Medication News
Safety Tips from Your Pharmacist

The American Pharmaceutical Association, representing the nation's pharmacists, suggests the following guidelines to prevent medication mix-ups:

• Be sure that your name is on every container of medication. If the drug is for a child, be sure that the pharmacy puts the child's name on the label.
• Never take a medication out of its original container to store it.
• Highlight the patient's name and the expiration date with a marker, so they can easily be seen. Use a different color marker for each member of the family.
• Read the entire label every time you take medication or give medication to a family member.
• If you have stopped taking a particular medication but have some left, check with your pharmacist or doctor. Many medications should be taken until they are gone, and having leftovers could indicate that the medication was not taken properly.
• Throw away any medication that has not been used in six months.
• Do not share medications. Medication should only be taken by the patient for whom it was prescribed.
• Keep a permanent list of all medications taken by each family member as part of your family's history.

Ask Your Doctor

• What is the name of the medicine? Is this the brand or generic name?
• What does the medication do? How will I know when it is working?
• What side effects should I expect? What do I do if they occur?
• When should I start to feel better?
• Does this new medication replace anything else I am taking?
• What do I do if I miss a dose?

Ask Your Pharmacist

• What is the name of the medicine? (If the name is different than what your doctor told you, ask why.)
• How should I take this medicine and for how long?
• Are there any side effects?
• Should I avoid alcohol, certain foods or activities while taking this medicine?
• How will this medicine interact with other medications I am taking, including over-the-counter and herbal medications?
• Could I have some written information about the medicine? Is it available in large print or a language other than English?
• What should I do if I run out of this medication? Can I get a refill? When?

Organizae Your Medications

Complete the Medical Information Record.
Put a copy of this card where others can find it in case of emergency - in your purse or wallet, on your refrigerator and in the glove compartment of your car.

NOTE: Include all over-the-counter (nonprescription) medications, home remedies, herbal medications including tea, vitamins and weight gain or loss products such as shakes, pills or bars. Sometimes they can be dangerous when you take them with other medications.

• Show your card to your family doctor, your pharmacist and others involved in your care at every visit.
  
• If you take many different medications or have medications ordered by different doctors, schedule a "brown-bag checkup" - place all your medications and over-the-counter products in a bag and take them to your doctor or pharmacist so he/she can look for any potential problems.
  
• Store your medications in a dry area that does not have changes in temperature. Do NOT store them in the bathroom, over the stove or in the car.
  
• Keep your medications out of reach of children and pets.
  
• Keep your medications in their original bottle/container. EXCEPTION: If your doctor or pharmacist suggests a daily or weekly medication box, ask how to use it. Some medications should not be stored together or need special storage.
  
• Each time you take your medication, read the label and make sure you are taking it correctly.
  
• Throw away all products that are outdated or have not been used in a while. Ask your pharmacist how to properly dispose of these medications.
  
• Never share your medications with others or take another person's medications.

Be Your Own Best Health Care Champion

• Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if:
  • you have any questions about your
    medications,
  • you notice a change in how a medication looks, or
  • you notice a change in instructions for taking a medication.
    
• Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about allergies or any side effects or reactions you have had before accepting any new
  medication.
  
• Get medical help right away if you develop itching or swelling or if you have trouble breathing after taking a new medication.
  
• Take notes about what you learn at your doctor's office and pharmacy. You may want to take a friend or family member with you to write down information.
  
• Try to use the same pharmacy or drugstore for all your prescriptions so your pharmacist has a complete record of all your medications and can give you the best advice.
  
• Always check prescriptions before you leave the store to make sure the medication is for you and is labeled clearly. Make sure refill medications look the same as before.

Remember...
Medications contain powerful chemicals that cause changes in your body. It is essential to use them correctly.

Your doctor, nurse and pharmacist are trained to help you use your medication safely. But you, as a patient or family member, are the most important member of the health care team. You share the responsibility for safe medication use. Make sure you know your medications, how to take them and why you take them. If there is anything you don't understand about your medications, keep asking questions until you do.

This guide will help you use medications safely and know what questions to ask.

More Information
For more information, contact the Ohio State Medical Association
toll-free at 1-800-766-6762 or visit the following web sites.

Ohio Patient Safety Institute
www.ohiopatientsafety.org

Your Role in Safe Medication Use: A Guide for Patients and Families
http://mhalink.org/publications/ docs/consumerguide.pdf

Partners in Quality: Taking an Active Role in Your Health Care
http://www.haponline.org/ downloads/99consbro.pdf

How to Take Your Medications Safely
http://ismp.org/consumer/brochure.html

20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.htm

This guide to safe medication use was prepared by the Ohio Patient Safety Institute and the Public Relations Committee of the Ohio Hospital Association, in conjunction with Ohio's allied hospital associations and the Ohio State Medical Association.