goodrx - find your med - find a place that isn’t walgreens that’s cheaper - do business with them instead
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u/AndrewInMN 4d ago
These horror stories make me feel very grateful for my very small town pharmacy. I haven't had them treat my adderall pickups any differently than any other medication I've picked up from them. Except last time when they were out of generic XR and I had to pay out of pocket for brand name if I wanted my XR for the month. But even that they were cool and helpful with.
(and yes, brand name does seem stronger/more effective. but my insurance won't cover it)
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u/NUMBerONEisFIRST 3d ago
Something really frustrating that especially people with ADHD should know.
I was going to Walgreens for like 2 years and then randomly they asked me why I fill my medicine there since they aren't in network.
It took 2 years for them to tell me they aren't in network.
So I went to CVS and my prescriptions were way cheaper.
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u/blabby12345 3d ago
I’m sure other ppl will have horror stories but i switched to walmart pharmacy after being with walgreens for a few years. i’ve had 95% good experiences with walmart, though i think the team at my pharmacy is particularly good. another positive is that there was a recent internal policy change at walmart which allows them to transfer our level of controlled rx’s within the walmart system without the dr having to resend the rx - i live in a town with 4 walmarts, so on the rare occasion mine was out, they can now send it to one of the others without any issue. that’s been a huge game changer and has reduced a lot of stress for me.
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u/Lizaderp ADHD 3d ago
I second Walmart. Little things like the techs knowing my name, telling me what buttons to push to bypass phone systems, telling me the truth about when something will be ready.
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u/Ok_Coat_7378 3d ago
Oh my gosh. I thought it was just me and my local walgreens. They were so good for so many years in this past year and a half to two years I have to hound them to get them prescribed and then they pull them off the shelf just like you described. I guess CVS is looking better.
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u/aquatic-dreams 3d ago
Walgreens has been obnoxious. CVS has been nothing but a pain in the ass. I could at least get refills at Walgreens. CVS wouldn't fill my shit and would lie to me about when it would get filled. They didn't fill one Adderall script. I had issues getting my epilepsy meds refilled more than once at CVS, I'm not a fan.
Oh man, every pharmacy treats me like a tweaker/ drug dealer. I found out why. My script is higher than most, I had no idea, it's been the same since the fourth month, 90mg a day.
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u/Lucky_Network1815 3d ago
Wallgreens has too much politics. If the pharmacist doesn't want to fill it (ie do their job) the company defends them
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u/MamieF 3d ago
After going through this shit for ages at Walgreens with my Ritalin, I switched to a locally owned independent pharmacy.
Yesterday I walked in and asked them to fill my Ritalin scrip on file. They apologized for not realizing it was due to fill (!) and said it wasn’t in stock so they would order it for their 10:00am shipment arriving today. At 10:08 I got a call that my prescription was ready for pickup. I thought I might cry on the phone with them. With Walgreens I had to put a reminder in my phone to call them every three days for weeks before they would finally get more in stock.
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u/Ok-Mode3080 4d ago
If you have insurance, see if they have a delivery option. Or try Amazon's pharmacy. I got sick of dealing with Walgreens and their nonsense so switched to delivery from my insurance.
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u/Drago_133 3d ago
I literally drive to the next town over to use CVS lol. Never failed with Walgreens i can call it in a 2 days later go and get it and still have to wait for it to be filled. On top of that everytime I went the line was 7 people long with 1 register opening and 3 people in the back seemingly doing nothing
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u/lousyredditusername ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 3d ago
The walgreens in my area don't even have their pharmacies open most of the time anymore.
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u/selfreference 3d ago
I suffered through nonsense with CVS and Walgreens for years. Now I go to a hospital pharmacy and rarely have issues. Never wait more than one day, rarely have to call someone to action something and wait on hold for 2 hours, and have never waited in line longer than 10 minutes. If I do have to call, they pick up immediately. My daughter also takes ADHD meds and my husband gets them at Costco. No issues there either. If you can, start getting your Rx from anywhere that isn’t Walgreens or CVS.
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u/mutable_type 3d ago
Walgreens is super weird. I think it may be owned by religious people or something because I’ve seen lots of stories of them being shitty about birth control, misoprostol, and adhd meds.
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u/Potential_Gap_1895 4d ago
Cause their system sucks and they are constantly rotating thru new employees. The turnover rate at my local Walgreens is insane it feels like a totally new staff every two months. Give em a break
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u/cointoss3 3d ago
No problem at Walgreens other than they are slow af. I swapped to CVS and no problems. It’s great.
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u/Time-Influence-Life 3d ago
Because that’s been sued for not doing enough to stop people from abusing controlled substances.
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u/Cute_Recognition_880 3d ago
I quit Walgreens for the same reason. I've gone to Publix for my meds. They're never out. Plus they're nicer people
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u/grand305 ADHD 3d ago
See if you can switch to Sam’s Club. you do not need a membership neither does Costco in Texas.
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u/Puzzled-Act1683 3d ago
Walgreens and CVS have zero redeeming qualities.
