Dh overdosed my SN DC at hospital now

[Worried20]

My dh has given my non verbal dc 4 times the dose of his medicine. He fell asleep and it was only when I jokingly said you haven't given him his sleep meds have you? That he realised he had given him 30mg instead of 7.5mg of a med he takes to control his adhd.

He has been monitored but won't tolerate heart monitors even while asleep.

I am at home with other dc as I don't drive and hospital 12 miles away and didn't want to put other dc at risk.

I'm so angry, worried and upset. Not only for the careless and insane overdose but for putting him at risk of catching Covid -19.

He has moved to a ward to keep monitoring. Dh has been obsessively working from home, was the one job of giving a drink with meds in too much to ask while I fixed my other dc breakfast.

What the hell can I do assuming this is ok for my dc. I have never ever made such an error. I'm not perfect but he has really fucked up.

OP. He is in the right place. I'm sure it will be ok

Over 4 times the correct dosage?! Has he explained how he made that mistake?

What a horrible shock you've had. I hope your DC is comfortable and that you get to collect him later today

I've never given a wrong dose, ever. I check the bottle every, single time.
If the DH doesn't do it often, even more bloody reason to be doubly certain of the dose.
I remember that story of a girl given too long an exposure to radiation, and was terribly burned from it and died. That story shocked me so much that I have had a 'dosage ocd' ever since.

Some doses of children's medicine comes in tiny, tiny amounts. It won't be a huge volume we're talking about.

@HotelBravo (and others) to err is human; to forgive, divine
We are not computers, and even they make mistakes.

The thing I'd be most cross about was that he was clearly really distracted. There's no excuse for that when you are dosing out medication.

I wouldn't let rip but I'd quietly let him know how bloody disappointed I was in him.

The important thing today is your DC. Hope they are soon better and home where they belong

Female posters come on here and admit a minor mistake and they get absolutely pilloried.

I've never seen this. Quite the opposite in fact.

Hope DS will be OK.

It was a huge mistake. Much here depends on what DH is usually like: if he is usually a diligent parent, including with respect to medical/SN matters, would try to let it go. Different if there’s a pattern of poor parenting of this kind (eg not taking responsibility for understanding the medicines needed).

He's still in hospital being monitored. To answer the questions, it is his son.

He does take 30mg of another med, but that is given on an evening.

For some reason he gave him 30mg of a med he takes 3 times a day, usually 7.5mg am - 5mg lunch - 7.5 mg pm.

It is a very stupid mistake. I honestly know I wouldn't make that mistake.

I also know I wouldn't get up and make myself a coffee and leave my son without a drink for an hour.

When I questioned had he had his meds, he realised he hadn't even given him a drink. All my sons meds go in his drinks due to his disabilities.

I have never felt so sick with worry, I just want him home. They can't do any monitoring like temperature or blood pressure anyway due to his Autism. I'm so so worried he will catch Covid -19 from this.

Thank you for listening, the one thing I do know is this wasn't intentional. My DH would never do that.

to you and yours, OP.

Everyone is so stressed right now, the last thing you needed!

So glad it sounds like your son is okay and on the mend.

I hope your DC makes a quick and full recovery.

I can see that a knee jerk reaction might be to insist that you give all meds in future (I assume it is normally you that gives them?) but actually I would suggest that DH needs to do it more often so that he better understands the routine. Giving the wrong dose/medicine is a terrible mistake, but getting himself a drink but not your DC despite that fact that is needed with the meds is really not on. Meds aside, who would have a coffee and not give their child a drink?

When I questioned had he had his meds, he realised he hadn't even given him a drink. All my sons meds go in his drinks due to his disabilities if he hadn't given him a drink and his needs go in his drink did he def give it him?

Your husband has been stupid but you don't think he'd do it intentionally and hopefully he's learnt a lesson about double checking the meds. Be kind to each other.

I don't know about being kind to your dh, I'd be going mental. I mean, if he's obviously devastated then fine, but wow, that's a fuck up.

Some doses of children's medicine comes in tiny, tiny amounts. It won't be a huge volume we're talking about.

Uhuh, it’s all relative to their size. Our DD was on a tiny dose of a medication, four times the dosage would have been pretty bad for her.

Wow I would be sacked for that!

People cock up, even HPC make mistakes from time to time with medications and it is one of the reasons those who have no medical training, but give meds, are often required to double check before giving. I hope your DS is ok and that you and DH can move on from this.

It's stressful and I can understand why you're angry and upset.

But it was an accident. Anyone can make a mistake. He realised it and owned up and is now helping to correct it.

Oh Op a friend did similar with her sons ADHD medication, She gave her son his meds and then her DH did as well. He sons was a 12 hour slow release medication and he was kept in for 12 hours whilst the medication had worked through his system. I can understand how your DH made this mistake, he must feel absolutely awful.

I know it's relative to size, I used to work in NICU. I'm just saying that mistakes can be made relatively easily.

I do hope he is able to come home soon and there is no lasting harm done.

We all make some silly mistakes when rearing our D.C., thankfully not many have the sort of serious implications your DH’s error has had here. And even trained professionals sometimes screw up on dosages. I think you can be certain this isn’t something he will ever do again

Wow I would be sacked for that!

What job do you do?

Wow I would be sacked for that!

But he's not a professional nurse/doctor, is he, so that's pretty irrelevant.

Until I retired I worked as HR manager in a care company. I've had investigations and disciplinaries with the best and most dedicated staff who have made med mistakes. It happens, we are human, no one can honestly say they would never make a mistake. In fact I think it is dangerous to say that as we should all recognise it is possible. I hope your son is OK, it maybe that the effects are reduced as he may have built up a tolerance to the med.

Nurses etc don't get sacked (usually) for medication mistakes. There would be no nurses left.

I hope your son is ok.

I'd be very annoyed.

Not only has he overdosed your son, but he hasn't even administered the medicine in the correct manner, mixed in a drink.

There's making a mistake, and then there slapdash, seeing to yourself, making yourself a coffee, and giving the wrong dose in the wrong way.

I would wait until they're home, hopefully very soon, and see what your DH reaction/explanation is before deciding what to do from here.