Rx Reminder to parents

[isyne4u]

This is not a vent or a rant, rather it is a warning to us all to be ever mindful of the medications we get for our children.

My five month old has reflux and takes Zantac for it. It is a foul smelling and tasting liquid that reminds me of scope and peppermint schnaps. Well, we got it refilled the other day and when I gave it to the baby I noticed that it had a bubble gum type of smell and it didn't taste bad. I went ahead and gave it to the baby assuming it was just another version. I still had some of the last rx left so I was giving that one part of the time so that I could finish it up before I gave him the new stuff on a regular basis. So today I was talking to my mom, who watches him during the day, and we were discussing the different flavor of the medicine. He takes it without a hassel and seems to enjoy it. That is when the lightbulb went off in my head that maybe this was the wrong prescription, maybe he was gettin something totally wrong. I called the pharmacy and asked her if the formula had changed, she told me it hadn't and that I should bring it back so she could check it to see what it was.

I went back this evening and she immediately handed me a new prescription and said that the one I was given was Zyrtec liquid. Thank goodness the only thing it had done was make him sleep more (I thought he was going through a growth spurt)

So the moral of the story is if your child's medicine smells different and/or tastes different immediately check with the pharmacy. I should have done that the day I noticed it was different, but I didn't. Thank goodness it was not something that could hurt him.

Oh, and the pharmacy apologized and explained that the day they filled my prescription they were also filling another child's prescription for Zyrtec and that both containers were on the counter at the same time.

tara

 

[laurie31]

An excellent warning!

Many drug have similar names and pharmacists are only human. Never be afraid to double check your medications!!

I wonder if the child who needed Zyrtec got your Zantac?

And thank goodness your child wasn't harmed!!!

Laurie

 

[isyne4u]

I wondered the same thing about the poor kid that was getting the Zyertec!!!

I'm warning everyone I know about double checking their kids medicines!! I feel so guilty that I didn't call them the day I noticed the mix up. I just called his pediatrician to make sure that he wasn't harmed (I'm sure he wasn't, but I want to feel better about it!!)

tara

 

[piglet too]

Been there and done that unfortunatly. I was lucky to call right away though, since the mix-up could have been bad if she had taken it. Some told me that we should have sued, but nothing happened so I could not see it. Thanks for the warning, it truly is an important one!!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Nice reminder. I like that they put a description of the med on the bottles now. I am glad your little one was okay!

 

[Piglet]

I totally agree with you, but wanted to add - to make sure and check also in Hospitals & ER's and question anything that doesn't seem right.

DD was in the hospital for a stomach bug about 1 1/2 years ago and they were giving her some antibiotic (Zithromax) for an infection they suspected she had. The ER gave her a dose before we were sent to a room and we had the same nurse for 2 days after that we come to find out was giving her 3 times the amount she was prescribed to get. We didn't realize it until a new nurse came in with a smaller amount in the cup and I questioned it. The other nurse had read the prescription wrong and the pharmacy didn't catch it as to why she ordered more meds for her.

It caused my DD to have horrible stomach pains and diahrrea. She ended up being in the hospital for 5 days longer than she would have needed to be.

Now I always ask, if I question anything. (By the way the nurse was fired for it)

Melinda

 

[ennazus]

I'm glad there wasn't a serious consequence! Thank you for the reminder!

 

[MAC3]

Thank God your child wasn't allergic to it. Thanks for the warning although mine is much older, that is still a very serious oops.

 

[ahutton]

A bit OT - but my DD had reflux also. Zantac helped but didn't help enough to make a difference. Our ped switched her to Prilosec - it tasted so much better and she took it with no trouble. It also helped 1000 times better than Zantac did. Just something to keep in mind if you find Zantac not doing all it could or your cutie pie starts to refuse to take it.

 

[isyne4u]

Originally posted by ahutton
A bit OT - but my DD had reflux also. Zantac helped but didn't help enough to make a difference. Our ped switched her to Prilosec - it tasted so much better and she took it with no trouble. It also helped 1000 times better than Zantac did. Just something to keep in mind if you find Zantac not doing all it could or your cutie pie starts to refuse to take it.

The zantac does work, thank goodness! When he isn't nursing we put it in the bottle so that he takes it with the milk. The only time we have problems is when we give it straight after I've nursed. We had them add grape flavor in the past and that masks some of the bitterness and he takes that one a little better.

Piglet...oh my gosh, I can't imagine that happening in the hospital. That is sooo scary. I'm glad your dd is alright now!

tara

 

[Pin Wizard]

So glad your son is okay!!

That's a major slip up! They should have steps in place so that they check and recheck before it reaches your hands. Having worked in a hospital 8 years, medication errors is a huge concern. They could take up a committee all by themselves.

 

[liznboys]

Yikes, how scary! I'm glad it wasn't a big deal. We get a lot of prescriptions around here, thanks for the reminder.