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.
