If your readers see this happening more than once at the same pharmacy, they should contact the consumer division of their state attorney general's office. I received too many once, but I did not return them. Normally I would have, but the prescription was for Viagra, and my HMO limits me to four pills a month. If I get an extra pill, you can bet I will hang on to it. Durham, N.C .
Mistakes happen, but usually it's a machine miscount.
You would be surprised how many people drop their medicine down the drain, in their car, or behind the sofa, and blame the shortage on the pharmacy. When I had a root canal, my dentist prescribed pain medication. The pharmacist accidentally gave me 100 pills instead of 20. I returned them. West Hempstead, N.Y .