A pharmacy mistake in British Columbia nearly led to a 9-year-old boy being given a potent opioid instead of his ADHD medication, but the error was caught before any harm occurred. The pharmacy attributed the mistake to human error, and the family chose not to return to that pharmacy afterward.
A pharmacy in Comox, BC, mistakenly gave a 9-year-old boy a powerful opioid instead of his ADHD medication, nearly causing a serious overdose. The error was due to human mistake, and the family has filed a complaint, emphasizing the need for stricter procedures to prevent such dangerous mix-ups, especially for children's medications.
A North Carolina mother reported that her 5-year-old daughter was given a fivefold higher dosage of Quillivant XR, an ADHD medication, due to a pharmacy error. The girl experienced side effects and was admitted to the emergency room. The pharmacy attributed the mistake to limited staffing and human error. Medication errors, especially with liquid medications, are common due to factors such as weight-based dosing, manual input, and overwhelming workloads. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices recommends patients verify their prescriptions, understand dosages, and use the same pharmacy to reduce the likelihood of errors.