Posted by maxime on June 9, 2003, at 16:21:24
Hi all. I have a story to tell that we can learn from.
I went to the pharmacy today to pick up my new prescription for lamictal that my doctor gave me last week.
When I got home, I realised the pills were white and the pills I had been taking were pink. The new white pills did say Lamictal on them.
I knew the name was different on the pink pills but I thought they were a generic version of Lamictal because it started with "apo" which indicates a generic brand.
Turns out I have been talking Trimipramine Maleate, a trycyclic antidepressant.
Now I am already on an MAOI - Parnate. Last week I was having heart palpatations and severe nausea. I thought it was the Parnate.
Parnate and Trimipramine shouldn't be taken together.
I called the pharmacy and they looked up their records and said trimipramine is what the doctor prescribed.
I have called the doctor and left a message for her. I know mistakes can happen, but I do want her to know that a mistake has happened.
I am angry at the doctor but I am more angry at myself. I should have checked out the name of the drug on the internet when I first got it. It would have only taken a few minutes.
I am angry because I have been having mixed states like crazy and feeling suicidal. I was wondering when I would feel an effect from the lamictal. So now I have to start over at the 12.5 mg.
I know it's good that I figured out the error etc., but I have been taking the wrong med since April. I feel like I am now two months behind on way to feeling better.
Also, I could have a bad side effect to the real lamictal and not be able to take it all. Sigh.
From now on I am checking everything.
So be careful out there, OK? Check the bottles of the meds when you are starting a new one. Make sure you know what it is suppose to look like, especially if the med is available in a generic form.
Be careful out there!
maxime
poster:maxime
thread:232686
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030609/msgs/232686.html