Non-health care facility anticonvulsant medication errors in the United States

Abstract

Introduction: This study provides an epidemiological description of non-health care facility medication errors involving anticonvulsant drugs. Methods: A retrospective analysis of National Poison Data System data was conducted on non-health care facility medication errors involving anticonvulsant drugs reported to US Poison Control Centers from 2000 through 2012. Results: During the study period, 108,446 non-health care facility medication errors involving anticonvulsant pharmaceuticals were reported to US Poison Control Centers, averaging 8342 exposures annually. The annual frequency and rate of errors increased significantly over the study period, by 96.6 and 76.7%, respectively. The rate of exposures resulting in health care facility use increased by 83.3% and the rate of exposures resulting in serious medical outcomes increased by 62.3%. In 2012, newer anticonvulsants, including felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, other anticonvulsants (excluding barbiturates), other types of gamma aminobutyric acid, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, and zonisamide, accounted for 67.1% of all exposures. Conclusions: The rate of non-health care facility anticonvulsant medication errors reported to Poison Control Centers increased during 2000–2012, resulting in more frequent health care facility use and serious medical outcomes. Newer anticonvulsants, although often considered safer and more easily tolerated, were responsible for much of this trend and should still be administered with caution.