Implication of Dispensing Cups in Dosing Errors and Pediatric Poisonings: A Report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 917-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby Litovitz
Keyword(s):  
American Association ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Poison Control ◽  
Poison Control Centers ◽  
Dosing Error ◽  
Liquid Medication ◽  
Poison Centers ◽  
Uniform Labeling ◽  
Design Case ◽  
Labeling System

OBJECTIVE: To characterize reports to poison centers involving liquid medication errors associated with the use of dispensing cups. design: Case series reported by 16 US poison centers over an eight-day period. SETTING: Calls to poison control centers, predominantly but not exclusively from homes. PATIENTS: Children and adults. RESULTS: Of 34 reported cases, most (79 percent) involved a two- to threefold dosing error, and most (94 percent) involved an error in a single dose of medication. Cough and cold preparations were implicated in 65 percent; acetaminophen elixirs in 18 percent. Three major causes of dosing errors were identified, including teaspoon/tablespoon confusion, assumption that the dispensing cup was the unit of measure, and assumption that the full dispensing cup was the actual dose. CONCLUSIONS: Dispensing cup markings should use a single unit of measure, and a uniform labeling system should be implemented. Teaspoon/tablespoon abbreviations should be avoided, and dispensing cup lettering should be more legible. Consumer education is essential to correct the misimpression that the full cup is always the recommended dose.

Pattern of ziprasidone exposures reported to Texas poison centers, 2001–2005

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
MB Forrester
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Poison Control ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Poison Control Centers ◽  
Poison Centers ◽  
The Mean

Information on potentially adverse exposures to the atypical antipsychotic drug ziprasidone is limited. This study described the pattern of exposures involving only ziprasidone (isolated exposures) reported to Texas poison control centers during 2001–2005. The mean dose was 666 mg. The patient age distribution was ≤5 years (11%), 6–19 years (30%), and ≥20 years (60%). The exposures were intentional in 53% of the cases. Seventy-five percent of the exposures were managed at health care facilities. The final medical outcome was classified as no effect for 39% of the cases and minor effects for 40% of the cases. Adverse clinical effects were listed for 53% of the patients; the most frequently reported being neurological (42%), cardiovascular (13%), and gastrointestinal (5%). The most frequently listed treatment was decontamination by charcoal (34%) or cathartic (28%). Potentially adverse ziprasidone exposures reported to poison control centers are likely to involve management at a health care facility and involve some sort of adverse clinical effect. With proper treatment, the outcomes of such exposures are generally favorable.

2000 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 337-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby L. Litovitz ◽  
Wendy Klein-Schwartz ◽  
Suzanne White ◽  
Daniel J. Cobaugh ◽  
Jessica Youniss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
American Association ◽  
Poison Control ◽  
Toxic Exposure ◽  
Poison Control Centers ◽  
Toxic Exposure Surveillance System

Poison Exposures: Data Collection and Recent Data

2000 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
Rose Ann Gould Soloway
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
American Association ◽  
Poison Control ◽  
Poison Control Centers

In 1998, there were 2,241,082 human poison exposures reported by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Approximately 52.7% of these exposures were in children under the age of six, however 91 % of the fatalities were in adults. The most common poison exposures reflected availability of substances in homes, where more than 91 % of poison exposures occurred. Evaluation of fatal exposures provides information about substances with the greatest inherent toxicity, as well as exposures that are difficult to recognize or treat when misused or taken in overdose.

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