Pharmacy errors can be the result of any number of failures in the medication delivery system. More often than not, however, Maryland pharmacy errors are the result of human error. One of the most commonly cited causes of prescription drug errors is when a pharmacist provides a patient with a medication that has a similar name to the medication the patient was prescribed. In the pharmacy industry, these medications are referred to as look-alike sound-alike (LASA) drugs
According to the Food and Drug Administration, LASA medications are involved in about 41% of all fatal pharmacy errors. An example of two medications that are commonly mixed up and have been placed on the list of LASA medications are Aricept (a drug designed for Alzheimer’s disease), Azilect (an anti-depressant used to treat Parkinson’s disease), and Aciphex (a prescription used to treat acid reflux and stomach ulcers).
Of course, pharmacists have a duty to ensure that they are providing their patients with the correct medication in the right dose. Needless to say, when a pharmacist fails to fulfill that duty, a patient can be exposed to serious risks. In many cases, the symptoms of a pharmacy error are immediately evident; however, that it is not always the case. In some situations, it may take days, months, or even years to discover the extent of the harm caused by an error.
Woman Treated Dry Eyes with Erectile Dysfunction Cream after Pharmacy Gave Her the Wrong Medication
Recently, a woman was admitted to the hospital after she was the victim of a pharmacist’s mistake. According to a local news report, the woman was prescribed an eye lubricant by her physician after reporting chronic dry eye. The name of the medication prescribed was VitA-POS. However, when the woman went to fill the prescription, the pharmacist provided her with a drug called Vitaros, a medication designed to treat erectile dysfunction.
After applying the cream to her eyes, the woman suffered eye pain, blurred vision, and redness in and around her eye. She was admitted to the hospital where she was provided antibiotics and steroids, and her condition improved after a few days.
Experts reviewing the error explained that this type of error was especially unusual in that the erectile dysfunction cream was provided to the patient with instructions indicating she should apply it to her eye. The experts explained that usually, when the wrong medication is supplied to a patient, the pharmacist technician, pharmacist, or the patient would discover the error.
Have You Been the Victim of a Maryland Pharmacy Error?
If you or a loved one has recently been provided the wrong medication by a local or mail-order pharmacy, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for any injuries you sustained as a result of the error. The dedicated personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC have extensive experience handling Maryland pharmacy error cases and know what it takes to be successful on their clients’ behalves. To learn more, call 410-654-3600 to schedule your free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland Pharmacy Error Claims Based on a Manufacturer’s Failure to Provide Adequate Warnings, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, December 26, 2018.
Blood-Pressure Drug Recall May Put Maryland Patients at Risk, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, January 9, 2019.