This innovative investigation into dangerous prescription drug interactions yielded groundbreaking science and sparked safety reforms at pharmacies nationwide.
In “The hunt for dangerous doses,” the Tribune engaged in a unique collaboration with data scientists, pharmacologists and cellular researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in an attempt to discover prescription drug combinations that might be causing a potentially fatal heart arrhythmia. By mining the universe of big data in entirely new ways, then testing in a lab, the team found a way to identify and confirm previously unknown drug interactions.
In “Filled without warning,” Tribune tested 255 pharmacies in the Chicago area to see how often they would dispense deadly drug combinations without warning patients. It was the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind. Fifty-two percent of the pharmacies sold the medications without mentioning the potential interactions.
In “Prescription for harm,” the Tribune told the harrowing story of Becki Conway and the dangers everyone faces from drug interactions. Conway’s skin blistered and peeled off in sheets after her drugs interacted. Her ordeal offers a primer for the public on how there are breakdowns at every turn: in the doctors office, at pharmacies and in the hospital.