Pharmaceutical consultation: gemfibrozil poisoning

Forty-six-year-old patient diagnosed with depression, hyperthyroidism and hypertriglyceridemia. Over the last month and a half, she has had to go to the emergency service several times due to major diarrhea symptoms, nausea and malaise. The doctors diagnosed gastroenteritis, administered intravenous fluid with antiemetics and prescribed paracetamol 1 g every 8 hours. 

During the consultation, her husband asked to be given Trialmin^® 600 mg, which had been “prescribed for [his wife’s] thyroid” at a dose 6 pills per day.

We detected a negative drug result stemming from a prescription error and the drug’s indicated use for hypertriglyceridemia. We acted by explaining that Tirodril^® is the drug that had been prescribed for hyperthyroidism, rather than Trialmin^®, which is indicated for hypertriglyceridemia. The patient is directed to the emergency service with a written report for the doctor.