A woman went to pick up her son's prescription for Metadate ER (methylphenidate, extended release), which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The pharmacist had a hard time reading the prescription. He thought the doctor had prescribed methadone. This medicine is used for drug withdrawal, and also to lessen cancer pain.
Fortunately, the woman looked at the bottle and read the leaflet attached to the bag. She couldn't understand why methadone would be prescribed for a boy with an attention deficit! By inspecting the prescription before leaving the pharmacy, she avoided giving her child a pain medicine meant for adults.
