Lyme Disease

We Must Be Responsible for Our Care

A recent study showed that over 60% of Americans believe that a pharmacist is the most trusted profession. Pharmacists scored higher than policemen, firemen, doctors or even clergy. I understand why people feel that way because I trust my pharmacist, too! After a thorough examination at the doctors office, I take a small piece of paper with indecipherable scribbling on it, hand it to my local pharmacist, and he (almost magically) understands the scratchings and dispenses an appropriate assortment of pills.

Well, almost always.

In February, my husband was suffering from very severe leg spasms. His physician felt that quinine would help his problem and wrote out a prescription for it. We went immediately to the pharmacy to have the prescription filled. He began taking the prescription - three times a day for the next three months. The legs spasms didn't improve much but they didn't get any worse either.

When I notified the doctors office that my husband was running out of the medicine, they contacted the pharmacy to refill the prescription. Later that day our local pharmacist called to say there appeared to be a mix-up on the medication. It appears that whoever originally filled the prescription actually changed what the doctor ordered - from quinine to quinidine.

In simple terms, instead of putting my husband on a medication for muscle spasms, he was on heart medication - for three months. I was very angry with the pharmacy. With all the symptoms that Lyme disease brings, then the pharmacist puts him on a wrong medication - with horrible side effects, too!

I do trust my pharmacist, but this isolated incident proved to me that we as patients must be proactive in our care. It was an error and there was no long term damage, but it taught me to pay attention to exactly what my doctor prescribes, and double check with the pharmacist immediately if I don't understand. They are there to help, but ultimately, we are responsible for our own care.