| Ensuring Safe Use of Medicines |
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| What things can I do to make sure I take my medications safely and correctly? |
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Do you or a family member have trouble seeing, reading or understanding how to take medication? Here are some tips that might help.
- To start, read the label. It will tell you when and how to take it, how to store it, and what side effects to look for (such as drowsiness).
- Keep your medication in its original container, remove the cotton from the top of a pill bottle as it may hold moisture and keep the cap on. The container is made to protect your medicine, but should not be stored near a window or left in a car for long periods of time. Some medications are very sensitive to light, heat and moisture which may cause them to be ineffective.
- Keep a list of all your medications with the time of dose and kind of pill. Give copies to your doctors, a family member, also keep a copy in your pocketbook or wallet, and at home.
- Carry a card in your wallet that lists the names of any medications you are allergic to.
- Marking the top of each bottle with a colored dot can help you recognize different medications and/or different times to take medications. Weekly or daily pill planners are also useful.
- Shoeboxes are ideal for keeping your pill bottles together in one place. It´s an easy way for you to take your medications with you when you go to the doctor.
- Because some medicines should not be taken together, make sure all your doctors know about all of your medications, including over-the-counter medications.
- Review your medications with your doctor once a year. Check for duplications, proper doses, medications you no longer need, and outdated medications. Flush outdated pills down the toilet.
- Don´t stop taking a medication for any length of time without consulting your doctor.
- If the pills look different when you get a refill, ask the pharmacist why. You can help prevent a medication error.
- Let your doctor know if you have any questions or are having problems with a medication (side effects or allergic reaction) or remembering how or when to take a medication.
- Don´t share your medications or take medications prescribed to others.
- Never take medications from a package with signs of tampering, damage or imperfections.
- All medications should be kept out of the reach of children and animals.
Medication Safety
Unless you have instructions to do so from your doctor first, you should never
- change the doses,
- skip doses,
- cut your doses in half
- share your prescription with others
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| Do I really need an antibiotic? |
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While many conditions are treated with antibiotics, not all conditions require antibiotics. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, however viral infections and other inflammatory processes (allergic processes, non-infected insect bites, some skin conditions, viral infections etc.) can mimic bacterial infections and are not responsive to antibiotic treatment (though there are anti-viral treatments for a very limited group of patients who are unable to fight these infections on their own). Your health care provider is trained to make these decisions. Overuse of antibiotics is leading to stronger germs which are not easily treated. For this reason it should not be expected that when you get medical attention, you will be prescribed an antibiotic as it may not be the correct treatment for the problem you have.
Find additional information on the wise use of antibiotics.
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| Additional Resources |
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is committed to providing consumers with information on ensuring the safe use of prescription, generic, and over the counter drug products. Helpful information can be found here.
You can find additional information about the responsible use of medications at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofax/PainMed.html
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