From mixing up the names of drugs, to problems reading a doctor's handwriting, to pulling the wrong drug off the shelf, there are a number of ways your prescription can get mixed up at the pharmacy, resulting in medication errors for you.
Here are some ways to make sure you receive the right medication:
- Be sure you have had a comprehensive conversation with your doctor about what is being prescribed, what the dosage is, how often you will take it, what it will look like and what you can expect from taking the drug.
- If the doctor's office plans to phone in your prescription to the pharmacy, ask for a written copy, too. You'll want to review it with the staff to be sure it covers the same prescription your doctor has described. Once you get to the pharmacy, a written copy will help you confirm they are giving you the right drug.
- Included in your review with the doctor should be questions about any abbreviations or acronyms the doctor uses on the written prescription. Between difficulty reading the doctor's handwriting, and the difficulty created by Latin and Greek based initials, it's easy to be confused.
- Limit the number of pharmacies you do business with. You might try using one mail-order pharmacy for any drugs you take every day or on a regular basis over a long period of time. Choose a local pharmacy for any shorter0term drugs that you will only need for a few days or weeks. This way the records at the two pharmacies can easily be compared, saving you from a potential drug conflict or reaction.
- You'll have an opportunity to discuss your prescription with your pharmacist, so be prepared for that conversation. Take your current medication and supplement list when you pick up your order. It will be an opportunity to double check the potential for problems with the pharmacist.
- When you are offered the opportunity to speak to the pharmacist, take it. Ask the pharmacist to confirm what the drug is and why you are supposed to take it.
- Usually your prescription will be handed to you, already bagged and ready to go. Before you leave the pharmacy, open the bag, and check to be sure your name is on the bottle or box. Then open the container and look at the drug and make sure it looks the way the doctor described it to you.
- Read the label and make sure it says what you expect it will based on the information your doctor gave you. The label should bear your name, the name of the drug, the dosage, the frequency you take it, whether or not it should be taken with food or liquids (or not) and other pieces of information such as whether you will get drowsy or you should avoid alcohol.
- If there are any discrepancies, ask to speak with the pharmacist. A discrepancy does not necessarily indicate a problem. For example, you may have been given a generic drug in place of a branded drug. In many states, that is expected and not unusual.
- Ask the pharmacist about refills. If you'll need refills, what is the best way to request them, and how long will it take to get them? You'll also want to know how long your new supply will last.
One last piece of advice, related to your cost. If there are questions about generics vs branded drugs, be sure you get what you pay for. Your copays for generic drugs should be less than those for a name brand drug. Ask the pharmacist or the technician to explain to you which one you are paying for. Then when you get your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance company, it will make be easier to reconcile your billing.
Once you get home, inspect the drug carefully. It's a fact of life that our drug supply isn't always safe. You may be surprised to learn that counterfeit and poorly manufactured drugs can sometimes make it into a pharmacy's supply of drugs it sells to patients. The packaging may look odd (even spelling errors) or the manufacturer's label may not be put on correctly. The smell or taste or color of a drug you have taken for a long time may seem odd to you. If you find any type of discrepancy at all, then do not hesitate to return the drug to the pharmacy and ask questions.
Double checking your prescriptions first with your doctor, then with your pharmacist are both good steps toward making sure you get the right drugs for your medical challenges.
From there, you just need to be sure to comply with the instructions you doctor has given you to ensure your best chance for improving your health.
