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Types of Errors

Dangerous and Defective Drugs If you put your trust in a pharmaceutical company and were hurt by their product, you deserve compensation for your suffering.
Wrong Medication Did you receive the wrong medication or incorrect prescription from a pharmacy? If you have suffered because of a medication error please call us for a free case review.
Wrong Dosage Common forms of medication error: incorrect dosage error. Order our free book to learn how to protect yourself and your family from wrong dosage errors.
Other Errors Order our free book, "How to Make Pharmacies Pay for your Injuries Caused by Medication Errors, to learn your rights in prescription error cases.
Kids Rx Errors Order a free copy of The Top 10 Tips to Protect Your Children Against Pharmacy Errors. If you have suffered a prescription error contact our firm today.
Pharmacy Malpractice If you have suffered an injury because a pharmacy dispensed the wrong medication or made an error with your prescription, you are able to file a claim for negligence or malpractice and receive the compensation you deserve.
Walgreens Pharmacy Error Claims There have been numerous claims brought against Walgreens for pharmacy errors or prescription errors. Order our free book to learn how to take action.
CVS Pharmacy Error Claims If you've been injured because of a CVS Pharmacy prescription error, call us for help with your lawsuit at 888-526-7616.
State Pharmacy Boards If you have been severely injured because of a medication error, contact board-certified attorneys immediately to investigate your case free of charge.
Drug & Pharmacy Error Prevention Filing a pharmacy error lawsuit is the only way to make pharmacies take accountability for mistakes. Call our board certified attorneys for a free case review.
State Pharmacy Laws State laws on pharmacy malpractice. Learn the pharmacy error Statute of Limitation laws that apply to your state. Call 877-342-2020 for a free consultation.

The Effects of Children Receiving Too Much Prescription Medication

David W. Hodges
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Partner at Kennedy Hodges LLP practicing pharmacy error, medical malpractice and personal injury law
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Kids are more vulnerable to medications than adults are due to their small size and immature immune systems. This is why if children are given the wrong dosage—especially too high of a dosage—of prescription or over-the-counter medications, they can be harmed.

Although pharmacists have a duty to provide children as well as all patients with the correct medication doses, sometimes mistakes happen, and the wrong dosages are filled. Because most children’s medications are liquid, parents also play a critical role in making sure their children receive the correct dose of medication.

Since liquid medications can be taken with syringes, dosing cups, and spoons, getting the correct dose can me more problematic because kitchen spoons can vary and hold two to three times more medication than what the dose calls for, according to a study in the International Journal of Clinical Practice. However, a study from the New York University School of Medicine stated that 70 percent of parents poured more medicine into dosing cups than what was recommended.

Because of the inaccuracy of dosing cups and spoons, it is recommended that parents use a dropper or syringe to administer medication to their children. However, there are still certain medications that come with cups instead of syringes, and there are some prescriptions that will still read “teaspoon or tablespoon.”

The Effects of the Wrong Dose

When children are given the wrong dose of medication—even a quarter teaspoon too much—over the course of several weeks, they can suffer the following medication side effects:

  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • Bathroom problems
  • Other bothersome side effects
  • Liver damage
  • Kidney damage
  • Other prolonged illnesses

Unfortunately, medication errors involving incorrect dosages either at the pharmacy level or at home can leave kids with serious side effects and illnesses. If you believe your child was a victim of receiving the wrong dosage of medication, you should order a free copy of our report, How to Make Pharmacies Pay for Injuries Caused by Medication Errors.

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