Posted by Larry Hoover on June 9, 2003, at 18:20:33
In reply to An important lesson learned, posted by maxime on June 9, 2003, at 16:21:24
> Hi all. I have a story to tell that we can learn from.
>
> I went to the pharmacy today to pick up my new prescription for lamictal that my doctor gave me last week.
>
> When I got home, I realised the pills were white and the pills I had been taking were pink. The new white pills did say Lamictal on them.
>
> I knew the name was different on the pink pills but I thought they were a generic version of Lamictal because it started with "apo" which indicates a generic brand.
>
> Turns out I have been talking Trimipramine Maleate, a trycyclic antidepressant.That is a bizarre error. The brand name for trimipramine, Surmontil, isn't even close to Lamictal, unless your doctor's handwriting is atrocious.
> Now I am already on an MAOI - Parnate. Last week I was having heart palpatations and severe nausea. I thought it was the Parnate.
>
> Parnate and Trimipramine shouldn't be taken together.The same pharmacy provided both?
> I called the pharmacy and they looked up their records and said trimipramine is what the doctor prescribed.
>
> I have called the doctor and left a message for her. I know mistakes can happen, but I do want her to know that a mistake has happened.
> I am angry at the doctor but I am more angry at myself. I should have checked out the name of the drug on the internet when I first got it. It would have only taken a few minutes.I know that taking personal responsibility for meds is important, but one shouldn't have to double check everything, all the time.
A few years ago, I was prescribed 10 micrograms of levothyroxine (the thyroid hormone, T4) as an augment to my antidepressant. Turns out there is no such dose, the smallest being 25 mcg. Without checking with the prescribing doctor, the pharmacist "corrected the error" to 100 mcg. I didn't catch this myself, and I was about 18 days into thyroid overdose before I figured out what was wrong.
Stuff happens, ya know? I hope you're not too pissed at yourself. It wasn't your mistake, even though you didn't catch it.
> I am angry because I have been having mixed states like crazy and feeling suicidal. I was wondering when I would feel an effect from the lamictal. So now I have to start over at the 12.5 mg.
>
> I know it's good that I figured out the error etc., but I have been taking the wrong med since April. I feel like I am now two months behind on way to feeling better.You're wiser in a way that could not be taught to you.
> Also, I could have a bad side effect to the real lamictal and not be able to take it all. Sigh.That's always a possibility, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, 'kay?
> From now on I am checking everything.
I do....now.
> So be careful out there, OK? Check the bottles of the meds when you are starting a new one. Make sure you know what it is suppose to look like, especially if the med is available in a generic form.
>
> Be careful out there!
>
> maximeThanks for sharing your story with everybody. It's an important lesson, just as you said in the subject line.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:232686
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030609/msgs/232714.html