If you answered the question above with, “Call the Illinois Poison Center (IPC),” that is a great answer! According to the National Poison Data System (NPDS), 260,000 cases reported to U.S. regional poison centers every year involve medication errors. With nearly 1 out of every 8 cases handled by poison centers involving a medication error, it’s a situation poison center nurses, pharmacists and physicians deal with every single day.  

So, what’s a medication error?

Someone inadvertently taking a double dose of a medication accounts for one-third of all medication error cases that poison centers manage. Other common errors include: taking the wrong medication; taking medication doses too close together; and confusion over the unit of measure (e.g., teaspoon vs. tablespoon vs. milliliters) and how the medication should be taken (e.g., swallowing the medication when it should be used topically, rectally, by inhalation or other route of administration).

Here are some real-life examples of medication errors managed by our poison specialists:

• A woman is talking to her friend on the phone and accidentally takes her dog’s heartworm tablet instead of her blood pressure medicine.
• An infant’s prescription bottle label provides directions to give 0.5mL of liquid, however, the parent gives 5mL instead—10 times the amount prescribed.
• Prior to a routine colonoscopy procedure, an adult was instructed to take 4 laxative tablets the night before the procedure. He purchased the same drug but in the form of a rectal suppository and swallowed the suppository pills before reading the directions.
• A patient with type 1 diabetes meant to administer 40 units of long-acting insulin, however by mistake, self-administered 40 units of rapid-acting insulin.
• A patient who usually purchases a non-prescription 4- to 6-hour cold and flu tablet inadvertently purchased a 12-hour long-acting formulation and continued to take the medication every 4-6 hours.

Why call IPC about a medication error?

The nurses, pharmacists and physicians at IPC are specially trained in toxicology. They are qualified to manage various types of misadventures involving medications. Additionally, IPC’s professional staff have access to several references and databases to investigate a wide variety of scenarios involving medication use and unintentional misuse.

How can you reach IPC?

You can call IPC’s helpline, 1-800-222-1222, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. All calls are free and confidential. In addition, a language line is available to assist with translation of over 100 languages.

And remember, one of the best ways of preventing medications errors is to read the label, read the label, read the label. When it comes to medications, use only as directed.

Click here for more information on safe medication use. For IPC’s Complimentary Safety Packet with sticker, magnet and first-aid tips, click here.