A new study published in Pediatrics looked at attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication errors in children under 20 years old. The study found that reported errors increased 299% from 2000 to 2021. In 2021, over 5,000 errors were reported, equal to one child every 100 minutes. Most errors (93%) happened at home. The most common errors were taking medication twice (54%), taking someone else's medication (13%), and taking the wrong medication (13%). Although most children (83%) were not treated at a hospital, some experienced serious effects like seizures. Children under 6 had more serious outcomes. The study said education and child-resistant packaging could help prevent errors. More prevention is also needed in schools where children take medication.
As an autistic adult who also struggles with ADHD, I understand why taking medication twice was the top error. I often have trouble remembering if I already took my vitamins and supplements, especially if it was earlier in the day. The routine of taking a pill doesn't stick out in my memory. This was a big part of the decision to seek ways other than medications to manage my life. I had many problems with meds in my 20s, and many trips to the hospital.
Distractions or a busy schedule can make it hard to remember too. The medication may kick in at different times, making it even harder for folks to recall taking it. And with ADHD comes impulsivity. We may take an extra dose without thinking it through fully. Whatever the reason, things like checklists and reminders are crucial for us to avoid repeating my dose. We often need strategies to work around our forgetfulness and impulsivity.
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Wow!!! Thank you for explaining the possible hows/whys someone at home could make an error. I’m curious about the reason behind the huge increase in errors.
Wow!!! Thank you for explaining the possible hows/whys someone at home could make an error. I’m curious about the reason behind the huge increase in errors.