Top 10 Prescription Errors and How to Prevent These
Every year, approximately 100,000 people are killed from prescription errors. We lose far fewer people to highway accidents every year, and yet, there is far more federal money spent in preventing highway traffic fatalities.
Eliminating human error from the doctor-pharmacist-patient chain may be hard, but not impossible. In the meantime, there are steps that you can take to prevent the 10 most common prescription errors.
According to Caring.com, the 10 most common prescription errors are:
Confusing two prescription drugs with similar names - This is one of the more common errors that Atlanta prescription error lawyers see. Recheck the prescription with the medication received at the pharmacy. If it is not a written prescription, ask the pharmacist to compare the label on the container with the prescription.
Drug interactions and side effects - Persons who are on more than one medication may be at risk for serious injuries from side effects, and not even know it. Ask your doctor about side effects, and inform him of all other medications that you're taking currently, including herbal and nutritional supplements.
Overdosage from compounding of medications - These errors occur when a patient takes more than one medication containing the same ingredient. The accumulation of the ingredient can cause an overdosage. Check the label, and look for words like “sleepy” or “drowsiness.”If more than one of your medicines have these side effects, it could be deadly.
Wrong dosage - As an Atlanta pharmacy error attorney, I know that wrong dosages can be deadly. Before you leave the doctor's office, make sure that you can read the dosage properly. Check the dosage with the pharmacist. If you have any doubts, speak up.
Mixing medications with alcohol - Patients often make this mistake with fatal consequences. Ask the doctor if it is safe to drink alcohol while you're on the medication. Read the label on the medication carefully, and see if it is safe to drink alcohol.
Double dosing on both generic and brand name drugs- This happens when patients don't know that the generic variant contains the same ingredient as the brand-name medication. When your doctor is writing the prescription, ask him to inform you of the generic variant, if one is available.
Mixing over-the-counter medications with prescription drugs - Just because a medication is available over the counter, doesn't mean that it is hundred percent safe to use as you like. Inform your doctor of any OTC drugs you're using.
Drug Interactions with food - There are several foods that can react with certain medications leading to overdosage, limited absorption and other issues. The best person to advise you about these interactions is your doctor or pharmacist.
Failure to adjust dosages to handle liver/kidney disorders - if you have impaired liver or kidney function, ask your doctor about decreased dosages of your medication. Persons with impaired liver or kidneys may not be able to eliminate toxins as easily, leading to an accumulation of toxins in the body. This can have serious consequences.
Prescription errors and the elderly - Certain drugs that cause side effects like drowsiness, are not advised for persons above the age of 65. If you or a loved one have been advised medications like these, make sure that you bring it to the attention of your doctor, and get a new prescription.
