Most Common Drugs Involved in Medication Errors
It is estimated that around two-thirds of Americans are on at least one medication, and up to half of adults take two or more drugs to manage health conditions. Mistakes are common from the point of prescribing to taking a medication, with statistics indicating that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives more than 100,000 reports every year of medication errors. These mishaps occur in Florida hospitals, clinics, assisted living, pharmacies, and patient homes, so almost anyone can be affected.
The FDA defines a medication error as a preventable event that leads to improper drug use or patient harm, and these mistakes could be related to any of the thousands of prescription and over-the-counter medications. However, there are certain drugs that tend to be the subject of mistakes more often than others. It is important to discuss your circumstances with a Tampa medication errors attorney if you suffered harm due to any of the following:
- Insulin: You might be surprised to learn that the top error-prone medication is a fundamental part of treatment for diabetics. Mistakes with administration typically involve confusing products with similar packaging, which contain formulas that affect the patient in different ways. There are also generic products that have similar names, and some errors are related to the dosage.
- Morphine: Almost all opioids are included in this category of medications that are often involved with adverse events. Aside from overprescribing or prescribing opioids when unnecessary, mistakes include:
Mistakes with brand names for different versions of opioids;
Grabbing the wrong drug from a community pharmacy where opioids are stored together; and,
Errors with concentrations of morphine.
- Acetaminophen: This drug is often at the core of medication errors because it is present in so many combinations that aim to cover a patient’s multiple needs. Health care providers need to pay close attention to the amounts that are compounded into the mixture, because acetaminophen can cause serious liver problems.
- Albuterol: In patients with asthma, albuterol is a powerful rescue medication for preventing serious attacks, emergency care, and hospitalization. It can cause nervousness, anxiety, shakiness, and irregular heartbeat. However, some people are allergic to albuterol and can suffer severe reactions. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical intervention.
- Warfarin: This medication is a blood thinner that is very effective in treating and reducing the risk of blood clots. Improper administration can result in too much, meaning the patient could suffer from heavy, excessive bleeding if injured. Warfarin is also to be avoided for certain patients before undergoing surgery because of the threat of bleeding out.
Our Florida Medication Errors Lawyers Will Explain Legal Details
Though these are the drugs that are most likely to be involved in medication mistakes, there are many others. You may have remedies under Florida medical malpractice laws, so please contact Greco & Wozniak P.A. to learn more about them. You can reach our offices in Tampa, FL by calling 813.223.7849, or visit our website to schedule a free consultation with a medication errors attorney.
