PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

Please do not move this even though its health related. Parents need to read this.

I know people are human and errors are made, but when I go to a respectable pharmacy to get my child's medicine, I'm essentially entrusting them with my child's life...that they will not make errors that could potentially harm my child.

Yesterday DS was diagnosed with pink eye and an ear infection. We got a few scripts to clear this up, which I dropped off at our local CVS. One of them was for an antibiotic that could cause stomach upset (Zithromax) so I told DH to give him the meds after dinner. DH called me at work and said there must have been some mistake because there is no way the amount they gave us could last us 4 more days. I told him to call CVS and talk to them. They told him that no, everything was fine and if we run out to just come back and they will give us more. They re-assured him and he gave the meds to DS, which DS spit out some of it.

When we got home tonight I went to get the meds to give them to DS and I knew something wasnt right. The meds were so thick and there was barely anything left. I asked DH if he got the dose right yesterday and he explained back to me exactly what he did which was correct. So before giving anything to DS I called back and INSISTED: SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. The pharmacist told me to bring it in. They took one look at it and they agreed, something was not right. He measured it and even had his collegue look at it, who said it was like gell. Evidently the pharmacist who filled the script did not dilute the meds and just gave us concentrated medication...to give a 1 year old. The pharmacist gave me a new bottle and assured me that the most that would happen would be diarreah, which he does not have. I welled up with tears looked at the pharmacist and said "but what if this didnt happen with zithromax. what if this happened with something more toxic? It was given to him before bed!". The pharmacist (who wound up being the head pharmacist in the store) told me that this will be brought up to his boss (after I gave a description of who filled the perscription).

I left the store with a zillion what ifs. Thats my baby!!!

I am sincerely greatful that it wasnt toxic and that DS spit out some of the medicine. I told DH that if something like that ever happened again to trust his instinct and just dont give it.

Please, look carefully at your kids meds...your meds too. An innocent error could result in tragedy. If something doesnt seem right or if the dosing doesnt add up to whats in the bottle, look into it.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

Thank GOD your DS is ok I will always keep this in the back of my mind when DD gets her first prescription. UGH, I know it is human error but people need to be more careful. It reminds me of what happened to Dennis Quaid's twins when they were born. They were given an ADULT dose of medicine and almost died. Poor babies

Message edited 12/16/2010 9:51:43 PM.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

I am usually a luker but I had to respond to this post.

In my son's first 20 months of this life, THREE prescriptions were filled incorrectly. One from CVS where they completely filled the bottle with the wrong prescription. Thank goodness it was not a prescription that could of killed him.

The second time was from a "mom and pop" drugstore. They filled the prescription with DOUBLE the dose! Thank goodness I learned from the first time and double and triple check the meds / dosage of everthing.

The third time was from Rite Aid. Again, prescription filled with double the dosage prescriped.

My Ped told me that it happens to more people then you realize and to double and triple check all prescriptions. He said that usually they put the right meds in the bottle but the wrong dose. Unforuntately, I've had both happen to us. I tell EVERYONE I know to check ALL their prescriptions.

Glad to hear everything is ok with your son.

Happy Holidays!

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

That is just ridiculous. I am so glad your son is okay.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

That is so scary. I have had problems at CVS also. I always double check.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

Ive had something similar happen with DS years ago at CVS when he was an baby. We picked up meds.....stronger than antibiotics and I read the bag and it matched his prescription but bc Im super paranoid I also read the bottle......the bottle was the medicine it was supposed to be, but it was another adults prescription so the dosage was MUCH higher dosage.

Thank god both of our children are OK! Always go with your gut and triple check your labels, on the bag, on the bottle, check the pills themselves if you can!

here is when it happened to me, and CVS was barely apologetic for it.

http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?&P=1&ID=424306&Highlight=cvs#P5111151

Im so glad you caught it, followed your instincts and that your DS is OK!!!!!!!!!

Message edited 12/16/2010 10:15:50 PM.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

this freaks me out.

I'm so glad everything is ok

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

OMG! Thank goodness he is ok!

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

As for human error, there is no place for it when dealing with peoples lives. I understand that they make mistakes, thats not the issue for me,......the issue is that there should be some kind of checks and balances in place so 3 people need to review the script before its handed over and that someone else can catch the error, bc these things do happen.

I deal with stupid non life altering printed materials at work and there needs to be FOUR signatures of review on a piece of art before it goes out to print and then one more from the printers proof before it actually prints. If it can be done for a brochure, it should be done for a prescription.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

thank you for posting. I am a very naive person and I never would have even thoughts to double check. Now I will

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

So very scary! Im glad your DS is OK.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

I'm sorry you are going through this and glad that your DS is ok. Without you providing a description of the pharmacist, they still will know who filled your child's prescription. By law, Pharmacists need to sign each prescription after it has been filled so they will know who filled it.
It's so important to check the medicine and also to listen when the doctor is giving you the dosage and what it is so that later on when you go to the pharmacy, you will be able to have a better sense.
Hope your DS feels better soon.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

i am so sorry u had to go thru this.. glad ur ds is ok

we were with cvs for years but the main pharmacist that we really liked transfered to another location.. we switched to another pharmacy bc sinc that pharmacist left we always had our medication messed up.. once i understand a mess up , twice possibly..

i switched after speaking to ds ped who confirmed he had many of his patients have problems with that particular cvs filling scripts... the dosage amount for ab was awalys wrong.

i even had a script of clomid filled(which was supposed to be 15 pills) but was given 50 pills instead

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

OMG, first off I am so happy your child is OK.

Second off, I'd think about taking further actions, for sure! I am SUPRISED no other posters have posted this yet!

I'd LOVE some FM's of people who posted bad things about certain CVS's. I want to know if it's mine!

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

I've had it happen to me when I was sick with an infection & nursing. I was given something that I specifically was told not to take by the doctor because I was breastfeeding.

It was a mom & pop shop.

I just found this for those that encounter repeated issues:

How to Resolve Complaints

If you believe your pharmacist or pharmacy is in violation of the New York State Drug Compliance Law by ignoring your doctor’s prescription orders or filling them incorrectly; not offering counseling services; or failing to maintain your medication profile, you can file a complaint with:

New York State Education Department
Office of Professional Discipline
475 Park Avenue South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10016-6901
(212) 951-6400

If the large blue drug-price poster is missing from your pharmacist’s prescription counter area, call 311. Be sure you know the name of the pharmacy and its correct street address.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

That's creazy! I'm glad that he's ok!!

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

That is scary. Thank God he is okay!!

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

Thank God DC is ok . This is why I switched to a family owned private pharmacy. I really feel a difference over the chains. Anyone could make a mistake, but it is like the difference between living in a small town or big city. We have known our pharmacist for years. He is like part of our family, just like the pediatrician.

Re: PLEASE READ. Look carefully at your child's prescription meds and trust your instincts

I'm sorry this happened.
I'm a pharmacist and I always encourage my patients to double check their meds. I even tell them to open it in the store and check it if they want to.
I'm human as area all pharmacists and sadly we haven't found a way to reduce human error and with the state of the economy we are working with less help and more pressure which opens the door for even more errors.
You advice. If something doesn't seem right call and ask or bring it in person. The worst is that it all checks out and is fine but better safe than sorry.