Wrong Doses In Medications

Whether you are taking medication for a sports injury or an illness, receiving the wrong dose can be life threatening. Accurate dosage calculation and carrying out doctors' orders are essential skills in any health care setting because any error can cause a patient serious harm. You can receive the wrong dose of a medication in any health care setting or from your pharmacist, and it is important that you verify that the right medication and dose are provided.

Hospital Statistics

According to the Institute for Medication Management website, medication errors are estimated to account for about 7,000 deaths in the United States annually, and approximately 770,000 patients are injured each year because of medication errors. Several studies indicate that more than 50 percent of errors are associated with injectible medications, and medication errors are estimated to occur at a rate of about 5 percent among patients going into and out of hospitals. The U.S. is not unique when it comes to medication problems. Information shows that medication problems occur all over the world.

Other Types of Errors

Medication problems can occur at home because of wrong information or human error. A missed medication dose can lead to severe health problems. Too little or too much of a medication can cause problems as well, and different medications can produce negative reactions if taken together. An expired medication can be ineffective or dangerous, and taking the wrong medication or taking it the wrong way can be dangerous.

Prevention

According to PDRhealth, when you receive a new medication from a health care professional, ask what the medication is for, who prescribed it, how often you will take it and about standard side effects. Also read the name on any bag of IV fluid you receive and make sure your health care provider checks your ID bracelet or asks for your name before giving you medication. Tell your care provider, if you are in a health care setting, if you don't receive a medication you think you were supposed to get, or that a medication is wrong. Make sure you tell someone immediately if you don't feel well after taking a medication dose.

Your Rights

You have the right to bring your own medication to a health care setting -- just tell your care provider so it knows to look at what medications you take and so you don't take one of your medications that may have a negative reaction with a new medication that is prescribed. You also have a right to see your chart, which might answer some of your medication questions.