Medication Safety
An important part of your healthcare

When we’re injured or feeling sick, medicine can be the cure for what ails us. But medications—even non-prescription medications from the drug store—should not be taken casually. Some drugs have undesired side effects, some may cause an allergic reaction, and others don’t interact well with other medications. Fortunately, you can prevent most adverse effects by making sure you understand your medications and by taking certain precautions.

The incidence of adverse drug reactions across the U.S. is astonishingly high, says Richard Proksch, R.Ph., M.S., Salem Hospital’s director of pharmaceutical services. “The federal government reported that adverse drug reactions are the fourth leading cause of illness in America,” he explains.

“Approximately one-third of all hospitalizations occur because of medication interactions, side effects, or the combination of multiple therapies,” says John McNulty, R.Ph., Salem Hospital’s manager of retail pharmacy services. These hospitalizations are, for the most part, preventable.

Get to know your medications
You can be healthier and safer if you know what you are taking and how it affects you. Stephen Moon, M.D., interim emergency department medical director at West Valley Hospital in Dallas, witnesses ER patients saying, “Well, the doctor gave me this medicine, and I’m not sure what it does, but he told me to take it.”

“Each of us should know every medication we are taking and what condition it is treating,” says Proksch. Keep a list of your current medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter. Your healthcare professional needs to know exactly what you are taking and how often you’re taking it.

The National Patient Safety Foundation suggests that you also keep track of your medical history. Write down any medical conditions, immunizations, and allergies that you have and bring this list with you to doctor appointments and hospital visits.

When you get a prescription filled, examine your drugs before you leave the pharmacy. “Some medications have very similar names and are therefore more susceptible to a mix-up. Make sure the name on the bottle is right and the dosage is correct,” says David Edmonds, M.D., president-elect of the medical staff at Salem Hospital.

Then open the bottle and take a look at the pills inside. The prescription bottle has the physical description of the medicine typed on it—“blue capsule/254MK,” for example. Make sure to match the description on the bottle with the medicine inside every time you get a prescription.

“Switching between different manufacturers of a medicine is usually fine, but if your medicine ever changes color or shape, make sure to ask your pharmacist why,” says Joseph Schnabel, Pharm.D., clinical pharmacy manager at Salem Hospital. “A few medicines (blood thinners, thyroid medications, anti-epilepsy drugs, anti-arrhythmia drugs, and a few others) may have noticeable differences between brands. Try to avoid changing brands of these medicines, and tell your doctor if you ever have to switch so you can be monitored more closely for a short time.”

Finally, be sure to ask your doctor how long you should expect to be on a medication. Some medicines need to be taken for life, while others may only need to be taken for a few days or weeks. The fact that a prescription has refills on it does not always mean you have to get it refilled.

What are the dangers?
The risks associated with taking medications include various side effects, allergies, and drug-combination problems, some of which can be life threatening. In fact, the Institute of Medicine reports that Americans experience two million serious adverse drug reactions each year, resulting in 7,000 deaths. More typical drug-combination problems include drowsiness and interference with your body’s ability to metabolize one or more of your medicines.

Dr. Moon points out that many people don’t realize that over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herb supplements can interact with prescribed medications and cause problems.

John McNulty gives the following example: “You may be taking over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, a diet supplement, and prescriptions. Your doctor doesn’t know about the over-the-counter drugs or the vitamins, nor does he know that you are taking the diet supplement. The pharmacy has no record, either. Mixing these three products together could cause a bad reaction.” 

You have a big part to play
You are part of the team that ensures you receive the best healthcare. Make sure you take the initiative to be informed about your medications—and to inform your physicians and your pharmacist about all of the medications and supplements you are taking. Double-check that you are taking the right dose, at the right time, in the correct way. And if you ever have any questions or concerns about your medications, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your physician or pharmacist.