Medication Safety Tips
Featured Resources
About UsReporting Medication ErrorsContact Us
Brought to you by
Left Chevron
Back
Left Chevron
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.

More Safety Articles

Having Trouble Finding Medicines for Children Who Have Colds or the Flu?

Learn More

Toddler landed in the hospital after bottle adapter interfered with child-resistant cap

A toddler was admitted to the hospital after taking an overdose of Quillivant XR (methylphenidate). This medicine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It had been prescribed for the toddler's older brother.

Learn More

Over-The-Counter Eye Drop and Nasal Spray Danger

Here’s advice about seemingly harmless over-the-counter eye drops, such as Visine and similar products containing the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, oxymetazoline, or naphazoline. These drugs are quite dangerous if ingested. Severe side effects have been documented after swallowing as little as a half of teaspoonful.

Learn More

Once a Day Is Not the Way if Once a Week Is Enough

The story: Methotrexate is a cancer medicine. More recently, doctors have used it to treat other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. It works well for these other conditions if you take the medicine just once or twice a week, and in smaller doses. But if you take it every day by accident, you could be harmed. Sadly, some people have even died.

Learn More