Prescription errors by pharmacies are a wide spread problem. Many pharmacies employ non-pharmacist assistants to actually fill the prescriptions. While these assistants are required to be under the supervision of the licensed pharmacists who are physically present at the pharmacy, the high volume of prescriptions that are filled at many pharmacies sometimes makes the supervision spotty.

The bottom line is that whenever you pick up a prescription, check the label on the bottle to make sure that the medication is what was prescribed. If it is a refill and you are familiar with what the pills look like, you should make sure that the pills look the same. Even if the label is correct, the pills may not be. Any discrepancies should be brought to the attention of the pharmacist before you take the medication. These simple steps may help you avoid a serious injury.