The pharmacy gave me the wrong miligrams of Atenelol what should I do?

Question

I am supposed to take 5 miligrams and the pharmacy gave me 100 miligrams, i noticed because the pills were so much larger than my normal pills. i did not take them. The Pharmacy is a state pharmacy. i guess i just need some feedback as to maybe hypethitically if i had taken it would it have stopped my heart? and shouldn't somebody be more responsible than to make such a huge mistake? thanks for any input.

Answer 1

First off you did the correct thing in not taking the 100mg dosage. Now you should call your physician and get the correct prescription dose written on a prescription pad and take it or mail it to this pharmacy. Whether it be state ran or not is not the point the wrong dosage was dispensed and yes you could have had serious if not fatal complications.People are human and do make mistakes however most pharmacies have a list of what medications and strengths you are currently taking . It was a gross mistake that needs to be reported to the staff at the pharmacy and higher up on the scale including the state pharmacy board. Had you taken the pill it may have been fatal, I assume this medication is a daily med for your bp and if you only have the 100mg pills you have no choice but to call your doctor as i said and get the right pills and continue to take them as you shouldn't be off them. I would even try a different pharmacy if i could. good luck call the doctor get your correct dosage and take your medication.

Answer 2

Please verify your dosage. Five milligrams is not a dosage that is available as a normal dose. I have on occasion prescribed 12.5mg and even under those circumstances the patient needs to take a half of a 25mg tablet.

Atenolol's activity at 100mg is mostly centered around your heart rate (the first 50 mg will also reduce your blood pressure). Any of this class of medications, called beta blockers will slow your heart rate. Some people are tremendously effected by medication and a 100mg of Atenolol could slow it down to below 40 beats per minute or slower.

Verify the correct dosage with the pharmacist or the physicians office or both. Be well and good luck.

Answer 3

You did the right thing by not taking the 100 mg pills. The usual dose for atenolol is 50 up to 100 mg - I take the drug - I know. 5mg sounds way too low. To be sure, however, check with your doctor or clinician and find out what your dosage is supposed to be - they should be able to give you the information over the phone. If you have a bunch of 100 mg pills and only need 50 mg. I'd just cut the pills in half.

Answer 4

The smallest available dose in the U.S. is 25mg. It also comes in dosages of 50mg and 100mg. In theory, yes, taking too much of atenolol, like any beta blocker, can stop one's heart and lungs. If you are taking this for hypertension, the recommended dose is 25-50 mg per day. If you are taking this for chest pain, the recommended dose is initially 50 mg per day.
Pharmacy mistakes happen all the time. This has to do with the fact that there is a pharmacy shortage. State pharmacy's have it the worst because no one wants to work there.

Answer 5

Take them back to the pharmacy and report this to the manager there. I took my medicine back once because they had the pills in each bottle switched. My mistake was not going to the manager of the pharmacy. I feel like they should have made note of this. This is a dangerous situation anytime the medicine is switched or not the right dosage.
No; I do not think you should sue. Our medicine is high enough already.

Answer 6

are you sure theyre supposed to be 5 milligrams? i didnt know they come any smaller than 25mg... anyway go back to the pharmacy dont take them.... but no some people do take 100 mg a day so it probably wouldnt kill you but you might not be feeling too good....

if you dont think the dosage is right definetly ask them to look at the prescription again and verify it. dont take them, go to the pharmacy and make sure you get the correct dose first.

Answer 7

Atenolol doesn't come as 5mg - only 25mg, 50mg & 100mg. It would have lowered your blood pressure to a greater degree if the dose was too high, but unlikely to have stopped your heart. It's responsible of you to question changes in your medication. I'd be thankful you noticed & did not experience an adverse event. Since nothing actually happened, you probably wouldn't get too far in court. Besides, nobody's perfect - are you?

Answer 8

Okay, I dont know much about Atenelol, but its a good thing you didn't take any!! Not only for health reasons, but, you can go back to the pharmacy,and give it to them, and tell them to call your doctor, to call in the proper script... I've done this myself.. Except one time, they gave me the right script, it was just too few to get through my month, since I take them daily.. They simply called the doctor, and straightened it all out, right there, it only took me, about a 15-20 minute wait, to get it straightened out.. You could even call the pharmacy before going down there, and explain the situation, and maybe, they can already have the phone call part out of the way, before you get there, or just call your doctor, yourself, and talk to the nurses there and tell them what happened, and if they can call the correct script in, before you go down there, then just dont forget to take the wrong one with you!! God forbid, or else you'll have to go all the way back home!! Good-Luck, to you, and I'm glad you read the script before taking them, smart response, on your part!! Smile!!!

Answer 9

You did the right thing by not taking the 100mg. 95mg more than you need could be fatal. The pharmacy should've been more thorough in their dispensing. Even a state pharmacy needs to be accountable for their mistakes. I'd contact the national pharmacy board and the attorney general's office in your state to report this major mistake. It can be fatal.

Answer 10

i'd honestly sue! yet, be particular that you could teach that they gave you the incorrect prescription. Will your well being practitioner lower back you up and say that isn't what he/she prescribed? Get a reliable lawyer, you'll have one heck of a reliable lawsuit there. I understand you no longer being "sue satisfied", yet merely imagine, in case you do not do this, then the same project can ensue to somebody else and likely with far worse repercussions than you suffered. reliable success. And, i'm satisfied you're ok.