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[phorsenuf]

Definately report it!
I got a prescription one time, an antibiotic. I didn't recognize the name so when I got home I looked it up. It was a generic penicillan. I'm allergic to penicillan! I was pretty ticked and let them know it! I asked first though if I was flagged in their computer about the allergy and they said yes. Um, so why am I getting a generic?
I have such a medication phobia to begin with so that certainly didn't help!

I called the store and the pharmacy board. The pharmacy board did an investigation and sent me the findings report.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Honest mistake or not--I would still report it. That mistake could have the potential of being lethal depending on who they are dealing with.

Making the state board aware of what the pharmacy did--is a much better checks and balances that it won't happen again rather than trusting the pharmacist to handle it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Holy cow!!! I'm glad your daughter is ok.

Honost mistake? "We couldn't read it, so we just took a wild guess at what it was." That seems like the worst possible way to dispense medication. I would be finding a new pharmacy and fast!

My pharmacy is eh. The only real problem I have with them is the manager is an arrogant jerk. But not too long ago I was prescribed a new inhaler for my asthma and a part that goes with it. I give the guy my name and he comes back with a tiny bag of two medications in small pill bottles. He just rips off the little piece for me to sign and starts ringing it up. Now, my last name is 6 letters long beginning with a B. He gave me someones medication that started with a B but was a good 11 letters long that sounded nothing like my last name and the first names didn't even closely resemble each other. I tell him that I don't think that's mine. So I say my name again and he goes and gets the right prescription. No apology or anything. He didn't even seem phased that he almost gave me the wrong medication and I was the one who realized it.

 

[rcraw45425]

It happened to me just the other day with one of my prescriptions. Didn't open the bottle for a few days since it was a refill, then noticed that the pill looked completely different. DH (MD) said don't take it, call the pharmacist. I did, and described it to him. He told me it's another compound of the same drug, has additional Tylenol in it, don't take it, bring it back. I did, and he was very apologetic, don't hesitate to call me if you notice something different, etc. He was not the one that filled it, it was another pharmacist, but it still makes me feel strange. Luckily I have access to the walking PDR, but even he doesn't recognize every drug. Once my MIL was given a heart drug for her Xanax, which she takes a ton of. COuld have been deadly. All she got was an apology too.

 

[Brianne]

How scary for your DD.

We just went through this last night, but it was the DOCTOR that made the mistake! I have two sick kids right now & both are allergic to sulfa. Even though it's noted everywhere on their chart & the nurse confirmed it, the doctor prescribed them sulfa-based meds. It was the pharmacy that caught it, luckily.

It wasn't our regular doctor but the local walk-in clinic since our doctor's office was already closed. But we've had no problems with the clinic in the past so I don't know what the heck happened last night. I'd never use the clinic but my kids have the most wonderful sense of timing.

 

[Chicago526]

I'll have to tell this to DH. He takes several presciptions so the potential for a screw up is there. He is also allergic to penicilan, so in the future if he is ever given an antibiotic I'll be sure to look it up first before I let him take it!

We go to a Walgreens near our home and so far they've been great. But that can always change if they hire someone new!

 

[WDWMom]

I work as a pharmacy tech for a national chain. PT's fill all the Rx's and a pharmasist must verify it by actually looking at the script and the drug to make sure it matches. As a PT I would never just guess at the Dr.'s writing, In fact, we call dr's all the time to ask what they wrote. We also check the patient's history to see what they have taken in the past to see if it might match up.

I know mistakes can happen, but I would say that this should have been avoided by one phone call or checking your daughter's profile and history. I would definitely call the pharm board and make a complaint.

 

[CathrynRose]

This is a really really awesome website for recognizing pills. To make sure it's what you are supposed to have.... or if youre like me, figuring out what is what if you put them all in one pill holder in your purse.

Anyways - it's fabulous: http://www.wallsrx.com/services/cpident.cfm

You put in the pill size, color, shape, any markings, etc....

 

[Apothecary]

As a pharmacist, let me weigh in...

First of all. I am sorry that happened to your daughter. I hope she's okay.

Secondly, it was not "an honest mistake". An honest mistake is misreading messy handwriting and truly thinking you are giving the proper medication. Not being sure and hoping for the best is, well, malpractice. I have to call doctors on a daily basis, and on several occasions the patient has had to wait until the next day to get their prescription if I am unsure of what they wrote,and the doctor isn't available. The patient is usually pretty ticked off (mostly at me...but, cripes, I'm not the one who didn't care enough about your health to take 5 extra seconds to write legibly ) , but as my mentor used to say "When in doubt...don't".

As for pharmacy techs, yes they can input the prescription into the computer, count the pills and label the vials, but the pharmacist MUST check the prescription and vial to ensure that they did everything properly. Also, all pharmacy computer systems have drug-interaction programs that flag problems, and the tech must consult the pharmacist to see if the interaction is serious.

The pharmacy's handling of this was unprofessional. You are well within your rights to complain to the state licensing board.

Again, I hope your daughter is okay now.

 

[C.Ann]

As a pharmacist, let me weigh in...

First of all. I am sorry that happened to your daughter. I hope she's okay.

Secondly, it was not "an honest mistake". An honest mistake is misreading messy handwriting and truly thinking you are giving the proper medication. Not being sure and hoping for the best is, well, malpractice. I have to call doctors on a daily basis, and on several occasions the patient has had to wait until the next day to get their prescription if I am unsure of what they wrote,and the doctor isn't available. The patient is usually pretty ticked off (mostly at me...but, cripes, I'm not the one who didn't care enough about your health to take 5 extra seconds to write legibly ) , but as my mentor used to say "When in doubt...don't".

As for pharmacy techs, yes they can input the prescription into the computer, count the pills and label the vials, but the pharmacist MUST check the prescription and vial to ensure that they did everything properly. Also, all pharmacy computer systems have drug-interaction programs that flag problems, and the tech must consult the pharmacist to see if the interaction is serious.

The pharmacy's handling of this was unprofessional. You are well within your rights to complain to the state licensing board.

Again, I hope your daughter is okay now.

-----------------------------------

Yes - that's exactly the way I understood it should have taken place - the tech first, then the pharmacist.. What I find so irresponsible though is the fact that the doctors writing was legible enough for me to read - TRA does NOT look like NEF - so it was simply negligence on everyones part..