Brief Report

Carbidopa/levodopa pharmacy errors in Parkinson's disease

  1. Nasim R. Khadem BA,
  2. Melissa J. Nirenberg MD, PhD*

Article first published online: 3 SEP 2010

DOI: 10.1002/mds.23311

Issue

Movement Disorders

Movement Disorders

Volume 25, Issue 16, pages 2867–2871, 15 December 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Khadem, N. R. and Nirenberg, M. J. (2010), Carbidopa/levodopa pharmacy errors in Parkinson's disease. Mov. Disord., 25: 2867–2871. doi: 10.1002/mds.23311

Author Information

  1. Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

*Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 DEC 2010
  2. Article first published online: 3 SEP 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 24 MAY 2010
  4. Manuscript Revised: 21 APR 2010
  5. Manuscript Received: 7 MAR 2010

Funded by

  • Parkinson's Disease Foundation

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Keywords:

  • carbidopa/levodopa;
  • healthcare utilization;
  • Parkinson;
  • outpatient;
  • pharmacy error;
  • prescription

Abstract

Outpatient pharmacy errors are common, but little is known about their occurrence in Parkinson's disease (PD). We prospectively studied carbidopa/levodopa pharmacy errors in a cohort of PD outpatients. Over 1 year, pharmacy errors occurred in 8/73 (11%) subjects treated with this medication, producing adverse drug events (ADEs) in 7/8 (87.5%) and increased healthcare utilization in 6/8 (75%) cases. The most common errors were substitution of controlled-release for immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa 25/100 mg (5/8; 62.5%) or dispensation of the wrong carbidopa/levodopa dosage (2/8; 25%). All errors involved ongoing prescriptions, including three interpharmacy transfers. Three subjects (37.5%) questioned pharmacy staff about the change in appearance of the tablets, but the error was corrected in only 1/3 of these cases. Carbidopa/levodopa outpatient pharmacy errors are a common, preventable cause of morbidity and excessive healthcare utilization in PD. Education of healthcare providers, patients, and pharmacy staff is warranted to reduce these errors and associated ADEs. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society

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