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Most Common Medication Errors at Pharmacies
A recent article published by MedicineNet.com is here to help you try to avoid common medication errors. Approximately 1.3 million people are injured annually in the United States following so-called "medication errors" according to The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention.
In a study by the FDA that evaluated reports of fatal medication errors from 1993 to 1998, the most common error involving medications was related to administration of an improper dose of medicine, accounting for 41% of fatal medication errors. Giving the wrong drug and using the wrong route of administration each accounted for 16% of the errors. Almost half of the fatal medication errors occurred in people over the age of 60. Many of these occur to older patients at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
So what can you do to help prevent medication errors? When your doctor gives you a prescription, ask him or her to tell you the name of the drug, the correct dosage, and what the drug is used for. Be sure you understand the directions for any medications you may be taking including the correct dosage, storage requirements, and any special instructions. Also, be sure to tell your doctor the names of all the prescription and non-prescription drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal preparations you are taking to avoid any dangerous interactions.