An elderly woman in New Orleans unknowingly took the wrong prescription for over a month. Why? Because her local pharmacy gave her the incorrect medication, she alleges. The woman filed a negligence lawsuit against Rite Aid earlier this month, according to a report at louisianarecord.com.
According to the woman’s complaint, her doctor prescribed her hydralazine, which is a muscle relaxant to treat her high blood pressure. However, the pharmacist at Rite Aid gave her hydroxyzine, which is an antihistamine. Even worse, hydroxyzine is especially dangerous for the elderly. The woman noticed the error after 30 days when she received a refill and the pills looked different.
As a result of taking the wrong medication, she experienced severe seizures, decrease in vision and altered mental status. She sued Rite Aid for negligence for failing to properly fill a prescription. She also alleges that the pharmacy was negligent in its hiring practices.
As the above illustrates, pharmacy errors can have severe consequences. Fortunately for the woman in this case, she discovered the error on her own before she suffered any further harm.
Have you ever noticed a mistake in your prescription?
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury attorneys