How to Avoid Medication Errors

Pritzker | Ruohonen, a premier Minnesota personal injury law firm, has recovered millions for injured people. Medication errors happen frequently and can cause serious injury or death. If you or a family member has been injured or killed as a result of a medication error, contact an attorney at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation. You can call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mail Minnesota attorney Fred Pritzker at info@pritzkerlaw.com or fill out the online, attorney-consultation form

Tips on How to Avoid Medication Errors

Keep a list of all medications. The list of medications should include prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, medicinal herbs and other substances you take for health reasons. This list should also note the reasons you are taking each product and any drug and food allergies you have. Take your list with you every time you visit a doctor and have him or her review it. Review the list with your pharmacist as well.
Learn about your prescription. Make sure you know the name and strength of the medication you are prescribed. Understand why you are taking a medication and learn whether this purpose is a typical purpose for the medication. Clarify any questions you have regarding the prescribed method for taking the medication and how long you should use it. Know the potential side effects of the drug and ask how your should respond if you experience them. If you are taking other drugs or health products, notify your prescribing physician and inquire whether there are any dangers related to taking the new medicine with your existing drugs. Similarly, ask if you should avoid certain food, beverages or activities while using the medication.
Make sure written prescriptions are legible. When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to read it either. Don’t be afraid to ask for a more neatly printed copy.
Verify that the pharmacy received the correct prescription. If your prescription was sent electronically to the pharmacy, make sure the name of the drug (brand or generic) and the directions for use received at the pharmacy are the same as those written down by your doctor. Pay particular attention to the spelling and dosage of the medication that you receive. Many medications sound alike and are spelled similarly. Also, minor typos or misread digits can create a significant difference in dosage. Make sure that any refills you receive are correct as well.
Keep records. Most pharmacists provide their patients with written information regarding their prescriptions. If the pharmacist did not provide written information about the medication, ask for it and keep it for future reference. If possible, fill all your prescriptions at the same pharmacy so that all of your records are in one place.
Inspect the medication you are given by your pharmacist. Look at the medication’s appearance: color, shape, markings. Smell it. Does it look or smell differently? Does it smell very unpleasant? If it is liquid, is the amount in the tube, vial, or syringe the amount you expected? If your medication is in pill form, is the number more or less than expected? Do the directions on the bottle differ from the directions provided by your doctor?
Use caution when taking medication at home. Read the bottle's label every time you take a medication to avoid mistakes. In the middle of the night, you could mistake ear drops for eye drops or accidentally give your older child's medication to the baby if you are not careful. Use the measuring device that comes with the medicine, not spoons from the kitchen drawer. If you take multiple medications and have trouble keeping them straight, use containers with sections for daily doses.
If you are hospitalized, have a family member or friend help you monitor your medication use whenever possible. You may not always be capable of taking the appropriate error-prevention measures on your own. By having a friend or family member available, you may exercise your right to have a surrogate present to monitor the administration of your medications when you cannot. You and your surrogate can work together to be informed of the purpose of each medication you take and the appropriate medication procedures to observe before and after a surgery. For example, a doctor may require that you take a prescription antibiotic before a surgery. Conversely, you may be advised to stop taking certain drugs preoperatively. At discharge, ask for a list of the medications that you should be taking at home. Have a doctor or hospital pharmacist review this list with you and be sure you understand how these medications should be taken.

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