Case Study: The Double Dose Disaster

It was a typical day in the office when I received a phone call from a prospective client. Nancy was a young woman who carried the burden of a traumatic experience at the hands of a pharmacy. The woman’s harrowing experience was due to a pharmacological error, and as her attorney, it was my duty to unravel the details of the ordeal and seek justice on her behalf.

For years, Nancy had been battling bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that causes extreme shifts from manic episodes to depression. Her psychiatrist had prescribed Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), a medication intended to stabilize her mood and improve her manic and depressive episodes. The dosage prescribed was 150 mg, a careful balance to manage her condition without causing undue side effects.

One fateful day, she picked up her prescription and began taking the medication as directed. It wasn’t long before she noticed alarming symptoms: double vision, eye twitching, and severe balance issues. She didn’t realize this yet, but the pharmacy had dispensed a double dose of her medication.

Days went by, and her symptoms worsened. She struggled with her vision, balance, and uncontrollable eye movements that were both disorienting and terrifying. These health issues escalated to the point where she was forced to miss work. 

Almost three weeks later, she became so concerned by the onset of unusual symptoms that she returned to the pharmacy. She presented the pharmacist with the bottle of Trileptal and explained her symptoms. It was there that the pharmacist confirmed the dangerous error made weeks ago. 

The pharmacist admitted that the pharmacy had dispensed 300 mg of Trileptal, which was double the 150 mg the woman was prescribed. The pharmacist instructed her to taper off the medication gradually, stating that cutting the dose in half immediately could lead to more unwanted side effects. 

Two days later, she suffered an adverse drug reaction that led her to pass out on the way to the shower and hit her head in the bathroom. That night, she experienced muscle twitching and spasms, and she decided to go to the emergency room. Her neurological evaluation showed signs of drug toxicity. Due to her adverse drug reaction and seizures, she was admitted to the hospital.

Her recovery and time in the hospital was agonizing. The hospital staff administered Ativan, a medication to control her seizures. However, her physical symptoms were only part of her suffering. While recovering in the hospital from the drug overdose, she experienced mood swings, insomnia, deepening depression, and other psychological effects that persisted for weeks. Her physical recovery spanned an excruciating 50 days from April 21st to June 10th, but the mental trauma lingered long after that.

When Nancy approached me about her case, I was shocked by the pharmacy’s negligence and the toll it had taken on her physical and mental state.

The error had not only disrupted her life, but it had also inflicted lasting emotional trauma.

I pursued legal action against the pharmacy, seeking justice for the unnecessary pain and suffering she had endured. 

The legal process required a meticulous gathering of evidence, expert testimonies, and a detailed account of the woman’s suffering. Throughout the case, she remained resilient, her courage a constant reminder of why we fight for justice in such cases.

Eventually, we reached a settlement of $82,500 (which likely would have been a lot more significant had her symptoms lasted longer). This was a significant acknowledgment of the pharmacy’s negligence and the profound impact it had on the woman’s life. The settlement provided her with some measure of closure and the means to seek further treatment and support. 

This case underscores the importance of diligence in the medical field and the devastating consequences that follow medical mistakes. While proper procedures and protocols are supposed to safeguard our health, this isn’t always reality. Medical mistakes can happen, and if they ever happen to you, do not hesitate to consult with a skilled personal injury attorney. 

As I reflect on this case, I am reminded of the critical role we play as attorneys in advocating for those who have been wronged. Nancy’s case was not just about a medication error; it was about holding accountable those whose negligence disrupts lives. 

It is cases like hers that fuel our commitment to justice under the law and that remind us of the profound impact our work can have on individuals’ lives.