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Medication Safety
Medication Safety
TAKE PART IN DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR TREATMENT
Take part in your treatment decisions. Don't be afraid to ask questions and talk about your concerns. You may want to write down questions to ask at your next visit to the doctor. By taking time to ask questions now, you may avoid problems later. Don't be afraid to "bother" your doctor with your concerns and questions. Bring a friend or family member with you when you visit your doctor. Talking over your options with someone you trust can help you make better choices, especially if you are not feeling well. You can also talk to your pharmacist about the medications you are taking. Here are some points to cover each time a new medication is prescribed.
o Ask about the risks and benefits of each medicine.
o Ask how often you or your doctor will have to check your
medicine's effects. For example, checking your blood pressure if
you are taking a medicine to lower it, or having a laboratory test
done to make sure the levels of medicine in your blood are not too
high or too low.
o Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are already taking.This includes prescription medicines and the medicines you buy without a prescription, such as aspirin, laxatives, vitamin supplements, and home remedies. Then your doctor can avoid giving you a new medicine that may not work well with one you already take. It is helpful and useful to keep a written list of all the medications you are currently taking - prescription and nonprescription including the dose and instructions for use.
o Tell your doctor what is important to you about your medicines.
o You may want a medicine with fewest side effects, or fewest doses
to take each day. If you have trouble swallowing, you may want a
liquid form of medicine. You may care most about cost (there may
be a generic drug or another lower-cost medicine you can take), or
you may want the medicine your doctor believes will work best.
o Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to medications or if you
have had any troubling side effects from medicines.
o Tell your doctor if you have any illnesses or problems for which
another doctor or health professional is treating you.
FOLLOW YOUR TREATMENT PLAN
To follow the treatment plan you and your doctor agree on, ask questions, and tell your doctor your needs and concerns. Here are some points to cover.
o The name of the medicine and what it is supposed to do.
o How and when to take the medicine, how much to take, and for how
o long? Ask about any terms or directions you do not understand.
o What food, drinks, other medicines, or activities you should avoid
while taking the medicine.
o What side effects the medicine may have, and what to do if they
occur.
o Whether you can get a refill, and if so, how often.
o What to do if you miss a dose.
o Ask if there is written information you can take home. Most
pharmacies have information sheets on your prescription medicines.
o Tell your doctor of any concerns you have about using the medicine.
o Tell your doctor if you are not taking your medicine as directed.
o For example, some people may stop taking their medicine, take a
lower dose, or skip doses if they are having side effects. Your
doctor needs to know about any changes in your treatment plan.
o Do not let guilty feelings or embarrassment keep you from telling
your doctor this important information.
o Adhering to the medication regimen prescribed by your physician is
important for your medications to work properly. Taking your
medication in the dose and at the times prescribed can be very
important to the action of the medication. If you have any questions
or problems with taking the medicine exactly as it was prescribed by
your doctor, contact your physician or pharmacist.
WATCH FOR PROBLEMS AND GET HELP SOLVING THEM
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about any problems you may be having with your medications. Most medicine problems can be avoided or solved if you know what to watch out for and if you talk with your health professional about what is happening.
o Ask about the results of medical tests that show how the medicine
is working. For example, if you are taking a medication for high
blood pressure, it is important to monitor your blood pressure.
o Ask if the medicine is still needed.
o Tell how you are feeling since you started taking the medicine. Do
you think it is helping?
o Tell about any problems you are having taking your medicine,
including side effects or any new problems that may be related to the
medicine. If you experience any effects that you associate with your
medication, such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, rashes, or
other unexplained symptoms, contact your physician or pharmacist
immediately.
o Tell about any new medicines that another doctor gave you, and
any new over-the-counter (non-prescription) medicines that you
are taking. Telling which medicines you take is veryimportant
- especially if you are seeing more than one doctor.
HOW YOUR PHARMACIST CAN HELP
When you pick up your medicines, always talk to the pharmacist and ask any questions you may have about your medications. Here are some points to cover.
o The name of the medicine and what it is supposed to do.
o How and when to take the medicine, how much to take, and for how
long. Ask about any terms or directions you do not understand.
o Any special techniques or devices for administering the medication
(e.g., liquids that you need to "shake well" before pouring the
dose, or special instructions for the use of inhalers, suppositories,
eye drops, or patches).
o What food, drinks, other medicines, or activities you should avoid
while taking the medicine.
o What side effects the medicine may cause, and what to do if they occur.
o Whether you can get a refill, and if so, how often.
o What to do if you miss a dose.
o How should the medicine be stored. Do any of the medicines
require refrigeration?
o Ask if there is written information you can take home. Most
o pharmacies have information sheets about your prescription medicines.
o Try to use one pharmacy for all your medicine needs. Make sure the
pharmacy keeps a complete "profile" of all your medications. Give a
complete list of all medications to your pharmacist, including anything that
you use that is available without a prescription. Make sure you include
things such as vitamin supplements and home remedies, as these may
nteract with prescriptions you may also be taking. This will help your
pharmacist keep track of your medicines, identify any duplicate therapy or
potential interactions between the medications you take, and help you
solve any problems you may have with your medicines.
STORING YOUR MEDICATIONS
Store all of your medications in a designated location in your residence. Keep all medications stored together in one place unless they require refrigeration or are labeled "store in a cool place." This will help if an emergency situation occurs and your doctor needs to review all of your medications. Be sure that your medications are stored out of reach of any children that may visit, especially if you have non-child proof containers.
o Do not mix different medications together in one container; this will
make it difficult if not impossible to identify your medications in an
emergency.
o Medicines should be stored in a cool, dry area. Do not store your
medications in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom or in the kitchen
because the heat and moisture may cause deterioration. Instead,
store your medications in a designated area in your living room or
bedroom.
o Medications stored in the refrigerator should be separated from
other items in the refrigerator. Consider keeping refrigerated
medications in a plastic box or container in one area of the
refrigerator.
o Oral medications should be kept separate from other items that are
for external use only (such as creams and ointment, or reagent
tablets).
o Expired medications (there are expiration dates on all of your
medications) and any medication that your doctor has discontinued
should be discarded.
o Never share or give your medications to another person.
o Remember, medicines can only help you if you take them the right
way. The information provided here is intended to help you do so.
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation
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