In 2007, Canadians filled 448 million prescriptions costing over $20-billion.
While the average person fills 13 prescriptions a year, people in their 60s and 70s fill about 35. Drugs play an important role in health care and can save, improve and extend lives. But they can also cause serious problems if they are not used properly.
Each year, Health Canada receives thousands of reports of adverse drug reactions, many of which are preventable. Here are some useful tips to help people use prescription and over-the-counter medications more safely.
Asking questions
When receiving a new prescription from a doctor, find out the name of the drug, why it was prescribed, along with when and how it should be taken.
One of the best ways to avoid mistakes is to learn about your medicines. If you are unsure you are using medication correctly, or are unclear about its effects or purpose, ask your pharmacist or doctor. Do not hesitate to ask questions or express your concerns.
If you take multiple medications, ask the pharmacist to make a schedule for when and in what order to take them.
If the dosage schedule is changed, make sure you or your doctor informs the pharmacist. Keep a written record of all medications you are taking, including vitamins, non-prescription, and herbal products. Some of those interact with each other, which can change the way they work in your body.
Bring the list with you whenever you go to see your doctor or pharmacist, since they will only be aware of the medications they themselves prescribed or dispensed.
Use only one pharmacy.
If you have ever had a bad reaction or an allergy to a drug, or there are changes to your medical condition, tell your doctor and pharmacist and make certain that information is in your file.
Ask the pharmacist if you notice unexplained changes in size, color, markings or dose of your medication.
It may be useful to have a list of questions prepared before you meet with a health care professional. If it will help, write the answers down. Read the patient information brochure that usually comes with the prescription.
Here are some questions to ask the pharmacist when starting a prescription:
Why am I taking this medicine? Can this medicine be used safely with the other medicines and treatments I already use?
When should I take it, in what amount, for how long? Do I take it on an empty stomach or with food? Are there any special directions for using this medication?
How will I know if this medicine is working? Will I need any tests (e.g. blood tests, x-rays) to make sure the medication is working as it is supposed to?
What side effects could I experience? What should I do if I miss a dose? What should I do if I use too much by mistake? Should I avoid any drinks, foods, other substances or activities while using this medicine?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this? Will this medicine make me drowsy? If I am pregnant or breastfeeding, can I take this medicine?
Does the medication need to be refrigerated? Can I get my medicine in a container that is easier to open? Is there another form of this medication that would be easier to swallow?
Is there any chance that I could become dependent or addicted to this medicine? What can I do to avoid this?
Taking medication at home
Read the label every time you are about to use a medication – make sure it’s the right one, for the right person, taken in the right way, at the right time.
Take medicine at regularly scheduled times each day. You can do this by associating your medication with a regular activity, such as walking or a meal (if it can be taken with food).
Take the recommended dose exactly as prescribed even if you are tempted to use more to feel better faster. If you forget to take your medication, don’t just double the next dose – call your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Do not share your medication, and do not take other people’s drugs.
If there is more than one person in the family, on each container highlight the name of the user and the dosing instructions with a marker; use a different color highlighter for each member of the family.
In general, all medications should be taken with a full glass of water unless your doctor or pharmacist recommends otherwise. If your medication needs to be taken with “plenty of water,” you may need to drink more than a full glass.
If the medication needs to be taken on an empty stomach, take it one hour before meals or two hours after food with a full glass of liquid, usually water.
If your medication can be taken with food, a piece of bread, a cracker or banana can help to quicken its passage into the stomach.
Gravity can help the medication reach your stomach – stand or sit upright for at least five to ten minutes after taking it.
Some medications that should not be taken with food should also not be taken with milk and other dairy products.
If you are starting a new medication that may cause drowsiness, it is important to avoid activities that require alertness (such as driving) until you find out how the drug will affect you.
– Alcohol can add to the effects of a medication, making you drowsy.
– Never take or give a medication in the dark – many pills look and feel alike.
– Check the colour and consistency of liquid for solid particles or sediment in the bottle or unusual odours, which can mean drug spoilage. (Some medications contain sediment and must be well shaken.)
– Finish all the medicine as directed – even if you start to feel better. Don’t save any for future use unless your doctor tells you to.
Side effects
Most drugs can cause some side effects. While those are usually mild and short-term, in rare cases they can be serious. A pharmacist and doctor can help you understand any potential side effects and how long they might last.
Know what to expect from your medication – how soon you can expect to see results and what side effects you might experience. If you experience unexplained symptoms, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may want to change your medication or its dose if side effects are too bothersome.
Older people can be more likely to experience some side effects or find them more troublesome. (As people age, liver and kidney functions decline which affects the way a drug is broken down and removed from the body.)
Examples of side effects that may especially affect older people are dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, falls, depression, insomnia, nausea, and diarrhea.
Some side effects (adverse reactions) are more serious than others but are fairly rare.
