Ask questions about medications
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/editorial/letters/2014-12-08/ask-questions-about-medications
From article:
Recently, I visited a walk-in clinic for pinched nerves. After informing the doctor of the medications I take on a daily basis, he inadvertently prescribed a drug that was not compatible with my medication.
The pharmacist filled the prescription and I was on my way — without asking questions. This error should have been caught by the pharmacist.
When I went back to get the prescription refilled, the pharmacist informed me that it was similar to Advil — an OTC drug I cannot take because it may cause bleeding when combined with my regular prescribed medication.
The doctor and pharmacist failed to recognize the drug interaction and I failed to ask questions.
According to the Institute of Medicine, medication errors account for approximately one out of 131 outpatient and one out of 854 inpatient deaths. Wake up doctors, pharmacists and patients!
I have since learned that we can significantly reduce the risk of medication error by asking questions such as, “What is the dose; what are the side effects and will this drug interact with my existing medications?”
So, ask questions and be involved. You may be your only safeguard from medication errors.
Doug Brown
Thunder Bay
Filed under: General Problems
It was a hassle to count every pill in every prescription every time I filled them, but that needs to be done also. I reported when the count was less, and when it was more. Sometimes the pharmacist would work to correct errors; sometimes not.