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Publication Type: Newsletter
Single or Multiple Incident: Multiple
Date: 11/13/2019 12:00:00 AM
Country: Canada
This alert discusses the patient safety incidents that may occur when medication usually taken is not available due to a drug shortage. When a drug shortage occurs, a substitute medication may be given that is the same medication but a different strength or different dosage form. At times it may be necessary to change to a new medication. Sometimes these changes can result in mistakes with the new medication. The newsletter provides an example of a near miss where a medication incident was avoided because the consumer asked the right questions when receiving a new medication. The newsletter provides several suggestions for consumers whose medications need to be changed because of a drug shortage. These suggestions are available in the recommendations section of this alert.

Additional Details

Medication/Gas/Fluid:
antihypertensive

Communication
  1. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about changing to a different or a new medication.
  2. Use the 5 Questions to Ask to learn about your new medication. Make sure you know how much to take and how often. Find out whether there are any other things you need to know about the new medication, such as any change in how the medication should be taken.
Rules / Policies / Procedures
  1. If you still have some the old medication at home, stop taking it and return it to your pharmacy.

When Medications Are Not Available Due to a Drug Shortage