That “book by its cover” thing …
We have had our share of medication errors both in the hospital and from the pharmacy. I always check all of our medications at the pharmacy before signing or paying for them. Even when there is a line, I open every bottle and look at every pill, smell every liquid. I don’t make a big deal about it, nor take a lot of time, but I check it all.
Today I notice a new pharmacist. The clerk hands me three of Pearlsky’s meds and I check them. I opened the bottle of Depakene, smelled it, and asked the clerk …
Are you sure this is the brand and not generic?
The pharmacist overheard my question and turned to me and said …
If it was the generic, it would say “valproic acid.”
That’s all well and good, but I have a t-shirt that says “nice guy.” What’s your point?
The clerk saw the humor, the pharmacist, not so much.
I just laughed out loud. I do the same, but do you really CHECK EVERY PILL? Like shake out the bottle and examine each pill? Or just shake the bottle around and peer inside?
Just wondering.
This makes me so happy. My dad takes a very specific phenobarbitol. Even though it shouldn’t affect anything, the inactive ingredients between brands make a huge difference in his seizure activity. The pharmacists we’ve had to deal with for the last 12 years have also had their sense of humor surgically removed, maybe it’s a newer graduation requirement for pharmacists.
Next time I get his meds for him I’m stealing this line.
“Even though it shouldn’t affect anything, the inactive ingredients between brands make a huge difference in his seizure activity.”
I sign that, Rachel.
On another note, SD, can you give us a little reassurance about DaisyAndAriasDaddy’s family?
Greatest line ever. I’m stealing it.
Good for you. My little girl just had a horrible reaction to her generic seizure med…the pharmacy changed manufacturers. Our neurologist now only prescribes namebrand. Interestingly, just under two weeks on the namebrand and many of my little pumpkins behavioral issues have subsided.
As a board member of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, I know that there are position papers by both the Epilepsy Foundation and neurologists regarding the use of substitutions and generic/brand name drugs in epilepsy treatment. I understand the position to be that one should NEVER substitute generic for brand name AEDs given the precise way the medication is calibrated and also metabolized in the brain. The EFA has been working for years on this problem, particularly with insurance companies. I only have PDFs on this subject but am happy to forward them to anyone who is interested. Just email me at elsophie AT gmail DOT com.
SD…You must really miss me and my sense of humor!!! Funny line. : )
Thanks for the laugh
I came across your blog while Googling “caring for a disabled daughter”. (I’m so tired and sad and wanted to see if the magic computer could tell me how to keep getting through this.) I just wanted to tell you that I am so sorry this happened to you, and that life sucks and is so not fair. I often think about the fact that, if my daughter were living in a trailer park in Iowa with an uneducated parent, then she probably would be a lot worse off than she is now. Sometimes that makes me feel better and other times it just makes me more sad. Reading about your battle at least makes me realize that there are other folks out there like me who are isolated from the real world and who feel like no one gets it. I’m so sorry for both of us. I wish us both as much strength as possible.