A Manitoba couple is advocating for enhanced safety measures in pharmacy medication distribution following their daughter’s accidental overdose on a pill provided by a Shoppers Drug Mart that contained 10 times the prescribed dosage. Kevin Barkley, the father, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that such a significant overdose poses severe risks to one’s life.
The couple’s 10-year-old daughter had a prescription for a two-milligram pill to be taken daily. The medication, undisclosed for privacy reasons, is known to have adverse effects such as drowsiness, hypertension, tachycardia, seizures, among others, when overdosed.
During a recent visit, a family friend picked up the medication from a Shoppers Drug Mart in Winnipeg but received a bottle containing 20-milligram capsules instead of the prescribed dosage. The girl took a pill on August 13 and experienced lethargy and blackout episodes for most of the day. Subsequently, after taking another pill the next morning and vomiting, it became evident that an error had occurred.
Concerned, the family contacted The Manitoba Poison Centre and the girl’s pediatrician, both of whom advised immediate hospitalization. Doctors at Winnipeg’s Children’s Hospital confirmed the overdose and recommended monitoring until the medication cleared from her system.
Despite the incident, the girl made a full recovery. However, due to fear, she was taken off the medication with her pediatrician’s approval. The family is now advocating for change to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Following public disclosure of the case, Loblaws Ltd. and the College of Pharmacists reached out to the family, expressing apologies and initiating investigations. Corrective measures have been implemented at the pharmacy, although specific details were not disclosed.
The couple plans to file a complaint with the College of Pharmacists and intends to push for systemic changes to prevent medication errors. Data shows that pharmacies in Manitoba reported 1,348 medication incidents between October 1 and March 31, with a significant number related to incorrect dosages or medication frequencies.
Kevin Barkley emphasized the need for pharmacies to enhance their processes and introduce additional verification steps to ensure accurate prescription fulfillment, emphasizing the importance of preventing such errors from recurring.