Safe Medications Management At Home

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Realizing the importance of medication plays in your treatment will help you get the most benefit from your prescription. It is important to take an active role in your participating health care team. Work with your doctor, nurse, and pharmacist to learn about your prescription.

Here are some questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist when you are prescribed a new medication, and suggestions on how to safely manage medications at home Medical Condition.

1. Ask for the name of medicine, including generic and brand name. This can help avoid mistakes prescriptions. When you doctor prescribes you a new medication, disclose the medicines you are currently taking, including supplements, over-the-counter and prescription medications. State any allergies to any medication.

2. Ask for indications, exactly what is this medication prescribed for.

3. Ask for possible side effects and what to do in case of adverse reactions.

4. Ask for dose and frequency to be taken.

5. How is the medication to be taken? The most common routes for medication administration are usually or by mouth, injection; or locally applied topics such as creams or eye drops.

6. Are there special instructions while taking this medication such as foods, use of alcohol, other medicines; or should you avoid while taking this medicine? Ask about specific things such as take with food, take an empty stomach, do not crush or avoid driving, use of machinery, swimming or exposure to sunlight.

Is there any written information you can take home? Most pharmacy has information sheets that you can use as at-home reference.

If a doctor is prescribing medication that is to be taken multiple times a day, if it can be substituted for a prescription that is equally effective, but given only once or twice a day, thus reducing the chance of forgetting to take the medication and even be more cost effective.

Ask if the medication is available in both generic and brand names, ask the pharmacist the difference between two and decide based on that information. In many instances, it is beneficial to request the generic name versus the brand name.

7. How many refills of the prescription are allowed? Drugs and medication management plans have the option to purchase multiple refills at once, up to three months’ supply, for medications that are to be taken for a long-term part of the patient’s permanent treatment plan. This system is usually more cost-effective for the customer.

Ask the doctor for samples, especially if it’s a medication that will be for short-term use, or if you are doing a trial.

8. What should you do if you miss a dose? What should you do if you accidentally take more than the recommended dose?

9. Ask for alternative’s prescription forms that best suits you or your patient’s needs. If your child cannot swallow pills, request the medication on liquid form if available. The elder person or adult patient who has difficulty swallowing.

Do not change the form of any medication without speaking to your pharmacist. The medications can be crushed, chopped and mixed with apple sauce or juice, whereas some medicine is unsuitable in any other than the original form. Always ask before altering a medication’s form. Sustained release pills should not be crushed, and some capsules should not be opened.

During your treatment, you may want to follow a schedule of visits with your physician in order to monitor your progress. Make sure to report any problems you are experiencing with your prescription.

Drugs and medications safety management.

One in three hospital discharge results are due to non-compliance with medication regimen or medication, after discharge from the hospital.

Two in five pediatrics Emergency Department visits are related to medication use, misuse or accidental ingestion.

Millions of elderlies and disabled people are being medicated due to the lack of a centralized system that will monitor patient’s prescriptions and treatments.

A few simple precautions to avoid medication, whether in adults or children

1. Keep all medications away from children reach.

2. Use child proof caps on medication’s bottles if possible. Some adults may have difficulty with capsules, due to pain in their hands, weakness caused by a stroke or other conditions.

3. Medication’s labels should be clear and easy to read. If the labels for bottles are worn off, take the medication and ask for a new label.

4. When the patient is discharged from a hospital admission, ask the clinic to treat all the patients’ medications to be taken at home.

5. Ask questions to the pharmacist before leaving the pharmacy after picking up the medication.

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