Expert: Lynn Houston - 11/12/2009

Question
QUESTION: how much more is 2 than .2

ANSWER: 2 - .2 = 1.8

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I don't think I asked the question right.  I'll just tell you what happened and you can tell me what the answer would be.  I had a prescription for medication of .2 mg and instead was given 2 mg..... I do not have a memory for about 36 hours.  I am trying to figure out how much stronger the dosage of 2 mg was versus what I should have received .2 mg.  I'd appreciate your help on this, the pharmacist who made the mistake would not answer just asked me to give him back the 2 mg.  

Answer
Oh, that I understand.  2mg instead of .2mg.  That's a 900% increase.  

As an aside, unfortunately, this happens all too often.  A lot of the time because the pharmacist cannot read the DRs handwriting.  More and more DRs are going to computer printed prescriptions to prevent this very mistake.