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Reporting a Medication Error

Inspect Your Medicine Before Leaving the Pharmacy

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Republished July 16, 2024

A woman went to pick up her son's prescription for Metadate CD (methylphenidate, extended release), which is used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The pharmacist had a hard time reading the prescription. He thought the doctor had prescribed methadone. This medicine is used for drug withdrawal, and also to lessen cancer pain.

Fortunately, the woman looked at the bottle and read the leaflet attached to the bag before leaving the pharmacy. She couldn't understand why methadone would be prescribed for a boy with a ADHD! By inspecting the prescription before leaving the pharmacy, she avoided giving her child a pain medicine meant for adults.

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