Manitoba Parents Demand Pharmacy Safeguards After Daughter’s Overdose

A couple from Manitoba is advocating for enhanced safety measures in pharmacies following a distressing incident where their daughter overdosed on a medication dispensed at a local Shoppers Drug Mart. The girl, who was prescribed a daily dosage of two milligrams, received a pill containing 20 milligrams, ten times the amount her doctor recommended.

Kevin Barkley, the girl’s father, expressed his outrage, stating, “This isn’t just a ‘my bad scenario’; this is a bigger situation.” He emphasized the critical nature of dosage, particularly for children. The medication involved is protected by patient confidentiality, but medical literature indicates overdosing can lead to severe side effects, including drowsiness, hypertension, and even seizures.

The incident unfolded on August 13, 2023, when a family friend picked up the medication from the Shoppers Drug Mart located in Winnipeg’s Dominion Centre. The friend accidentally administered the incorrect dosage to the child, who subsequently became lethargic and “blacked out” for most of the day. The following morning, the girl vomited after taking a new pill, prompting her mother, Andrea Thidrickson, to investigate further.

Thidrickson recalled her panic upon realizing the seriousness of the situation. She contacted the Manitoba Poison Centre and her daughter’s pediatrician, both of whom advised immediate hospital admission. “That’s when it got pretty scary. All I could think about was, ‘Is she going to be OK? That’s my baby,'” she said.

At the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, doctors confirmed the overdose, explaining that since the medication had been in her system for over 12 hours, the family could only wait for it to clear. Fortunately, the girl made a full recovery, but she was so traumatized that she has since been taken off the medication with her doctor’s approval.

Kevin Barkley shared that medical staff expressed concern about the potential for serious complications, including a slowed heart rate. They noted that the family was fortunate; the girl’s body rejected the second pill, preventing further harm that could have resulted in a coma or worse.

The couple reported their experience to both Loblaws Ltd., the parent company of Shoppers Drug Mart, and the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba. Initially, they received limited responses, characterized by what Barkley described as “blank apologies.” However, after publicly speaking out, the company reached out to them again, confirming an ongoing investigation and expressing their commitment to address the issue.

A spokesperson for Loblaws Ltd. stated that the company “takes this matter very seriously” and has implemented “corrective measures” at the pharmacy to prevent future occurrences. Specific details regarding these measures were not disclosed.

The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba has established guidelines mandating that pharmacies implement changes following medication errors to minimize the likelihood of recurrence. The couple is currently filing a formal complaint with the College, advocating for further safeguards as similar incidents are not rare. Recent data indicated that 1,348 medication incidents occurred in Manitoba pharmacies between October 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, with nearly two-thirds arising during the prescription preparation and dispensing stages.

Barkley emphasized the need for systemic changes to pharmacy workflows. He suggested that pharmacies should incorporate additional verification steps to ensure the correct medication and dosage are dispensed. “There were so many avenues where this could have been caught,” he remarked, highlighting the critical need for diligence in medication safety. “To me, that is just blatant neglect.”

As they push for change, the family hopes their story will raise awareness about the potential dangers of medication errors, underscoring the importance of patient safety in pharmacy practices.