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The tablets missing from the list

Illustrated Story B33, with a text transcript.

Read story B33: The tablets missing from the list (image and text)
Eight-panel illustrated story, The tablets missing from the list. Sandra, a white woman in her sixties, becomes confused after hospital admission. Her daughter reports the change and asks about a usual night-time medicine. A pharmacist finds that a regular medicine was omitted. The doctor explains that withdrawal can cause delirium and says they will treat it. The pharmacist discusses accurate medicine recording. Footer: Sudden withdrawal from some medicines can cause delirium.

Stopping some prescribed medicines suddenly can cause serious withdrawal symptoms. These happen because the body has become used to the medicine. In this story, a regularly taken benzodiazepine, a type of medicine used for anxiety or sleep, was accidentally missed out when the person went into hospital.

An accurate medicines list and information from the family help the team identify the problem. Tell staff about regular medicines and recent changes. If sudden confusion develops, seek urgent medical help. Do not stop or restart medicines yourself to treat the confusion.

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Story text

  1. Panel 1. Sandra takes a prescribed medicine every night.

  2. Panel 2. After admission, she becomes confused and frightened.

  3. Panel 3.

    • Holly: This is a sudden change.

  4. Panel 4.

    • Doctor: We’ll assess her for delirium and look for causes.

  5. Panel 5.

    • Holly: Has she had her usual night-time tablet?

  6. Panel 6.

    • Pharmacist: A regular medicine was missed from the list.

  7. Panel 7.

    • Doctor: Sudden withdrawal can cause delirium. We’ll treat it.

  8. Panel 8.

    • Pharmacist: Let’s make sure her medicines are recorded correctly.

Bottom band. Sudden withdrawal from some medicines can cause delirium.

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