The fatal consequences of medication errors

 

The fatal consequences of medication errors

Unfortunately, mistakes in prescribing or administering medication are not uncommon. In the worst case, medication errors can even be fatal. However, you can protect yourself or relatives in need of care from this.  nanobiztech

Over 1700 people die each year due to medication errors

It is estimated that more than 237 million medication errors are made in England every year - according to an evaluation published in the journal Quality & Safety. This sad truth kills over 1,700 people there every year. The equivalent of 108 million euros per year is charged to the state health system because the medication errors lead to more extended hospital stays and more hospital admissions. globalmarketingbusiness

More than half of the mistakes happen during administration

The researchers estimate that medication errors lead to around 181,600 bed days in the hospital. A fifth of mistakes happens when prescribing medication. More than half of the errors subsequently occur during administration.   allinonetechs

Most medication errors cause little or no harm (72%), while 2% of errors have severe consequences in the worst case death. The remaining 26% suffer from the respective side effects that would not have occurred if properly prescribed. When you consider that many people blindly rely on their doctor, these facts are sobering.  leadmarketingbusiness

The numbers mentioned relate exclusively to medication errors by health and nursing staff. Mistakes by the patients themselves were not even taken into account.  technologycompanians

Medication errors in Germany

the situation is unfortunately not much different. Medication errors' annual costs are even estimated at over a billion euros. Giving to a government report, medication errors lead to around 250,000 hospital admissions annually, which corresponds to about 5% of all cases.

The medical profession's drug commission recorded and assessed medication errors over two years. Most medication errors occurred while taking medication (30%), followed by prescribing (28%) and dispensing (24%) medication. The errors occurred most frequently in hospitals (45%), in doctors 'offices (23%), and at patients' homes (21%).

Most medication errors have occurred with the following substances:

·        Blood transfusions of red blood cells (erythrocytes)

·        Metamizole (pain reliever)

·        Phenprocoumon (anti-coagulant)

·        Apixaban (anti-coagulant)

·        Diptheria vaccine

·        Ibuprofen (pain reliever)

·        Methotrexate (cancer drug)

·        Tetanus vaccine

·        Haemophilus viruses type B vaccine; Bacteria that cause various serious diseases, such as B. meningitis)

·        Haloperidol (psychotropic drug)

One of the other remedies is sure to sound familiar. These include vaccines, pain relievers, and anti-coagulants (commonly known as "blood thinners"). Medication errors ranged from interactions with other drugs to mix-ups and overdoses.

For example, about the vaccines, a patient had a known hypersensitivity to one of the vaccines, which resulted in serious side effects. In other cases, overdosing or underdosing occurred, for example, due to the incorrect preparation of the vaccine or a leaky syringe.

Medication errors in Switzerland

According to the Patient Safety Foundation, 20,000 hospital stays in Switzerland are medication errors every year. Older patients are significantly affected by this, as they often take several drugs, which increases the risk of errors. The annual costs of medication errors in children and adolescents alone are estimated at CHF 70 million.

A hospital study showed that the most common mistake was the wrong dosage. The hospital staff did not take the doctor's prescription information into account.

Inappropriate medication in dementia patients

Researchers found that dementia patients in residential and nursing homes are often prescribed inappropriate medication. Inappropriate because the risk of side effects from some drugs outweighs the benefits in older people, and there are alternative forms of treatment for them.

The researchers examined the RightTimePlaceCare study data, which includes dementia patients in many countries. They concluded that 61.6% of the study participants in Germany were prescribed at least one inappropriate drug, and 26.3% were even prescribed two or more drugs that they did not need.

The numbers were even higher in the Netherlands (66.7%, 39.2%), Spain, and England. On the other hand, in Sweden, the situation was slightly better, with 49.6% (1 drug) and 15.2% (2 pills).

Especially in the group of those who received two or more superfluous drugs, the medication errors led to an increased risk of falls with related consequential injuries and an increased risk of being hospitalized.

The drugs that were superfluous or incorrectly prescribed in this study included in particular psychotropic drugs (dampen the central nervous system; are prescribed for psychoses, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, inner restlessness, etc.) and proton pump inhibitors (acid blockers; suppress the formation of gastric acid in reflux and heartburn).

Possible causes of medication errors

In the studies mentioned initially, however, many reasons for medication errors are listed. Interactions are one of the most important causes. As more and more drugs hit the market, more complex interactions arise when multiple drugs are taken. The more medication a patient takes, the greater the risk of errors. Errors can occur, especially when entering clinics, where new medicines are often prescribed.

But the handwritten prescription also harbors the potential for errors. Illegible writing can easily lead to misunderstandings: A customer gave Norflex a handwritten prescription in a pharmacy. This is a muscle relaxant. The pharmacist mistook this drug for Norflox. When he entered Norflox into the pharmacy software, several drugs with the active ingredient norfloxacin, an antibiotic, were displayed to him. Fortunately, the customer noticed the misunderstanding. It is a real case that has been received by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices.

Other causes include mix-ups due to packaging that looks similar, handwritten patient files, or misunderstandings between doctor and patient, which then lead to incorrect use by the patient

Women often suffer more from side effects

According to a university and the university study, drugs particularly overdose in women. The reason for this is that drug tests are mostly done on men. The dosages are designed accordingly for higher body weight.

The researchers suspect that this has to do with the fact that women are still underrepresented in biomedicine. They identified 86 drugs for which there is a clear gender difference in dosage but has not been adjusted to date. These include antidepressants, aspirin, and morphine. Female patients suffer, who consequently suffer from more severe side effects.

This is how you can prevent medication errors

people who have prescribed three or more drugs are entitled to a medication plan. Your doctor should then fill in all the essential information about your medication: names, active ingredients, dosage, time of use, the reason for taking, etc.

Make sure your doctor explains precisely why you are taking which medication and how it works. This way, you can also see much better which of your symptoms improve under the drug's effects and which new symptoms appear.

Even if you are not entitled to a medication plan, you can create yourself. You can find templates on the Internet. In the medication plan, you enter everything you take, including dietary supplements and medication available without a prescription.

Especially if you take food supplements or over-the-counter products in addition to your medication, you should discuss their use with your doctor or alternative practitioner because these agents can also interact with your medicine. B. strengthen or weaken.

It is best to carry this plan with you in your wallet for emergencies. If you unexpectedly have to go to the hospital, you will have all the essential information at hand.