[jlove973]

*****CHECKOUT THIS HORRIBLE RESPONSE TIME TO TAKING A MEDICATION ACCIDENTALLY*****

This weekend we had a medication scare at my house. My daughter for a few years now, has taken Concerta in the am and Clonidine in the pm. All her medication is divided for day time and night time. Set a side and labeled (this has been a routine for quite some time). Well, on Saturday she accidentally took her Clonidine in the am. Right after she took it she noticed it. She came to me crying and didn't know what to do. So I called the Dr., because I myself was actually pretty scared due to the fact that she just had one the night before at 10:00pm and It is now 7:00am in the morning. Anyway, I called the Behavioral Health Center and they said someone would contact me back ASAP. Well about 30 minutes went by and still no call, so I called her PCP. That office said that they would call me back with-in 15 minutes. Didn't happen, I sat and waited for over an hour for someone to call me back. I couldn't believe that the response for a medication wrongly taken by a child was not instant/urgent. I then received a call back about 8:45am from her PCP, he said that there was nothing that he could advise me to do and that I would have to call the Pharmacy that filled the med or get a hold of her Psychiatrist. Of course that didn't help me. By that time it was almost 2 hours after she had taken the medication. I contacted the Pharmacy and they said that she had an over dose of medication and to get her to the ER as soon as possible. At this time receiving this info I panicked. I do not drive they said to call 911. My daughter was very groggy and was complaining of a headache. She said her head was pounding horribly. I didn't know what to do for her. Then finally at about 9:30ish, the Psychiatrist called me and said that she would be ok and to not take her to the ER. Give her the Concerta and she may be groggy for a while at least until about 12-1 pm. He said it happens often. The Pharmacist shouldn't have created a scare.

Well, this is how I am feeling about all of this. Why is it that it takes so long for a Psychiatrist/Behavioral Health Center to contact you back regarding a child taking a medication that they shouldn't be taking?
Why also is it that the PCP Dr did not know how to help or give some form of advice to me?
Why did the Pharmacist freak me out and tell me she was OD'ing on this medication?(I have been getting this med filled for her there for a few years now).
And said to call 911 and get her to the ER right away?

I know I am just frustrated about the whole thing.
I guarantee you that if it was there daughter they would know quickly what to do. Or, they would also get angry if it took hours to get a response from someone.

Thank GOD that this was not a fatal situation/medication, because I sure would be pointing a finger at someone.

Sorry for the anger. I am just glad that my daughter was OK.

[biplol]

((((((jlove973))))) Ohhh my gosh, I'm so sorry you have to go trhu something like that.
I understand your pain and anger, and I'm a mom too, so I know how scarry that might've been.
How is she now?
Have you talked to her Pdoc again?
I Hope everything is ok now.

[psisci]

The reason is because the doctors are probably with other patients, and the nursing staff are afraid to interrupt them. This is wrong and stupid, but very common in health care today. Your Dr was right in that there was no real risk of harm in the mistake that happened, but you did not know that and someone should have called you ASAP.

Dr.S.

Here they always advise calling the poison control center because they unlike doctors and psychiatrists have many people answering the phones that do not have to see clients in between trying to locate information for a parent on the drug accidentally taken and treatment options and so on and poison control is immediate help and and will send an ambulance and so on if that is needed. They are specifically trained for drug overdoses and they stay right on the phone while they are looking up the medication in the physicians Desk Reference and consulting with their staff physicians and psychiatirst they keep on call for such situations.

the number is always located on the inside cover of any USA telephone book the same place you find 911 the number is-

1-800-222-1222

[jlove973]

Thank you so much MYSELF I appreciate you giving me the number. I honestly didn't even think of calling poison control it was farthest from my mind.

PSISCI, This was on a Saturday morning. I am still upset about it.
I even ended up reporting them to CPSA. If you don't know what that is. It's Community Partnership of Southern Arizona. They are affiliated with all the Behavioral Health clinics in Az. If there are any BH issues including Meds, Doc issues, bad experience at a clinic or a crisis situation you can call them.
I've never had to call them in 12 years. This situation just topped the cake.

You're welcome and hang in there.