Medicine Check! 7 Simple Ways to Avoid Medication Errors at Home
Do you take several medicines a day? Keeping track of the correct dosage and schedule of your medications can be challenging, especially for older adults managing multiple health conditions. With different medicines, dosages, and schedules to remember, it’s easy to get confused. But making a small mistake, like missing a dose or taking the wrong medicine, can affect your health.
VidaCure Pharmacy, a PhilHealth GAMOT-accredited pharmacy, shares these practical tips to make managing medications easier and help prevent medication errors.
Tamang Gamot, Tamang Dose: Tips for Managing Your Medicines Safely
1. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medications, especially if you find something confusing.
Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and the conditions they treat. Confirm the correct dosage, when to take each medicine, and how long it may take to see results. You can also ask how to store your medicines properly, whether a more affordable generic alternative is available, and what side effects to watch out for.
2. Share your list of medications, especially if you have multiple doctors.
Taking different medications can increase the risk of adverse drug events. For instance, when you take two medicines with the same active ingredient, their side effects may be intensified or cause an overdose.
It’s recommended that you inform all of your physicians about the different medicines you’re taking. Discuss the list of all your prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medications with your doctor each time you have an appointment, especially before taking anything new to avoid duplicate prescriptions and possible drug interactions. OTC medicines may include supplements, vitamins, and herbal medicines. Visit VidaCure for dependable OTC medicines in the Philippines.
3. Check your medicines before leaving the pharmacy.
When buying medicines at the pharmacy, especially a new prescription, make sure that the name of the medicine and dosage match what your doctor prescribed. If anything seems different or unclear, ask your pharmacist for guidance.
At VidaCure Pharmacy, our pharmacists are always ready to answer your questions and help you understand your medications. We’re committed to providing safe, affordable, and FDA-approved medicines in the Philippines.
4. Properly dispose of expired and old medications.
Review your medications and throw away all old and expired drugs. Expired medicines can lose their effectiveness and potency over time. Furthermore, some drugs can be harmful when taken after their expiration date.
5. Take your medicines as prescribed.
Always take your medicines at the right time and in the right way as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist. Do not skip doses, change the dosage, or stop your medication without consulting your doctor first.
6. Use the right measuring tools.
If you need a measuring device to take your medicine, use the exact dosing tool (e.g., medicine cup or dropper for liquid medication). This helps promote safe use and dosage accuracy. Always wash the measuring device after every use to remove residual medicine.
7. Keep your medicines organized.
A pill organizer can help keep track of your medicines. You can choose the number of compartments based on your needs. It’s advisable to keep the original packaging of your pills, but make sure you cut the blister strips carefully without puncturing the seal of the other doses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are medication errors?
Medication errors are preventable mistakes that can happen when prescribing, dispensing, or taking medicines.
2. What is an adverse drug reaction?
An adverse drug reaction is defined as “harm caused by appropriate or inappropriate use of a drug”, including cases of taking incorrect dosages and non-adherence.
3. What should I do if I accidentally take the wrong dose of medicine?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice, even if you feel fine. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience severe symptoms.
4. Is it safe to take expired medicines?
No, there is no guarantee that taking expired medicines is safe. Check expiration dates regularly and dispose of expired ones.
5. Should I tell my doctor about the vitamins and herbal supplements that I’m taking?
Yes. Always inform your doctors about all the medicines you’re taking so they can check for possible interactions.