Tips for Using Medicines Safely
Use this checklist to help avoid medication errors. Simple checks could save your life!
Select to download print version (PDF File, 1.1 MB). PDF Help.
Watch Video.
Bring a list or a bag with all your medicines when you go to your doctor's office, the pharmacy, or the hospital
Include all prescription and over-the-counter
medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements that you use. If your doctor prescribes
a new medicine, ask if it is safe to use with your other medicines. Remind your
doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any medicines.
Top of Page
Ask questions about your medicines
Ask questions and make sure you
understand the answers. Choose a pharmacist and doctor you feel comfortable
talking with about your health and medicines. Take a relative or friend with you to ask
questions and remind you about the answers later. Write down the answers.
Top of Page
Make sure your medicine is what the doctor ordered
Does the medicine seem
different than what your doctor wrote on the prescription or look different than what
you expected? Does a refill look like it is a different shape, color, or size than what
you were given before? If something seems wrong, ask the pharmacist to doublecheck
it. Most errors are first found by patients.
Ask how to use the medicine correctly
Read the directions on the label and other
information you get with your medicine. Have the pharmacist or doctor explain
anything you do not understand. Are there other medicines, foods, or activities (such
as driving, drinking alcohol, or using tobacco) that you should avoid while using the
medicine? Ask if you need lab tests to check how the medicine is working or to
make sure it doesn’t cause harmful side effects.
Top of Page
Ask about possible side effects
Side effects can occur with many medicines. Ask
your doctor or pharmacist what side effects to expect and which ones are serious.
Some side effects may bother you but will get better after you have been using the
medicine for a while. Call your doctor right away if you have a serious side effect or
if a side effect does not get better. A change in the medicine or the dose may be
needed.
Top of Page
Simple checks could save your life!
For more information, visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/ and http://www.fda.gov/usemedicinesafely/.
AHRQ Publication No. 08-M044-A
(Replaces AHRQ Publication No. 07-M008-1)
Current as of April 2008
Internet Citation:
Check Your Medicines: Tips for Using Medicines Safely. AHRQ Pub. No. 08-M044-A, April 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/checkmeds.htm