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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Wrongly labelled medicines picked up from pharmacy.

42 replies

Katshouldnotswim · 06/08/2021 11:07

MIL has just started taking tablets to help with her recent dementia diagnosis.

Just picked up the prescription from the pharmacy and noted that the label ( the pharmacy sticks on ) on one of the boxes isn’t what’s inside.

This is bad isn’t it

OP posts:

daisypond · 06/08/2021 11:10

It may not have the same name but is it the same medication? Eg, a brand name vs the generic name?

PheasantsNest · 06/08/2021 11:11

If it's not just the generic name issue then they need to record it and report it. That's why they are checked by two people.

YerAWizardHarry · 06/08/2021 11:12

It’s not the greatest but can you read the box to see what’s inside? Is it a case of two medicines being mixed up? Medicine is more likely to be removed (if there’s too much for a script in the box) rather than more added if that makes sense so I’m assuming that the medicine matches what is on the actual box?

I’d definitely bring it to their attention, there will be protocols in place but please remember that the pharmacist/dispensers are people not robots and that mistakes happen (unless they’re one of the pharmacies that have a robotic dispenser then my point doesn’t quite stand..)

Xmassprout · 06/08/2021 11:12

Yes, if its a different medication (not a generic name) or a different quantity, then of course its bad

Original poster

Katshouldnotswim · 06/08/2021 11:13

No it’s wrong

A box of clopidogrel zentiva ( clopidogrel) has been labelled as sertraline 50mg

There is also a box of sertraline which has the correct same label

OP posts:

DogsSausages · 06/08/2021 11:14

What does the pharmacy white label say and what do the tablet strips have printed on them. If you're concerned take them back to the pharmacy.

Emilizz34 · 06/08/2021 11:15

Yes that that could have had very serious consequences if you hadn’t noticed it . I’m sure that many people just take their medication without checking it etc . Especially risky for people like your MIL and people with poor English or literary skills .
I suggest you make an official complaint to the pharmacy head office about this as well as going back to get the correct medication .
Otherwise they may just try to cover it up . An investigation needs to take place into what went wrong as there are normally checks in place to prevent these type of issues from occurring .

DogsSausages · 06/08/2021 11:16

Ok so that's completely wrong, is she supposed to be on clopidogrel. You need to take them back and the pharmacist needs to be made aware.

Original poster

Katshouldnotswim · 06/08/2021 11:17

The contents of all the boxes are correct ie the manufacturer hasn’t made a cock up

The pharmacy label is wrong

OP posts:

helpfulperson · 06/08/2021 11:20

It shouldn't happen and it needs to be reported to the pharmacy for them to check out what had happened and find out if there is another matching error. But no matter what systems are in place these things will occasionally happen so I wouldn't be very upset.

Emilizz34 · 06/08/2021 11:22

Ones an Antidepressant and the others a blood thinner . Was she prescribed one or both of them ?

DogsSausages · 06/08/2021 11:23

Just take them back, they are completely different drugs and if she is not supposed to be on clopidogrel then she must not take it. It has been mislabelled,the pharmacist will sort it out but they may say you need another prescription.

budgun · 06/08/2021 11:26

Well yes, of course it's bad. I'm not sure why you are asking that. What happens next is important. I would find out how to make an official complaint as it needs to be raised to ensure it is investigated and can't happen again.

Original poster

Katshouldnotswim · 06/08/2021 11:28

The medicines are what she has been prescribed by the GP, anti depressants, blood thinner and cholesterols so I can correctly manage her daily pill box of 3 tablets myself.

The issue is the white sticky label wrongly applied to one of the boxes ( ie there were 2 sertraline labels printed at the pharmacy, 1 correctly applied and one not )

Sorry trying to be clear about everything but clearly not

OP posts:

mamaweebeastie · 06/08/2021 11:28

Explain the situation to the pharmacy & they will change them. They also have a 'mistakes' policy to follow and fill out. It's unfortunate but these things do happen. I left pharmacy last year because with covid it was sooo stressful & some customers didn't care about the excessive work load and stress that we had no choice to work through. Mistakes do happen but it is a serious mistake. Hope you & your mum are ok.

hookiewookie29 · 06/08/2021 11:30

My 85 year old Mum was given someone else's medication a few weeks ago. When we complained, the pharmacist just shrugged it off. Luckily she has her wits about her and realised it was a different box.

daisycottage · 06/08/2021 11:30

You need to ensure that the error is officially reported because this is a serious mistake and the pharmacy could easily conceal it by just providing you with the correct sticker.

Complain and make sure it's escalated. Ask them what they plan to do and then check they've done it by contacting the relevant department.

DogsSausages · 06/08/2021 11:31

Ok so the pharmacist needs to see all the boxes, check the contents,and re label the clopidogrel. They may want to issue a new box.

Original poster

Katshouldnotswim · 06/08/2021 11:32

That’s truly shocking hookie !

OP posts:

Helenluvsrob · 06/08/2021 11:59

Written complain. Request to investigate abs be informed if that out come ?

That’s a weird mix up to happen.

billiebeeme · 06/08/2021 12:00

Call the pharmacy they would want to know. It cld be very dangerous and they need to investigate how it happened.

Similar happens to me but it was only with the outer packaging. 2 prescriptions for my 2 daughters. They put the wrong labels on the outer packaging. I didn't check the bottles when I opened them up and gave my 1yr old medicine for my 4yr old. Luckily it was only anti histamine but she was supposed to get an antibiotic. No harm in the end, I Kinda felt half my fault as I didn't check the actual bottled labels. I mentioned it next time I was around and they took it very seriously.

Auntieobem · 06/08/2021 12:02

It's not that shocking - would have been shocking if wrong medication given. I'd call the pharmacy and let them know so that they can figure out what went wrong.

3ismylot · 06/08/2021 12:04

You need to report this to the pharmacy.
The drugs go through a lot of checks and that should never have been allowed to happen!
At least 2 people have to check them, the dispenser and the pharmacist and the pharmacist is ultimately responsible for this.
In this case it is just a wrong label but it shows they are not checking properly and next time it could be the wrong meds or the wrong strength or quantity etc.

EverdeRose · 06/08/2021 12:06

You need to either call them or take it back. The medication will need to be checked and relabelled, they'll also have to report it as an incident.

RuthW · 06/08/2021 12:12

It happens. Take them back to the pharmacy. It may be the same drug but a generic version.

Occasionally the wrong drug does make it's way out we are all human.

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