A prescription drug mix up is not as uncommon as some people may think. With so many medications that look alike and sound the same, pharmacy errors could happen. However, this preventable type of negligence could lead to compensation if you or a loved one were seriously injured. Contact a Kentucky law firm if you need help determining the validity of your claim.
Medications That May Lead to a Prescription Drug Mix Up
The list of medications that look or sound alike is extensive. However, there are practices that can be implemented that may reduce the chance of a mix up, such as providing the generic name along with the prescription name or including the purpose of the drug directly on the prescription.
Here are some examples, published by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, of drugs that look and/or sound alike:
- Actonel – Actos;
- Celebrex – Cerebyx;
- Mirapex – Miralax;
- Paxil – Plavix; and
- Viagra – Allegra.
Prescriptions that are called in or even written with illegible handwriting could make distinguishing between drugs that look or sound alike difficult. This is why doctors and pharmacists must exercise extreme caution when dealing with prescription drugs. Contact a Kentucky law firm at 1-888-450-4456 if you believe a drug malpractice in KY led to your injuries.
Protecting Yourself from a Prescription Drug Mix Up
There are ways you can help protect yourself from a mix up with your medication. One way is to know the difference between pills, capsules and tablets. The FDA is required by law to make sure they are unique so that the drug can be identified easily.
Another way to protect yourself is to make sure your prescription contains important contact and identifying information. When anything is missing or if you have questions about the information, you should always ask.