Don't Mistake the Abbreviation "Q6pm" for "Every 6 Hours as Needed"

August 2016

Two near misses will put the spotlight on avoiding errors with dangerous abbreviations.

In the first case, "B-L-D" was misread as "twice daily"...but the prescriber meant "with breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

In the second case, "QM" was misinterpreted as "every day"...instead of "every month."

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Table of Contents

Medication Errors Don't Mistake the Abbreviation "Q6pm" for "Every 6 Hours as Needed"
Generics Don't Be Surprised To See Some Brand-Name Drugs Labeled As Generics
Practice Make the Most of What You Can Do As a Licensed Technician
Antidepressants Apply a "Do Not Crush or Chew" Label to Fetzima Rxs
Epilepsy Put an "Avoid Alcohol" Label on Brivlera Rxs
Naloxone Think of Naloxone as a Seat Belt for ANY Opioid Patient
OTC Products Be Aware That Higher Strengths of Rubbing Alcohol Aren't Better Antiseptics
Adverse Events Stay Alert for Patients at Risk for Heart Problems With Hydroxyzine
Pregnancy Watch for Women Who Are Pregnant Taking Pregabalin
MRSA Wash Hands Often to Prevent Spread of MRSA
Antacids Double-Check Product Labels to See if An Antacid Contains Aspirin
Diabetes Help Ensure Diabetes Patients Get the Right Add-On Med to Metformin