Take steps to prevent medication mix-ups

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This article was published 07/03/2014 (4324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One little white pill looks a lot like any other little white pill. And with more than 30,000 commercial drugs available in the Canadian marketplace, it’s easy to see how medication mistakes can happen.

Seniors are especially at risk, because many take eight to 12 different pills for a variety of ailments. With so many pills to remember, it is not unusual for some people to forget taking a medication, or doubling the amount to make up the missed dose.

Depending on the medication and tolerance to it, forgetting to take a dose, or doubling a dose, may be harmful. Doubling the dose, for example, has the potential for unwanted effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sedation or confusion.

Other mistakes can be attributed to unclear instructions provided by the health-care provider or written on the medication label in terms of when and how to take it. It is important to ask questions if you are uncertain.

Medication mistakes also occur when we least expect them. For example, certain antibiotics may work differently if you also take vitamins containing minerals. Harmful interactions are well-known between herbal supplements such as gingko biloba and prescription blood thinners. Even certain foods can change the way a prescription medication works.

Medication mix-ups can also happen within a health-care setting. A person who comes in to emergency and fails to tell a health-care provider about their medications may end up receiving incorrect medication or dosage, or a drug that reacts adversely to those they have been taking.

The best way to ensure you don’t make mistakes is to have an up-to-date list of your medications. Keep it in your wallet, so it’s with you at all times. Keep another list on the fridge and make sure your family knows what medications you are taking.

The Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety has developed the It’s Safe to Ask medication card, available at www.safetoask.ca. It’s also available from seniors resource councils, fire-paramedic stations and pharmacies.

This handy card can be filled in and put into your wallet. List your medications, including name, strength, how much, how often, and the doctor who prescribed them. Write any reactions or allergies you have had to medications. This card is extremely helpful to the health-care provider if you are unable to remember the details of your medications or if you are unable to speak.

If you need assistance, ask a family member, pharmacist, nurse or physician if they can help keep your list up-to-date. Don’t forget items such as topical medications, injections, inhalers and eye/ear/nose drops. Natural health products (such as herbal products, vitamins, homeopathic medicine) are important to include and any over-the-counter medications taken on a regular basis (such as laxatives, stomach remedies or pain killers).

Along with your wallet card, there are other ways to prevent medication errors. If you are taking a number of pills throughout the day, use daily or weekly pill sorters to ensure you don’t miss or take pills twice. Your pharmacist can also prepare “bubble packs,” which help you keep track of what you have taken. It is best to use the same pharmacy, so they can keep track of all your medication.

Remember to store medications in their original container in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children. When you no longer need the medication, take the remainder to the pharmacy so they can safely destroy it.

Beatrice Patton is a patient-safety pharmacist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s quality and patient-safety unit.