Prevent Drug Errors by Ensuring You Get the Right Rx at the Pharmacy

What if you have been taking a medication for a long time and all of a sudden the drug’s name is different and it looks different? You may know that generic and brand-name drugs are required to look different in size, shape and color, and that they have different names; however, in order to ensure that you received the generic version or the right medication at the pharmacy, you need to ask.

If the drug looks different, you should never assume that the pharmacy filled the drug’s generic version instead of the brand-name medication. While this may be true in some cases, the pharmacy may have made an error and filled the wrong drug entirely. This is why it is critical that you are aware of the drug’s name and dose of your prescription.

Sometimes the bottle will verify that the drug is the generic substitution for a specific brand-name. Texas law requires the following statements to appear on the drug container:

• Substituted for Brand Prescribed
• Substituted for Brand Name, e.g., Substituted for Zocor

Even if these statements are on your pill bottle, it is wise to consult with the pharmacist for verification. By asking your pharmacist questions about your medication, you may be able to prevent medication mistakes.

If you have been harmed by a negligent pharmacist, call Texas pharmacy error attorneys at Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. at 888-526-7616 for a free consultation and request a FREE copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.