DEAR ABBY: Please remind your readers to always double-check their medications at the time of purchase. Our family just had a close call that could have been tragic.
My husband's grandmother has high blood pressure and has been on the same medication for years. Yesterday, we took her to the pharmacy to pick up a refill. The store was very busy and the pharmacist couldn't locate the refill order her doctor had phoned in.
In the confusion, a pharmacy technician filled the order with the wrong medication. Thank goodness we discovered the error before any of the meds were taken.
If a medication suddenly looks different -- if tablets are a different size, shape or color -- a customer should not hesitate to question the pharmacist. It could be a lifesaver. -- LOCKPORT, ILL., R.N.
DEAR R.N.: I agree; prescription medicines should always be checked while the customer is at the counter. And it's wise to have all prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy, so possible drug interactions can be avoided.