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10 Tips For Avoiding Medication MishapsMany drugs interact dangerously with other prescription and non-prescription medications. Your pharmacist can check for these serious drug interactions by using sophisticated computerized screening programs and by applying drug knowledge achieved though years of rigorous training. Of course, this can only be done if all of your prescriptions are filled at the same pharmacy. The prescriptions you fill at your entral drugstore may interact with others you receive from the supermarket drug store. Most pharmacy computer systems are not linked ? drug interactions will not be recognized! The extra dollars you may save by price shopping are hardly worth the risk of experiencing a serious drug interaction. Get all of your medications from one pharmacy. This is especially important if you receive medications from more than one physician. 2. Know your medication Know the size, shape, and color of your medication. If there are letters or numbers on the tablet or capsule, write them down - perhaps on the prescription label. If the medication looks different, ask the pharmacist if the prescription was filled with a brand from a different manufacturer (this is usually not a problem). Look in each bottle to make sure the medication looks the same to you BEFORE LEAVING THE PHARMACY. 3. New prescriptions: pick them up yourself! If at all possible, pick up your own medication. Your pharmacist needs to talk with you. S/he is required by law to tell you how to take your medicine and to instruct you about potential side effects, drug interactions, and proper storage of you medication. This is also the best time to ask questions that you may have about your medication. 4. Know the brand and chemical name of your medication. Every drug has a chemical name. This is the name of the active ingredient, often referred to as the generic name. Newer drugs also have a brand name. For example, a popular medication has the brand name Viagra. This is the name that the company (Pfizer) has given the medication. The chemical (generic) name of the active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil. When Pfizer's patent on Viagra expires, other companies may begin to manufacture sildenafil tablets. Because pfizer owns a trademark on the name Viagra, other manufacturers must refer to their product only as sildenafil. Many medications have two different names. Either name may appear on the medication label, depending on your state's prescription labeling requirements. When a medication has two names, knowing both the brand and the chemical (generic) name can reduce the chances of a medication mishap. 5. Help elderly parents and relatives with their medications. Older patients are at increased risk for adverse drug events. Complex prescription dosing regimens can confuse patients that may already be impaired by reduced visual and cognitive capacities. Don't assume that your loved one is taking their medication properly. Ask them about their medications. Accompany them to the physician or pharmacy, taking along all prescription bottles for review. Daily reminder systems such as pill boxes and calendar reminder memos are inexpensive yet helpful! 6. Combination drugs - know what each ingredient is! Some headache medications contain caffeine or aspirin that can interact with other medications or cause allergic reactions. Cough and cold mediations may contain antihistamines or decongestants that can interfere with other drugs and health conditions. If you are prescribed a combination drug, be sure to know what each ingredient is and what it does. 7. Find out the cost of your medication before you have your prescription filled. Your pharmacist will provide you with an opportunity to ask questions about your new mediation. You will need to discuss potential side effects, adverse reactions, allergies, and other medications and foods that you should avoid. Don't waste this valuable time by haggling over the price of your prescription! Find out the price of the medicine ahead of time so that you can spend the dispensing period learning about your new medication and asking questions. 8. Tell the pharmacist about your drug allergies every time you fill a new prescription. Drug allergies are usually entered into your personal pharmacy profile and are displayed on the computer screen when your prescription is processed. Most computerized pharmacy processing systems screen new prescriptions for drug allergies. It has been noted, however, that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians override computerized warning messages with alarming frequency. Remind your pharmacy about your drug allergies every time you pick up a new medication. 9. Ask about drug interactions. Specifically, ask your pharmacist, "Are there any over-the-counter drugs that should not be taken with this medication?" and "I take [name of medication]. Is there an interaction with this new medication?" Also, if you will be taking a medication chronically, it is wise to ask if there are significant interactions with any other medications that you do not currently take. Write down the names of these medications for reference for when new medications are prescribed to you. 10. Be the B.E.S.T. patient. Use the acronym B.E.S.T. to inquire about medication related effects: Bladder and Bowels - Will this medication cause urinary frequency, constipation, or diarrhea? Eyesight - Some medications, such as antihistamines and antispasmodics, can cause blurred vision that can dangerously effect your ability to drive a car. Sunlight - Many medications can cause sun sensitivity, and perhaps cause photo-toxic reactions after exposure to sunlight. Ask about sunlight restrictions - and take sunscreen recommendations seriously! Tiredness - Many of us are aware that narcotics and other 'pain killers' can cause drowsiness that can impair our ability to think. Be aware of other types of medications that can also cause you be sleepy. This includes many over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and headache drugs and some non-prescription heartburn medications. |
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