WHEN USED CORRECTLY, the medications doctors prescribe to treat disease or manage symptoms can have a tremendously positive impact on the quality and longevity of our lives. However, many of these same drugs also have the potential to do considerable harm if they’re not taken and handled appropriately. To help prevent harmful medication errors, interactions, or side effects, follow these commonsense safety tips:
Take medications exactly as prescribed All medications should be taken in strict accordance with label instructions, including how much to take, how often and at what time of day to take it, how long to take it, whether the medication should be taken with food, whether you should avoid certain foods while on the medication, etc.
Also, never increase the dose because the medication doesn’t seem to be working or stop taking the drug prematurely without first consulting with your physician or pharmacist. It may seem counterintuitive, but in some cases failing to take a full course of medication can be harmful. For example, discontinuing an antibiotic prematurely because you’re starting to feel better or experiencing side effects can allow the infection you’re treating to recur and/or allow the bacteria responsible for the infection to develop resistance to the antibiotic so it will no longer be effective.
Never take someone else’s prescription medication That prescription pain medication may have done wonders for your friend’s back pain, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to take his or her leftover pills for the same problem. Remember, a physician prescribed that specific medication with knowledge of your friend’s medical history, current medications, allergies, body weight, etc. It may or may not be the right medication—or the right dose—for you. Taking it without a prescription from your doctor could have serious consequences.
Keep an updated medication list Keeping an updated list of all the medications and supplements you’re taking (prescription and overthe- counter) can help eliminate a lot of guesswork and significantly reduce the risk of medication errors and adverse interactions. Instead of struggling to recall everything you’re taking whenever you go for healthcare services, you can simply present the list to your provider. Having the ability to present a current, comprehensive medication list is especially crucial for individuals who see multiple physicians and specialists for treatment.
In addition to compiling an updated medication list for your healthcare providers, it’s a good idea to share this same information with loved ones so someone will have the ability to provide the list to caregivers in the event that you’re unable to communicate.
Use the same pharmacy consistently
Filling your prescriptions at the same pharmacy to the extent possible will serve as an additional check against potential adverse drug interactions because your pharmacist will have the same complete list of medications on file that you’ve shared with your other healthcare providers and loved ones. In the event that you need to fill a new prescription elsewhere, don’t forget to have your regular pharmacist add that medication to your list.
Store and dispose of medications properly
All medications—prescription or over-the-counter—should be stored out of reach and sight of children in a cool, dry place. Keep them in their original, labeled containers.
Medications that are no longer in use or have expired should be disposed of properly. For information on appropriate disposal methods and a listing of medications recommended for disposal by flushing, visit www.fda.gov, click on the “Drugs” tab, and then click on “Disposal of Unused Medicines.” ✲
