Published November 1, 2012 (current as of December 23, 2024)
Good catch! A mother picking up a prescription for her son was supposed to receive methylphenidate for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Instead she was given a cardiac drug intended for another patient. The mother noticed the error because the pharmacist mentioned that the medicine was for “chest pains.” It turned out that the two patients had the same name.
Before leaving the pharmacy with your prescription, always make sure to provide your name and another identifier, such as your date of birth or address. It is also important for pharmacists to provide you with information about the medicine when you pick up your prescriptions. After all, that’s how this error was prevented.
