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Slip between prescription and dispensation
Correspondence Address:
Renna Rai
Dept. of Dermatology, PSG Hospital, Peelamedu, Coimbatore-641 004
India
| How to cite this article: Rai R, Sharma N, Srinivas C R. Slip between prescription and dispensation. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2002;68:117 |
To the Editor,
William Shakespeare in his ′Midsummers night dream′ used the word sole and soul with telling humours effect. Wordsworth, Elliot and Tagore would have been rendered ineffectve had they not the liberty to exploit the rhyming words with different meaning. However, we narrate this instance to highlight an error caused by the name of drug, which rhyme.
A 40-year-old female with Hansen′s disease was on regular multi drug therapy for 3 months. She developed exfoliative dermatitis. Dapsone was stopped and she was treated with 100mg of clofazimine and 30mg of prednisolone which was gradually tapered over a period of one month. She suddenly developed excessive drowsiness of 5 days duration and slurring of speech of 2 days duration.
She was admitted and evaluated by a neurophysician who suspected transient ischemic disease. All her medication was stopped and she improved by next day. On checking her drugs it was noticed that she had taken 100mg of chlorpromazine instead of 100mg clofazimine which had resulted in drowsiness.
This is to highlight the fact that physicians should check the drugs against the prescription. Another common mistake committed by the pharmacist is giving depsonil for dapsone. Typed prescription and post prescription counselling are some of the standard methods to avoid unpardonable crime which can be caused by rhyme.
