Preventing Unintentional Medication Misuse:Recommendations From Sturdy Memorial Hospital's Pharmacy DepartmentMedications are intended to keep people healthy, but when used incorrectly, they can cause serious health problems. People who take multiple medications a day are at a greater risk for forgetting to take medications, confusing their medication schedule or dosage, or taking drugs that might interact negatively with each other. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), adverse events from medication use result in more than four million visits to emergency departments, doctors' offices, or other outpatient settings as well as 117,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States. Much of these adverse events are avoidable, and people who take medications must work in cooperation with their health care providers, including their physician and pharmacist, in taking precautions against medication errors. At Sturdy Memorial Hospital, the Nursing, Medical, and Pharmacy staff discuss medication instructions with patients to make certain they understand and to answer questions they may have, and also review patients' lists of medications for additional safety. The Pharmacy Department recommends the following tips to help ensure medicines currently taken help, not harm, the body: Keep a list of, and tell your doctor about, everything you are taking.This list should include prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and herbal and dietary supplements, as well as the dosage and schedule information of each medication. Also indicate any medicine allergies you may have; if you are pregnant, may get pregnant, or are nursing; and if you have any other illness or medical condition. Carry this list with you at all times so it is available at all medical appointments or in the event of an emergency. To receive a free "My Medical Profile" card from the Hospital, which will help you keep track of your medication instructions and allergies, call Volunteer & Student Services Ask questions about your medication.Bring written questions with you to ask your health care provider, and take notes to keep a record of the answers. The following questions are helpful in understanding your medications: 1. What is the brand name, and generic name, of this medicine? Click here to print out these questions in a worksheet format. Try to use the same pharmacy.If you buy all your medications at the same pharmacy, your prescription records will be in the same place. Read and save the patient information.This sheet, often stapled to your medication bag from the pharmacy, includes instructions and details about what you are taking. For each new prescription, review this information with the pharmacist to make sure you understand all the information. Bring a friend or family member to your doctor's visit.Talking over your medication instructions with your doctor, and with someone else you trust, can help you make better decisions and also to remember instructions. While anyone who takes medications is at some risk of a harmful effect, particular groups are more at risk than others for unintentional medication misuse. Adults age 65 and older are more likely to use multiple medications and to have difficulty handling them and interpreting instructions due to declining vision, hearing, and memory. Children are also more vulnerable, as parents and caregivers can be confused by instructions for use based on age, weight, or other medical conditions. Taking extra precautions when taking medications or administering medications to these age groups will help prevent adverse effects. Follow instructions carefully, and consider purchasing products that will help you organize your medications and remind you to take them, such as containers that you can fill with pill dosages for the week. Your pharmacist can help find the right product for you. For more information about medication safety, visit the FDA's Safe Use Initiative webpage by clicking here. |
|
 |
|