Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
28 November 2010
18:3782136#1
Straight to the topic, I`ll tell you why I`ve been ill for nearly 2 weeks, still am but much better, as it can (but) shouldn`t happen to anyone. Since my op February 2009, I`ve been on two particular tablets, one for digestion and one for blood pressure (BP). I`ve made a good recovery and it`s been going smoothly. Three weeks ago, I collected my normal prescription from my regular pharmacy. I was on my last tablet on one of them, (always a last minute person me). Briefly, I started taking them and by the end of the week I was getting the odd headache, nothing unusual though not very often. The weekend was a nightmare, I was up most of the night as it was the best position to be in to avoid the pain. Even the pain killers started failing.Saw my GP the following Monday, who prescribed some other tablets, (nothing wrong with that) but it just went on through the week with a couple of hours sleep at night, and by Thursday and Friday I was ringing my consultant to try and get up there, (they are very busy at Kings so can`t criticise them, they`ve done great on me so far). Then last weekend it was unreal, and last Monday my daughter rushed me up to Buckland, who sent me on to Canterbury ITU. I had all my tablets with me, only three types. At Canterbury they put me in the MRI scanner (AHHHHHHHHHHH) and X-ray machine for tests. All okay. So what was causing my BP to reach 245 instead of 127? A nurse over Canterbury bless her discovered that one of the boxes of tablets I`d been issued with didn`t match the contents. I`d been issued with some other tablets causing the chaos instead of blood pressure tabs! These tablets I`m told are to be double checked and signed before packing so clearly more than one chemist hasn`t done their job right? Meanwhile, I`m now on 4 other tablets a day to get it all back to normal, still suffering having lost a few kgs. Do any other members have any similar happenings, or check the contents of tablet boxes even when the label clearly states the contents?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
28 November 2010
18:4782137#2
Hi Colin, glad to hear you're on the mend. I ALWAYS check my prescriptions when I get them from the surgery and when the tablets are handed over to me (comes from starting my career in drug toxicology), you get some funny looks sometimes but it's my body they are going in!
I've seen one set of my tablets be rejected when checked by the 2nd pharmacist as they were double the strength prescribed. It's especially necessary when your prescription is for a generic drug, my usual ones come in three different colours depending where the pharmacy can get them cheapest.
There was a similar post on here a couple of weeks ago, often comes down to the pharmacy splitting packs when a non standard number are prescribed.
28 November 2010
18:5782139#3
So who is accountable? It is outrageous that Colin (and anyone else who has experienced it) has to suffer because of someones negligence. This could have been much more serious if the nurse hadn't been vigilant. How many others have had this and it has gone unnoticed because it is too late and the meds not checked out after the event? This kind of sloppy practice, which has the potential to impact seriously, makes me mad.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
28 November 2010
19:1782145#4
As Bern says it is outrageous and thank goodness the nurse spotted the problem. I am fairly lucky that my tablets are fairly distinctive but you never know if there are other similar colours or shapes. Like Ray I also check mine and after your awful experience Colin will continue to do so.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
28 November 2010
19:2982147#5
colin
hard to believe such a thing can happen, the dispenser issues the drugs then the pharmacist checks them thoroughly.
even so i do the same as ray and open the packets when i get home and check that the blister packs are the same as the outer.
the chemists will be hauled over the coals on this one, the hospital will have notified the disciplinary board on something so serious.
all the best for your continued recovery.
28 November 2010
19:4182152#6
I hope they have notified them.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
28 November 2010
19:4882153#7
Yes indeed Bern/Howard, I have a letter to deliver tomorrow to my GP from the hospital, and of course with all whats happened, a cause has to be found. I deal everyday with my wife`s diabetes tablets, 7 different one`s, but I place them into little pots one weeks worth at a time so she never runs out. You get used to the same ones all the time. Thanks Ray, have to meet up sometime mate.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
28 November 2010
20:1382162#8
My tablets all seem to be a different make or colour each time I get them, so like to made sure the quantity and strength are the correct ones. Have handed them back before when incorrect.
Glad you are ok.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
28 November 2010
20:1482164#9
Oh Colin what a complete and utter nightmare. I am so sorry you had to go through that on top of everything else. Thank God you are ok; I've been worried about you. I hope you get to the bottom of what happened and yes, I will be more vigilant with tablets in the future.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
28 November 2010
20:3182171#10
WELCOME back mate.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
28 November 2010
20:3882174#11
Glad to see you`re back with us Jeane, you were suffering for a while. Lets hope its the last for all. Thank you very much Ian, and there was a post of yours I was going to comment on the other week. I`ll have a look back tomorrow. Thank you Pauline also, yes our tablets vary in colouur and size depending on which company produced them. Some are are very hard to get out.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
28 November 2010
20:5482176#12
Colin .. a different tack, but did you take your avatar picture on the 2nd Nov out at the Abbey? Believe I was out there at the same time taking pictures.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
28 November 2010
21:0082178#13
pauline, it may be that the pharmacist likes to dispense generic drugs when they are available(cheaper) but sometimes has to dish out the brand name, hence the different colours.
28 November 2010
22:4682181#14
Yes, your right Howard, it probably is that, but it can get confusing sometimes, that's why I make sure I check them every time.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
29 November 2010
10:2582213#15
Years ago I was given some tablets which were double the strength intended, luckily I contacted the pharmacist before taking any. You have got to be so vigilant.
With my wheat and maize intolerance I have to check ingredients of ALL medicines as well as other foods, as maize or corn starch as it is sometimes called, is added to all sorts of things as a bulking agent, no doubt they could add rice starch or potato starch, but maize is much cheaper. Sometimes, as has been said, the pharmacist or doctor will change tablets for a cheaper brand so you have to check it again before taking, and also maize may be in one but not the other!
About 3 years ago I went to Canterbury Hospital A and E with bad rash, saw a junior doctor and filled in a form giving details of the maize/corn and wheat intolerance and said to him I can't have any medicines with maize in. On that occasion I didn't check the ingredients as I had asked him to make sure. After taking the first tablet at home, I almost passed out, and discovered it contained maize! Phoned hospital and they asked if I wanted to make an official complaint, I said no,but they did tell the junior doctor (who looked very young and as if it was his first job). I don't think enough notice these days is taken of allergies and intolerances and no doubt quite a lot of errors happen because of it.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
29 November 2010
10:3882216#16
Good you were OK Kath, that doctor learnt a powerful lesson early in his career that might save lives in future.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
29 November 2010
11:1082217#17
Goodness Kath.
I'm allergic to penicillin but was given some whilst I was in hospital recently. Thankfully I don't have a severe reaction but I do have a reaction. I had the red warning bracelet on and one of the nurses said to me, "Make sure you show it to the staff and check they are not giving you penicillin". Err hello....I was drifting in and out of consciousness - the idea of the red bracelet is for the staff to double check!!
29 November 2010
11:3282219#18
There are so many "near misses" that go unrecorded. There was a splash on tv news recently about the thousands of recorded incidents - my guess is there are tens of thousands that go unrecorded because they don't kill anyone. It is, to repeat, outrageous that the most basic of care principles are ignored.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
29 November 2010
11:4282222#19
jeane,likewise with penicillin but unforetetly i havent the red warning braclet.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
29 November 2010
12:4082230#20
Brian I don't wear a medical bracelet or pendant (although now thinking maybe I should.) It was just a red plastic one that the hospital issued along with my name tag one.