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NP Beverly
Washington Community Health Plan
The member explained to me that she was taking the
antidepressant medication, fluoxetine, with a dosage of three 20
mg capsules daily. But in reviewing her medications, I informed
her the prescription was for 40 mg capsules and written to take
one tablet twice daily. She was horrified to realize she now had
40 mg capsules and instead of 60 mg daily, she was taking 120
mg daily. Maximum recommended dose is 80 mg daily.
She had been taking the higher dose for at least five months, so
she could not abruptly decrease it.
I spoke with her primary care provider about the situation and
requested she prescribe a 20 mg capsule and plan a weaning
schedule for the member. The doctor agreed. The member suffers
from poor memory due to a traumatic head injury and although
she writes everything down that she needs to remember, she did
not recall a change in her fluoxetine dosing and instructions. She
expressed her appreciation for finding the error.