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                Information for Consumers and Patients | Drugs

Information for Consumers and Patients | Drugs

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          Working to Reduce Medication ErrorsInformation for Consumers and Patients | Drugs Working to Reduce Medication Errors
  
  	
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    PrintA medication error is defined as "any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the healthcare professional, patient, or consumer,” according to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention.
Medication errors can occur throughout the medication-use system. Such as, when prescribing a drug, upon entering information into a computer system, when the drug is being prepared or dispensed, or when the drug is given to or taken by a patient.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives more than 100,000 U.S. reports each year associated with a suspected medication error.  FDA reviews the reports and classifies them to determine the cause and type of error. The reports come from drug manufacturers, and healthcare professionals and consumers through MedWatch, the Agency's safety information and adverse event reporting program.  Serious harmful results of a medication error may include:

Death
	Life threatening situation
	Hospitalization
	Disability
	Birth defect.**Looking for ways to reduce medication errors**
FDA looks for ways to prevent medication errors. Before drugs are approved for marketing, FDA reviews the drug name, labeling, packaging, and product design to identify and revise information that may contribute to medication errors.  For example, FDA reviews:

Proposed proprietary (brand) names to minimize confusion among drug names. With the help of simulated prescriptions and computerized models, FDA determines the acceptability of proposed proprietary names to minimize medication errors associated with product name confusion.
	Container labels to help healthcare providers and consumers select the right drug product. If a drug is made in multiple strengths – e.g., 5 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg, – the labels of those three containers should be easy to differentiate. The label design may use different colors or identify the strength in large bold numbers and letters.
	Prescribing and patient information to ensure the directions for prescribing, preparing, and use are clear and easy to read.After drugs are approved for marketing in the United States, FDA monitors and evaluates medication error reports. FDA may require a manufacturer to revise the labels, labeling, packaging, product design or proprietary name to prevent medication errors.  FDA may also issue communications alerting the public about a medication error safety issue, by way of Drug Safety Communications, Drug Safety Alerts, Medication Guides and Drug Safety Podcasts.
FDA collaborates with external stakeholders, regulators, patient safety organizations such as the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), standard-setting organizations such as the U.S. Pharmacopeia, and researchers to understand the causes of medication errors, the effectiveness of interventions to prevent them, and to address broader safety issues that may contribute to medication errors.**Getting the right drug to the right patient**
FDA also put into place rules requiring barcodes on certain drug and biological product labels. Barcodes allow healthcare professionals to use barcode scanning equipment to verify that the right drug -- in the right dose and right route of administration -- is being given to the right patient at the right time. This system is intended to help reduce the number of medication errors that occur in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
FDA has published several guidances to help manufacturers design their drug labels, labeling, packaging, and select drug names in a way to minimize or eliminate hazards that can contribute to medication errors. For example, in 2016, FDA issued a final guidance titled, *Safety Considerations for Product Design to Minimize Medication Errors*. To avoid errors and encourage safe use of drugs, the guidance recommendations include:

Tablets and other oral dosage forms should have distinct and legible imprint codes so healthcare providers and consumers can verify the drug product and strength.
	Oral syringes and other dosing devices co-packaged with a liquid oral dosage form should be appropriate for the doses to be measured. Dosing errors have been reported when an oral syringe is labeled in milligrams but the dose is prescribed in milliliters.
	The package design should protect the consumer against incorrect use. Medications applied to the skin (topical) should not be packaged in containers that look like the containers usually associated with eye, ear, nasal, or oral products. Similar looking containers have resulted in people putting a topical product in the eye, ear, nose, and mouth.**Over-the-counter and prescription drug labeling**
According to a Harris Interactive Market Research Poll conducted for the National Council on Patient Information and Education and released in January 2002, consumers tend to overlook important label information on over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. In response to that report, FDA now requires a standardized "Drug Facts" label on more than 100,000 OTC drug products. Modeled after the Nutrition Facts label on foods, Drug Facts helps consumers compare and select OTC medicines, and follow instructions. The label clearly lists active ingredients, inactive ingredients, uses, warnings, dosage, directions, and other information, such as how to store the medicine.
In 2006, FDA revised its rules for the content and format of prescribing information for prescription drug and biological products. The new look helps healthcare professionals find the information they need more easily and quickly. FDA also makes updated prescribing information available on the Web at Drugs@FDA.**Consumers play an important role**
Consumers can also play an important role in reducing medication errors.  Here are some drug safety tips:

Know the various risks and causes for medication errors. See ISMP’s consumer web page, ConsumerMedSafety.org, for helpful tools and resources to protect yourself from medication errors.
	Find out what drug you're taking and what it is for. Rather than simply letting the doctor write you a prescription and send you on your way, be sure to ask the name of the drug and the purpose of the drug.
	Find out how to take the drug and make sure you understand the directions. Ask if the medicine needs to be kept in the refrigerator.
	Check the container's label every time you take a drug. This is especially important if you are taking several drugs because it will lower your risk of accidentally taking the wrong medicine.
	Keep drugs stored in their original containers. Many pills look alike, so keeping them in their original containers will help know the name of the drug and how to take them. If you are having trouble keeping multiple medications straight, ask your doctor or pharmacist about helpful aids.
	Keep an updated list of all medications taken for health reasons, including OTC drugs, supplements, medicinal herbs, and other substances. Give a copy of this list to your healthcare provider.
	Be aware of the risk of drug/drug or drug/foodinteractions.
	If in doubt or you have questions about your medication, ask your pharmacist or other healthcare provider.
	Report suspected medication errors to MedWatch.**For More Information**
Food and Drug AdministrationThink it Through: A Guide to Managing the Benefits and Risks of Medicines

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      08/23/2019Information for Consumers and Patients | Drugs

          
                        Overview of our role regulating and approving drugs | Video series
          Educational Resources | Free Drug-Related Publications


                        Find Information about a Drug
          Buying & Using Medicine Safely
          Encuentre información sobre un medicamento
          Frequently Asked Questions on Popular Topics
          Prescription Drug Advertising
          Tips for Parents
          Tips for Seniors
 
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