Published June 15, 2020 (current as of June 20, 2024)
Consumers can often spot a medication error by knowing what to expect. This includes knowing what medicine has been prescribed (for example, the name and dose), what the medicine looks like, and what side effects to expect. The following reported error and great catch shows the importance of knowing about the medicine you take.
A consumer was started on a medicine to control his blood pressure. The dose was later increased from 4 mg to 8 mg per day. After taking the new dose for a few days, the consumer felt overly tired and had low energy. The consumer’s blood pressure reading had also dropped by 40 points. Knowing these were potential side effects of the medicine, the consumer read the label on the prescription bottle and noticed that the strength of the medicine was 16 mg, not the 8 mg that had been prescribed. The consumer contacted his healthcare provider.
Here’s what you can do: While dispensing errors happen infrequently, consumers are the last line of defense and should speak up if something does not seem right. Here are the top 10 reasons to suspect a medication error:
The medicine’s appearance (color, shape, markings on the tablet) is different from expected, and the pharmacist did not warn the person about switching to a different manufacturer.
The smell or taste is different than expected or extremely unpleasant.
The amount of liquid in a syringe or bottle is more or less than expected.
The number of tablets or capsules in a prescription bottle is more or less than expected.
The directions on a prescription bottle label differ from what your doctor told you.
The patient’s name on the label is not as it should appear, including misspellings or incorrect suffixes like Jr. or Sr. if others in your household have the same name.
The doctor’s name on the label is not your doctor.
The name of the medicine on the bottle label is not as expected.
The reason for taking the medicine (in a leaflet or mentioned by the pharmacist) is different from the condition being treated.
After renewing a prescription, you experience new side effects or begin to notice physical changes after taking a few doses, such as a change in urine color, unexpected weakness or drowsiness, dizziness, breathing difficulties, racing heart, vision problems, and so on.
More Safety Articles
How Your Cell Phone Number and Email Address Can Help Keep You Safe
A patient was accidentally given another patient’s medications at a pharmacy. Later, when a pharmacist realized the mistake, he attempted to reach the patient by phone. However, the patient did not answer. The pharmacist kept trying but did not get through until later that evening. By that time, the patient had already taken another patient’s CELLCEPT (mycophenolate mofetil), a drug that lowers your immunity (it's used in transplant patients to prevent rejection), instead of her new prescription for ZESTRIL (lisinopril) to treat hypertension.
Avoid Shoulder Injuries When Receiving Intramuscular Vaccinations
In October 2020, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gave permission to qualified pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns to administer childhood vaccines and the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. HHS determined that, during the COVID-19 public health emergency, pharmacies can help consumers access lifesaving vaccines, particularly in areas that have too few pediatricians and other primary healthcare providers.
Replace Bottle Adapter with Childproof Cap after Using Liquid Medicine
Liquid medicines, especially those required for small children and pets, are often measured using oral syringes. Sometimes, there is a device that comes with the syringe called an adapter. This allows the oral syringe to directly attach to the bottle, eliminating the step of pouring the liquid into a cup for withdrawal by an oral syringe.Using a syringe adapter is a convenient way to accurately measure and administer liquids. However, depending on the actual product, parents should be aware they are not always childproof.