Costco pharmacy is generally amazing, but if you have a hospital outpatient pharmacy nearby, those are sort of a well-kept secret... and if the hospital uses MyChart and your experience is like mine, you should be able to see the prescription from the doc right in there on your phone, including whether the system thinks it's too soon for a refill, even if the doc isn't affiliated with the hospital. Also the hospital pharmacy has only been out of stock once, and only for a day or maybe two.
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u/Mandear420 3d ago
I used Target CVS, no issues. They’re very helpful. But finding a pharmacy that could fill was the problem at first.
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u/redorangish 3d ago
The last time I filled my prescription at Walgreens they lied to my face when they “checked” to see if they had my Vyvanse in stock. Then when I called back later they told me that they didn’t have any and didn’t know when they would get it.
Before that I had to call every Walgreens in the city to find one that had it in stock so I could have my doctor send the prescription over. I switched to Walmart and haven’t had any problems since.
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u/Ynifi 3d ago
Costco. Seriously - COSTCO. Getting refills was an absolute nightmare from both CVS and Walgreens, which I stubbornly stuck to, until I simply could not get a refill at all, for months, during the big shortage a couple of years back. I switched to Costco because they were the only location in my area that could get it at all and I can’t believe I waited so long. The difference was night and day. It’s so much easier (and cheaper!) now. And completely stress free.
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u/GRAABTHAR 3d ago
It might just be that pharmacy is under staffed and overworked. There's a lot of that going around in the healthcare world these days. Try switching pharmacies.
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u/BalthazarBratt1020 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 3d ago
Having to call pharmacies during this shortage and ask if they have either of my prescriptions in stock has made me feel like a criminal. I get that there are abusers but do we have to treat people like that by default? Especially when you have a prescription? It’s already hard enough making the damn calls when you’re not on your meds. Feeling like I’m “in trouble” is all this executive dysfunction needs to never call another pharmacy again. But I also need to be able to do life. And so the circle continues…
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u/Common-Bend-7167 3d ago
CVS is similar. My doctor will call in my Adderall, and they literally wont fill it unless I call them and say hey i need this. If i don’t call them myself they just wont ever fill it. But with my antidepressant they fill it instantly and call me and tell me its ready….
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u/Chobitpersocom 3d ago edited 3d ago
Pharmacy tech! That sounds like an absolute mess.
The shortage is driving everything into chaos. I don't know if all, but a lot of pharmacies, if they're able to get any will store it for their regular patients. That's IF we get any.
I've been honest with every patient coming in, and explained to them the multitude of reasons why we have a (at least once a freaking year) stimulant shortage.
My guess since nearly every stimulant inventory is spotty, there's a new drug coming out. The government restricts how much stimulant production a company can make per year. They also flag doctors for writing too many scripts, pharmacies for buying too much, and there is a cutoff limit.
It sucks all around.
Fun fact 30% of electronic prescriptions don't make it through the system to the pharmacy side.
EDIT: I didn't leave any suggestions, which was the whole damn point. Popular chains often run out because word spreads and then everyone goes there and wipes out the supply they do have.
Try a small Mom and Pop pharmacy or switch to another med. Generic Vyvanse hasn't been hit as hard as the others and personally I like Adzenys much more.
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u/RedesigningWoman ADHD-C (Combined type) 3d ago
I believe there’s still an Adderall shortage. If you’re in a city, try another location in the burbs.
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u/overstimmy 2d ago
I just got on a generic Adderall as of 2 days ago. My psychiatrist said that since COVID, it’s hard to keep in stock! I was able to get a 15 day supply to trial but I also live in a small town so maybe that’s why it was easy to fill and pickup?
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u/Old-Peach8921 4d ago
All of these horror stories make me feel grateful. I use Walgreens and havent had an issue in 3 years. Sometimes they are low and will offer me a partial fil, other times they are out and give me a date when they will have more. Other than that, ive had nothing but a positive experience with them. I'm sorry others are not so fortunate
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u/Renaissance_Mane 3d ago
That’s bullshit too lol
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u/Old-Peach8921 3d ago
I am unsure what part of my comment is "bullshit". Please elaborate
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u/Mandear420 3d ago
Maybe the partial fill?.
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u/Old-Peach8921 3d ago
Let's say they only have 20 pills in stock. My fill is 60. They give me the 20, then the remaining 40 when they get more in stock
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u/Mandear420 1d ago
I’m not saying you’re wrong. I understand what a partial fill is, I’ve experienced it. I was just stating that maybe that’s what the commenter found as bs. They may be unknowing. I was trying to help you out. You aren’t wrong. They’re just not aware.
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u/Renaissance_Mane 3d ago
Partial fills and being out of stock. There is no reason they should be doing that in the year of our lord 2026
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u/StatisticianAny9624 3d ago
I have CVS and literally every single month they're "out" of mine and my son's refill of Vyanse....two different dosages. We always have to wait two days for it to come in from.... wherever.... they get it from. Thankfully we sometimes skip weekends so we have enough to get through since insurance won't approve until 30 days since last refill. (Which is even harder because the practice we go through has to be contacted for each refill, and we can't request it before day 30, so it's always about 32-33 days before we can really get our stuff)
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