When you go to a pharmacy to fill a prescription, you rely on your pharmacist to get things right -- but that doesn't always happen. Anything from a misread prescription to a bottle filled with the wrong pills can end up causing you devastating injuries.
Is there anything you can do to protect yourself? Absolutely! Here are the best ways to protect yourself against pharmacy mistakes:
1. Check your prescription when the doctor hands it to you.
Is the prescription typed or handwritten? Many doctors' offices now use computers to print their prescriptions, which greatly reduces the chance that a pharmacist will misread the name or dosage. However, you should always check to see if the prescription is clear and says what you expect it to say. If you aren't sure of the name of the drug or dosage you're supposed to receive, ask.
2. Examine the medication bottle when you receive it from the pharmacist.
Knowing the medication you're supposed to receive is only half the battle. You also need to check the label of the bottle that the pharmacist hands you.
You need to watch out for "look-alike and sound-alike" drugs, or drugs that have similar names and can be confused with each other when someone -- like your pharmacist -- is in a hurry. For example, Lamictal and Lamisil are sometimes inadvertently confused -- to disastrous results.
You also need to check the generic name of any drug you are given at the pharmacy against the brand name of the drug that your doctor may have used. Pharmacies often substitute generics for what is written on a prescription because insurance companies demand the substitution of a cheaper alternative. For example, the sleep aid Ambien's generic name is "zolpidem tartrate." If you have been given a generic, check to make certain it's the drug you are expecting.
3. Don't let your guard down when you get refills.
A lot of pharmacy errors happen when patients get refills. Patients are usually less cautious about a prescription they've taken many times before -- but you can't afford to be complacent. Every time you pick up a refill of your prescription, examine the pills and make sure that they look the same. If there is any change in their size, shape, color, or identifying marks, look for a label on the bottle to see if the pharmacist notifies you that the drug manufacturer made the changes. If there isn't a notice on the bottle, don't take the pills until you contact your pharmacist to make sure that they are the right drug!
Pharmacy errors can leave you very injured -- and they can happen despite your best efforts at preventing them. If you're injured due to a pharmacy error, talk to a personal injury attorney right away.
Share11 September 2018
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