Yesterday, my wife, who is a retired RN, was given a "wrong" prescription by her Walmart pharmacy. While it was not a critical mistake, it was a serious drug switch. She went online and found that Rx drugs should have the "strength", "color" and "shape" of the drug listed on a sticker that is affixed to the pill container. This is intended as a further check to prevent errors and is a very good idea. Unfortunately, I could not find this kind of infor on any of my drug containers. When I checked with my local druggist, Kroger Pharmacy, that information is only included on Rx's filled at the local store. Since most of my drugs are 90 day supplies, they are sent to a "central Pharmacy" for filling....and the Central Pharmacy printers do not have that ID capability. I have instructed Kroger to no longer send any of my Rx's to the central operation and to fill them on-site.....which they readily agreed to do.
On a side note....during our conversation this morning, we compared pills......old people develop some strange habits LOL. We both take Lisinopril. I take 20mg from Kroger(Watson Labs)any my wife takes 40mg from Walmart(International Lab). Both drugs were same shape(round), the same diameter, and both were YELLOW in color. Hers did have 40 imprinted on the tab while mine had no strength identification. That surprised me as I thought Rx drugs had standardized strength coloring....not so. Warfarin is one of only a few drugs whose strength color is standard throughout the industry. Since Warfarin was the only drug I took until my mid 60s, I thought Rx drug colors identified the drug's strength.....nope!! Let the buyer beware.
On a side note....during our conversation this morning, we compared pills......old people develop some strange habits LOL. We both take Lisinopril. I take 20mg from Kroger(Watson Labs)any my wife takes 40mg from Walmart(International Lab). Both drugs were same shape(round), the same diameter, and both were YELLOW in color. Hers did have 40 imprinted on the tab while mine had no strength identification. That surprised me as I thought Rx drugs had standardized strength coloring....not so. Warfarin is one of only a few drugs whose strength color is standard throughout the industry. Since Warfarin was the only drug I took until my mid 60s, I thought Rx drug colors identified the drug's strength.....nope!! Let the buyer beware.
