Recently a friend’s parent ended up receiving the wrong
dosage of a medicine, which resulted in very serious health consequences. This
isn’t the first time I’ve seen this in people with various types of chronic
conditions. With many pharmacists working long hours, and the aging of the baby
boomers, it’s not surprising that more
than 100,000 Americans die each year of adverse drug reactions. Scary but
true-at least one study found that one in every eight prescriptions filled had
a mistake.
What to do:
1. Discuss the
medication being prescribed with your provider in detail before you get the
prescription filled. Know the generic and label name; why you’re taking it;
dosage; side effects; when and how to take it; whether it replaces other drugs
you may be taking or if there could be interactions with meds or supplements
(vitamins count) your on. Write this information down and compare it to what’s
on the bottle/box when you receive the prescription.
2. Use one
pharmacy. Many people with chronic conditions have multiple doctors. It is
not uncommon for a specialist to write a prescription that could create
problems when taken with another medication. Because a primary pharmacy will
keep track of your prescribing history, they are more likely to pick up on
conflicting medications, as well as note when there has been a significant
change in dosage. Sometimes the change in dosage is a clerical error.
3. Examine your
Prescription Before Using and Call/talk to the the pharmacist when:
- • The
information on the prescription bottle does not match information provided by
your medical provider
- • A
refilled prescription doesn’t look like what you’ve been taking and/or the
label contains a different name, direction or dosage.
- • A
liquid prescription doesn’t come with a dropper or measuring device and/or you
are unsure how to use it.
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