Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Med Warning in a Story

So, we had an interesting experience at the theatre last night. One of our actors went AWOL. Since I usually drive him up to the theatre, I thought it odd that he hadn't returned any of my calls during the afternoon. However, 5:15 arrived and since it's a drive through rush hour to the north end of the City, I had to leave.

7:15 arrived and he hadn't arrived for an 8:00 show. So, our stage manager left a couple of messages. Still nothing. By this time, we were getting worried. Not so much about the show, but about him, as he's not the type to blow off a show. However, the show must go on, so we waylaid one of our front of house workers (an experienced actor, thank god), put him in a suit jacket and tie (and yes he was also wearing a shirt and trousers), put a script in his hand and did the show. Thankfully, this character only appears in two scenes, so our poor stand-in wasn't overly taxed. He did a marvellous job and the audience gave him cheers during his bow (we'd explained to the audience that a sub was coming in).

Unfortunately, by the time the curtain came down we had still not heard anything from our missing actor, so the cast asked me to drop by his place on my way home to see if he'd showed up. We were hoping his concierge could solve the mystery, but no concierge either. So, I went home, very worried.

Called him first thing this morning and much to my relief, he picked up the phone. It turns out (here's where the warning comes in) that he'd had a doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon because he has blood pressure issues. The doc prescribed a new med for him and gave him some samples, telling him to take three pills that afternoon. Which he did.

He passed out at his computer at some point during mid-afternoon and didn't come to until 2:00 this morning. He was extremely groggy and disoriented, which made him frightened, so he called Telehealth Ontario to talk to one of the nurses. When he explained the new med and the reaction, thinking it might have been an allergic response, the nurse said that it sounded like he'd taken sleeping pills. He finally reached his doctor at home at 7:00 this morning and told him what had happened. The doctor asked him the name of the med sample and the mystery was solved. The doctor had accidentally given him a sample of sleeping pills instead of the new blood pressure med. It is highly recommended that you take only one of these pills at a time. Brian had taken THREE!!! thinking they were the blood pressure med.

He could have died. Given his blood pressure problems, the pills could have lowered his blood pressure to the point of non-existance. Or he could have been walking about when he passed out, instead of sitting at a computer. He could have had a heart attack, or gone into a coma and never come to.

So, this is what I'd like to pass along. It's always very nice when our docs give us samples of meds (goodness knows I appreciate that when it happens). However, it might be wise to double check the med with the doctor to ensure it is the appropriate med, just to make sure that the above story does not happen to you.

Needless to say, we are all extremely relieved that he's all right. He's a truly good person, whom we've come to admire. I hate to think what could happen to one of my KA family should something freaky like this occur.

As for our AWOL actor, he's meeting me here at the office in half an hour and I'm hand delivering him to our stage manager, with strict instructions that he is, under no circumstances, to take no more strange pills.

Many hugs,

Hi Kat,

I know this story shouldn't really strike me as being funny, but for some reason it does . Poor fella, that must have really freaked him out! Lucky things turned out the way they did.

Maybe he should give his sample pills to xheathernaughtyx as she is having trouble sleeping right now. LOL, just kidding Heather.

Chelsea

He is a lucky man.

Not only check the samples but make sure you check your rx's at the pharmacy as well. I have found mistakes 4 in the past 12 months. I cant imagine what the old folks do who dont know what they are taking and what they look like etc. SCARY.

Bob

This advice can never be repeated too often. A similar tale can be told about the time I received cough medicine samples from the doctor, because I had bronchitis yet again. Didn't look to see that they were the kind with codeine, to which I react rather badly. Nearly killed me too. It is real hard when you're not feeling well or in a brain fog to pay attention to these matters. Sometimes I have my hubby look at everything the doc hands me when I come home just to make sure there are no more errors like this. Thanks for reminding all of us

Oh Inanna,

I am so glad that he is ok.

When I was reading your story it was reminding me of my Dad, he has been having alot of problems with his blood pressure med.

The Dr. started him on Avalide 300mg. My Dad would take it then almost pass out, be so groggy he couldn't wake up. Since my Mom passed away, he is alone. We talk probly 2 times a day so I could keep up with him.

I got on line and learned that the normal starting dose is 100mg a day. The Dr. started him on 3 times what is normal. I would call my Dad and he would tell me his pulse was like 50, I was like WHAT!!!!

I know your guy it was sleeping pills that was just as dangerous, but you are right. I always look at the bottle or sample, I even look at the pills. I don't think it would ever be on purpose but the Drs. and the pharmacists deal with SO many that mistakes are made.

I am so glad that something worse didn't happen.

Thank you for sharing the story,

Also, Tori is doing great now, thank you so much for the support when I was a basket case.

Lisa

wow scary!!!!Good thing the poor fellow is allright

Hi Kat
What a scary story that was. It certainly pays to always double check your meds and find out exactly what they are before taking anything. I know it isn't always that easy as we tend to trust our dr's, but mistakes do happen. After all none of us are infallible.
I wonder though, in the UK our dr's don't have samples to give out to my knowledge. I've certainly never heard of this before.
BTW how was the play?? Post some pics when you can. Taske care.
Love
Sue

Hey all, I know it was a heads up for me, not that I get all that many samples from my docs. They know I have insurance that covers all meds. However, the other thing that's important is to go through the contraindications of any new med with your doc. The cough medicine with codeine is case in point. My rheumy and I now do that every time we switch my meds around.

Chelsea, don't feel badly about laughing. We all are ... now. In hindsight and given the positive outcome, it's a pretty funny story. Certainly, the actor in question had his share of ribbing last night at the theatre!

A couple of you made the point that all rx's should be checked with your pharmie, too. Very smart. My pharmie does that as part of his service. He's even called me to clarify things when a prescription doesn't look right, or when I've been getting refills on something a little too frequently (ie. my prevacid, which the gastro guy told me to take twice a day, but which my rheumy wrote the prescription for as once a day).

These are things that we just don't think about until something happens. And why would we? We're raised to trust that our doctors are infallible. You don't question your doc. Of course, as good KAers, we all do that , but joe blow public wouldn't even consider it.

As for my friend's doc? Apparently, he'd been working overtime at a local clinic and went into the appointment exhausted. That's how errors occur, whether behind the wheel of a car, or in dispensing meds.

Many hugs,