Prescription Errors: What They Are, How They Happen, and How to Stop Them

When a doctor writes a prescription, a pharmacist fills it, or you take a pill wrong—prescription errors, mistakes in prescribing, dispensing, or taking medications that can cause harm. Also known as medication errors, these aren’t just slips—they’re preventable events that send over a million people to the ER every year in the U.S. alone. Most people assume their doctor or pharmacist has it covered. But the truth? These errors happen more often than you think, and often because of simple oversights: similar drug names, rushed appointments, or unclear handwriting—even in digital systems.

Drug interactions, when two or more medications react in harmful ways are a major cause. Take benzodiazepines and opioids together—both are common, both are prescribed, and together they can slow your breathing to a dangerous level. Or consider how licorice, a common candy ingredient can mess with blood pressure meds. Even generic drug substitution, when a pharmacy swaps a brand-name drug for a cheaper version can go wrong if the FDA’s therapeutic equivalency code isn’t checked. These aren’t edge cases. They’re everyday risks built into the system.

You don’t need to be a medical expert to catch these mistakes. Start by asking: "What is this for?" and "What happens if I miss a dose?" Keep a list of every pill, supplement, and OTC drug you take—yes, even that gummy vitamin. Check for interactions using free tools before you take anything new. If your pharmacy gives you a different pill than last time, ask why. If your doctor writes "QD" instead of "daily," question it. These aren’t annoying questions—they’re life-saving habits.

The posts below show real examples of what goes wrong and how people fixed it. From hiccups caused by steroids to antihistamine allergies, from expired kids’ meds to how to report a mistake to the FDA—these aren’t theory. They’re lived experiences. You’ll learn how to spot red flags, what questions to ask, and how to make sure your next prescription doesn’t become a warning story.