44,000 People Dead in the US Each Year From Prescription Drugs
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
June 28, 2007 4:19pm CST
Can you imagine how many people die around the world each year from prescription drug errors? And that doesn't include counterfeit drugs?
Here is a link to the story:
http://communati.com/main/more-44-000-us-citizens-die-every-year
I know drug errors do happen; my husband was on three meds for diabetes and they were getting ready to add insulin when we figured out that he needed fewer drugs and to eliminate aspartame from his diet. We threw out everything with aspartame from our house (so he wouldn't be tempted) and he now only needs 1/2 of 1 pill per day to keep his diabetes under control.
So, how about you, do you know anyone who has had a "prescription error"? Did they survive?
1 response
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Thank heavens I do not personally know anyone who has been unfortunate enough to have had the incorrect medicine although years ago when I was still taking medicine for high blood pressure I did get one prescription refill with the wrong dosage on it. I was glad I was very familiar with the correct dosage and that my doctor would not have changed it without telling me. I complained to the pharmacy and they blew it off as a typo. Needless to say I never used that pharmacy again.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Actually a pharmacy error should be reported to the state board. You can locate them on-line and usually file the complaint on-line also.
The pharmacy does NOT "blow it off" when the state licensing board comes down and starts asking questions.
I had told my pharmacist I had a bad reaction to aspirin and wanted to be sure a pain pill would be safe. He specifically said it would NOT be a problem. Well, I took one and within 15 minutes was having a reaction. When I checked the big sheet that is included with prescriptions it specifically said it should NOT be taken if you had ever had a reaction to aspirin. When I went back to the pharmacy he tried to say I did NOT tell him I had a problem with aspirin. I stormed out and contacted the state board. I got an apology from the store, a refund, and they got chewed out by the board and had to take "remedial training". I was OK, just inconvenienced and scared by the reaction; but, it could have been more serious for someone else.
