Fatal Medication Errors Occur More Often at Home

Study Shows Increasing Number of Lethal Errors

Jul 31, 2008

A lack of knowledge, early discharge from hospitals, and poor medical oversight all play a part in medication errors that result in deaths at home.

The release of the long awaited Batman movie, The Dark Knight, starring Heath Ledger has reminded health officials and laymen of his untimely death due to a mixture of prescription and OTC medications.

A recent study of nearly 50 million death certificates reported in the July 28, 2008, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine shows that more deaths resulted from medication errors at home than in hospitals in the U.S. from January 1983 through December 2004.

A large part of the problem is derived form Americans mixing prescription medications with alcohol or illegal street drugs. But a significant number of these deaths were from the misuse of OTC medications and prescription medications.

Heeding the warnings on all medication labels and receiving counseling from a pharmacist with each new prescription can help to avoid these accidental deaths. Using one pharmacy and having a primary care practitioner to oversee all medications being taken can help to eliminate errors as well.

Most prescription medications do not mix with alcohol. Even having one mixed drink with dinner or a glass of wine can be a lethal mix. An occasional alcoholic drink can be somewhat safe, but should be discussed with the primary care practitioner and pharmacist.

Over the counter medications such as cough and cold medications, sleeping pills, antihistamines, and pain relievers and fever reducers can be a lethal mix on their own as well as when combined with prescription medications. Again consultation with a registered pharmacist or physician is recommended to understand the warning signs and possible lethal effects.

Street drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and even marijuana can cause serious reactions when taken in combination with OTC and prescription medications. Patients need to be honest with health care practitioners about any OTC or street drug use.

Type one deaths showed a sharp increase between 1983 and 2004 from 92 to 3,792. Type two deaths increased from 1,040 to 8,634. (Heath Ledger’s death was a Type two death involving a lethal combination of OTC and prescription medications but no alcohol or street drugs.) Type three deaths increased from 118 to 967 and Type four deaths increased from 1,175 to 1,541.

Limitations of the study included not knowing the exact drugs involved nor the dosages taken. And it only includes those who died from the medication mixtures and not those who experienced untoward effects but recovered.

The primary lesson to be learned is to ask questions before mixing medications and taking any alcohol. Street drugs are out of the question all together in any scenario.

The copyright of the article Fatal Medication Errors Occur More Often at Home in Public Healthcare Issues is owned by Kathy Quan . Permission to republish Fatal Medication Errors Occur More Often at Home in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.