A pharmacy receives the following prescriptions: Donepezil 5 mg #28, 1 tablet by mouth daily for 4 weeks, then increase to Donepezil 10 mg #30, 1 tablet by mouth daily thereafter, 5 refills. The prescriptions are both dispensed, and the patient is hospitalized after several weeks. The patient responds poorly. Which of the following strategies would have best helped to prevent similar errors in the future?

While patient counseling is important, it would not address the fundamental issue of dispensing both dosages simultaneously. Counseling alone cannot mitigate the risks associated with improper dosage titration, especially when the patient's response needs to be evaluated over time.

This option would create confusion by providing the higher dosage prematurely. It does not follow the prescribed titration schedule, which could lead to potential harm if the patient begins taking the higher dose without adequate monitoring of their response to the initial therapy.

While auxiliary labels can provide helpful information, they do not resolve the critical issue of administering the correct dosage at the appropriate time. Labels cannot substitute for the careful management of the titration schedule, which is essential for the safe administration of Donepezil.