Tips on Avoiding Pharmacy Errors
Posted on Oct 8, 2009 2:08pm PDT
After people have visited their doctors and obtained prescriptions, or even caught the common cold and need over the counter drugs, they will go to their local pharmacist to pick up their medicine. Pharmacists across the country are literally responsible for filling millions of prescriptions and distributing countless over the counter medicines each year.
While giving people medicines, whether prescriptive or non-prescriptive, pharmacists must be careful or they may make errors. When pharmacists make mistakes filling prescriptions or advising people on how to take their medications, it is called a pharmacy error. Pharmacy errors have been known to cause injury, harmful side effects and in some unfortunate cases, even death.
In order to protect yourself from a pharmacy error, it is important that you take extra precautions. Below are a few tips that may help you avoid a pharmacy error and devastating after-effects:
- Always know the name of your prescription medication. Check the label on the bottle or packaging of your prescription to make sure the right name is present.
- Always know the dosage you are supposed to be taking. Discuss dosage and instructions with your pharmacist.
- If you are about to take a new medication, discuss the dosage and side effects with your doctor before filling your prescription. Also take note of the drug's name and what it looks like.
If you would like to learn more about pharmacy errors or if you have been a victim of a pharmacy error,
click here to find a medical malpractice attorney near you!