To think the doctors receptionist is being weird?

[Greendress123]

Dd1 has been prescribed a long course of antibiotics for an ongoing issue by a doctor at the hospital. They gave us one months supply and told us to get the rest from the gp as a repeat. It says on the bottle to give her 6.5ml once a day.

I got the repeat today and it says two 5ml spoonfuls twice a day, so I asked the receptionist and she said she would check with the gp and I should call back. So I did.

I got a different receptionist and explained the problem. She seemed to get flustered and told me nobody had told her about it and could I repeat the question. So I did, saying the new bottle says 10ml twice a day. She replied 'no it says two 5ml spoons twice a day, that makes 100ml'

I said '...ok, but it should be 6.5ml as that's what the hospital doctor prescribed'

'Oh I'll see if I can find the letter. Here it is...yes it looks like it should be 65ml a day'

'Do you mean 6.5ml?'

'No, it definitely says 65ml. That's quite a lot, can I call you back?'

So I left it that she would call back, which she hasn't.

Aibu to find this really weird?

Should I try and call back and hope I get a sensible one or just give dd the 6.5ml dose tonight?

Are they both the same strength preparation?

Yep, same antibiotic too.

Do you have the letter confirming the treatment plan?

I'd just give the usual 6.5ml dose. I wouldn't expect my receptionists to give out advice on dosage without checking with me first. In my surgery if a query like this comes in, it'll be put on my screen and I'll leave a message with instructions in the patient notes. Then the patient will ring back later and the message relayed to them. It does sound a bit disorganised in your surgery!

I would be really shocked if it was 65ml or 100ml a day of antibiotics. Try phone back now and hopefully get an answer. Failing that I would just give the 6.5ml you have been giving until you get it sorted tomorrow

Can you ring the paeds ward and ask? Children's wards are usually very helpful and are likely to be able to advise you. I bet the dose is based on your daughter's weight. Sounds like an error on the discharge letter (if it really does say 65ml) which needs to be fed back as it could have led to a potentially serious overdose

I think she can't flipping read the letter properly. I hope she's not giving advice like that over the phone to other patients. Someone elderly or vulnerable could follow her to the letter on a drug & end up with a serious overdose.

Ok, the plot thickens. I remembered I have the letter the doctor sent to the gp. It says 65mg. Which is entirely different to 65ml which is definitely what the receptionist said.

Please do not rely on medical advice from the GP's receptionist.

So if the medicine has 50mg in 5ml that makes 6.5ml, yes?

It actually makes more sense if she has just been mixing up ml and mg

Isn't one the strength of the drug & one the dosage?

Is there a local pharmacist you can get your prescription through? My DS gets his repeats from the village pharmacy and they deal with the doctor for me.

What is the name of the anti-biotic?

An example that might help is that 5ml of amoxicillin suspension contains 250mg of actual amoxicillin.

So two 5ml doses a day would result in the patient actually taking 500mg of amoxicillin each day.

Yeah, I have that set up for me but haven't set it up for dd yet.

I've asked my mum who is a nurse who used to work in a pharmacy and she says give 6.5ml tonight and go in to the gp tomorrow and don't leave till it is sorted.

Why would you be asking dosage advice from a receptionist?

If the strength is the same then give 6.5ml tonight and make an appointment with the GP tomorrow to clarify.

You give 6.5mls - the dose worked out presumably by the dr at the hospital who was probably a paediatrician & worked out the dose on your DD weight height etc...the pharmacist sounds like they made a mistake with the label & didn't read the prescription carefully enough . Where did you get your initial prescription ? Do you still have the empty bottle with the original prescription label on ? If you want to check with anyone you should re check with the original paediatrician - absolutely NEVER EVER take advice from a receptionist - about anything medical !!! They're aren't qualified . And if she was smart she'd have told you she wasn't qualified to give you advice !!

I don't think OP needs to take up an appointment to check the dosage

It's trimethoprim

A local pharmacist will be able to give as advice.

Trimethoprim adult dose can be 200mg twice a day.

I've give 6.5ml as usual and go back to the doc and get it put straight. The receptionist needs to stop giving advice she mixing things up.

Yes the trimethoprim is 50mg per 5ml so 6.5mls is 65mg so that's where the receptionist was confused.
I would take the 6.5mls. Also you could discuss with the pharmacist too. the computer often defaults to a standard dose rather than the prophylactic dose which this is and is done on weight.