Double-check your medications at the pharmacy amid healthcare worker shortages

The increased demand for COVID tests and vaccinations has left many pharmacies understaffed. Because of this, your pharmacist may be working very quickly, and mistakes can happen.

In our Miami dermatology practice, we are seeing an increase in the number of prescriptions that have been filled with the wrong medication.

Here are some easy tips to follow at the pharmacy to help ensure you are taking the correct medication.

Verify the prescription is for you

Before leaving the pharmacy, open the bag and make sure the name on the bottle is yours (or the person for whom you’re picking up a prescription). Even if the name is correct on the outside of the bag, the name on the bottle inside could be different if it was mistakenly placed.

Look at your pills

If you are refilling an existing prescription, it should be easy to recognize a pill that you are used to taking. Make sure the pills in your new bottle look like the ones you are used to taking. If they look different, ask your pharmacist if he or she could double-check your prescription to make sure it is correct.

If you are filling a new prescription, it is a good idea to look up what the medication should look like so you know what to look for at the pharmacy. In most cases, you can quickly Google the name of the drug to see what the pills should look like.

Ask if you are unsure

If you have any questions at all about whether your prescription has been filled correctly or about how or when to take your medication, do not hesitate to ask the pharmacist. It is better to ask beforehand than to take the wrong medication by mistake.

Bottom line

Like many other healthcare facilities, many pharmacies are understaffed right now due to high demands and healthcare worker shortages. While your pharmacists are working very hard, mistakes can and do happen. Take the precautions above when you are getting prescriptions filled to make sure you are taking the correct medication.

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