Medication Errors Are More Common Than You Think: What You Need To Know
When we need medical care, we trust our doctors to prescribe the right medications for our specific condition. In addition, we expect the pharmacy staff to fill our prescriptions correctly. However, research shows we may be too trusting when it comes to medications. According to an article published by the National Institutes of Health, 7,000 – 9,000 people in the U.S. die each year from medication errors. Furthermore, hundreds of thousands more people experience serious adverse reactions or complications related to a medication.
When do most medication errors occur?
While mistakes can be made at any stage of the care cycle, more than 50% of medication errors occur during the prescribing stage. Here are some examples:
- The provider orders the wrong medication.
- The prescriber fails to include the correct dosage information.
- The doctor prescribes a drug that may without checking for potential interactions with the patient’s existing medications.
What are other common causes of medication errors?
- Mixing up drugs with similar names
A hurried pharmacist may confuse one drug with another that looks or sounds similar, such as Buspar and Bumex.
- Illegible handwriting or misunderstood symbols
While electronic prescribing systems have done away with many of these mistakes, some doctors still write prescriptions by hand. Conscientious pharmacists will call the physician’s office to verify unclear information; however, many fail to do so.
- Indicating the wrong dosage
Many doctors use abbreviations to specify how often the patient should take a medication. For example, BID (twice a day) TID (three times a day) or QID (four times a day) are easy to mistake, especially in hand-written prescriptions.
- Dispensing the wrong formulation of a drug
Many drugs come in both immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (ER) versions. If a pharmacist mixes up these initials and gives a patient the wrong formulation, the consequences can be dangerous.
- Administering IV drugs at incorrect flow rates
The flow rates for IV medications must be calculated according to a variety of individual patient factors such as age and weight. Generally, children should receive IV medications at a much lower rate than adults. If a provider administers an adult dose of 100 ccs/hour to a child who should be receiving 10ccs/hour, the results can be deadly.
- Failing to monitor potential drug interactions
Certain types of drugs should not be taken with other kinds of medications, including over-the-counter products. Taking two drugs that contain acetaminophen, such as Tylenol and certain pain medicines, can put a patient at risk of liver damage. Additionally, combining the anti-depressant fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) with the migraine drug sumatriptan (Imitrix) can cause a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome.
What can patients do to minimize medication errors?
Many medication errors are preventable. Here’s what patients can do to minimize their risk.
- Stay informed
Ask questions. When a doctor prescribes a medication, ask for the name and dosage. When you pick it up, make sure the drug name and dosage on the label matches what you were told.
- Keep your doctors and pharmacies updated on your current medications, including drug allergies
This information should include prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Provide updates of any medication changes or new allergies.
- Keep a list of your current medications in your purse, wallet or stored on your phone
Include over-the-counter products and any drug allergies. This can prevent dangerous mistakes if you are traveling or need emergency treatment.
- If possible, try to use only one pharmacy (or pharmacy chain)
If you have to use a different pharmacy due to travel or emergency, provide the pharmacist with a list of your medications and drug allergies.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a medication error, call us immediately. We will fight to hold the responsible parties accountable and win the compensation you and your family deserve.
Medical malpractice law is complicated, but finding the right lawyer is simple.
Call 1-800-MALPRACTICE today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/medication-errors/art-20048035