Table 1.
Description and examples of medication discrepancy categories
| Medication discrepancy category | Description | Examples |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference medication list | Community pharmacy medication list | ||
| Omission of medication | Medication is included on the reference medication list but excluded on the community pharmacy medication list | A prescription for lisinopril is included | A prescription for lisinopril is not included |
| Addition of medication | Medication is included on the community pharmacy medication list but excluded on the reference medication list | A prescription for metoprolol is not included | A prescription for metoprolol is included |
| Discrepant dose | Mismatch of the medication dose during administration between the reference and community pharmacy medication list | A prescription for gabapentin 600 mg taken three times daily | A prescription for gabapentin 300 mg taken three times daily |
| Discrepant frequency | Medication between lists has a different dosing frequency for the same medication | A prescription for furosemide 40 mg taken twice daily | A prescription for furosemide 40 mg taken once daily |
| Duplicate medicationa | Medication name, dose and frequency is listed on the reference medication list and two or more of the same prescription are available to the patient on the community pharmacy medication list | One prescription for methotrexate 2.5 mg tablets, take five tablets by mouth once weekly | Three prescriptions for methotrexate 2.5 mg tablets, take five tablets by mouth once weekly |
a
This excludes stored or “on-hold” prescriptions on the patient's community pharmacy list that are refills to replace soon-to-be expired prescriptions.