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Reporting a Medication Error

When Your Medicine Doesn't Look Right

Republished July 31, 2024

A mother picked up a refill of her child's medicine, Strattera (atomoxetine), a drug used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The capsules were a different color than what they previously received. Even though the prescription bottle said Strattera 60 mg, the mother called the pharmacy to check.

The pharmacist looked at the child's medicine record and realized that a mistake had been made. An antidepressant, Cymbalta (duloxetine) 60 mg, was the medicine that was in the bottle. The mother returned the wrong medicine to the pharmacy in exchange for the right medicine. Luckily, the child had not taken any of the wrong medicine. Be sure to always check your medicine (or your child's medicine) before taking it. If it is not what you expect, check with your pharmacist.

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