Do not mix your pipettes and read the instructions: here are two tips that the Medicines Agency provides to patients in order to avoid overdoses.
A tidy medicine cabinet means less risk of incidents. “Put away your pipettes and measuring spoons”, once again reminds the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM). Because mixing devices for administering drinkable drugs involves real risks. After addressing the patients, the health authority addresses health professionals and manufacturers.
According to a study conducted between 2005 and 2013 by the ANSM, 135 errors related to drinkable drugs were reported. In almost all cases, they concern children (94%). And contrary to what one might imagine, open access drugs are far from being the majority since they only represent 31% of reports.
Clearer graduation
These incidents or risks of error are regularly reported to the ANSM. The Agency reminds us that using the wrong pipette can “have serious consequences for the patient”. Human error is often the cause, she explains: the terms of use can be poorly understood. For example, an individual may understand that he must administer several pipettes and not several drops. The double graduations and the lack of readability are also a problem.
The recommendations, published for pharmaceutical laboratories, are the result of joint work with health professionals in the field. The ANSM asks manufacturers to systematically provide a device with oral solutions, that the graduation indicated is the same as that shown on the leaflet and as precisely as possible.
Advice to patients
But the health authority does not forget to contact health professionals, who prescribe the 68% of prescription drugs involved in the incidents. It is up to them to make patients aware of the risk of misuse. To help them, a poster campaign was launched in 2013. Its slogan: “Don’t mix your pipettes”.
To parents, the ANSM finally reminds four rules that limit the risks. Each drug has a corresponding device. These are therefore not universal. The device should be kept in the correct medicine pack to avoid confusion. The package leaflet should always be consulted before use. If in doubt, seeking advice from a healthcare professional is strongly recommended.
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