Missed Atenolol dose for 5 days, incorrect script

[KW1966]

I have been taking Atenolol for a number of years without any problems, however when I collected my last prescription I was issued with allopurinol in error, despite correct sticker on the box, signed and countersigned by the chemist and their assistant. I commenced the new meds and started feeling unwell the next day. As this was around the hottest day of the year I thought that would be the cause.

The symptoms gradually worsened over the next 5 days until I began to have the classic heart attack symptoms, pains down the left arm, Jaw, breathlessness, fatigue and so on. It was at this point I decided to check all my meds as we were due to go on a 14 night cruise 2 days later.

I checked what I thought was the correct meds and found to my horror I was taking gout pills! Straight back to the chemist and they were exchanged for the correct ones, which I commenced straight away

I was checked out at my local A & E department and all was ok apart from my BP and Resting Heart Rate was raised. An ECG was carried out and there was no abnormalities, so I was allowed to travel.

During the cruise I was exhausted and slept most afternoons for the majority of the time.

On my return to work last week I began to feel unwell again resulting in a visit to my GP for a second time. Blood samples were taken to check for any damage to my heart.

After 2 1/2 weeks I still feel tired, my angina was stable before this and is now unstable.

I'm curious to know what lasting damage I could have caused to my heart and can I expect to recover in time.

I did suffer a heart attack back in 2012 with no major problems, until now that is!

[Lezzers]

I can't answer your questions unfortunately, though I do believe you should be weaned off beta blockers and not just stopped. Perhaps your GP or cardiologist should be the ones to answer that question or maybe give the BHF nurses a call in the morning. But what a mistake to have made!!

[KW1966 in reply to Lezzers]

Thanks for the prompt reply, I've raised a complaint with the pharmacy, we await their reply with interest, I will certainly give the BHF nurses a call in the morning

[Lezzers in reply to KW1966]

I hope their answers are favourable to you. You seem quite calm about it, which is obviously a good thing.

[Bagrat in reply to KW1966]

pharmacyregulation.org/cont... . As well as raising it with pharmacy locally you can report here.

This may mean new safety measures are put in place. In nursing it has always been a dilemma with medicine giving. Is it safer if 2 check or does it dilute accountability. Very difficult. Hope you are soon feeling back on an even keel.

[Sueturnersmith in reply to Bagrat]

My pharmacy have give me the wrong pills on several occasions, in spite of them being double checked! Luckily I also always check them before taking them. I dread to think what would happen if someone with memory problems or learning difficulties just took the wrong pills due to the pharmacies errors.

[Bagrat in reply to Sueturnersmith]

The qorst we have had was tablets of half the normal dose with no instruction to double. They were BIT apologetic.........