Medicine Safety

When we're feeling sick or hurt, medicine can be the cure for what ails us. But medications are not without potential risks. Depending on their active ingredients, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns they can cause side effects, trigger allergic reactions (Read about "Allergies") or interact with other medications, either prescription or over-the-counter. (Read about "Drug Interaction Precautions") Medicines can even interact with foods or drinks, particularly alcohol, that we consume.

Because of this, it's important to talk with your doctor and pharmacist before taking medications. Our MEDICAL HISTORY FORM can help. This form contains the type of information your doctor needs to determine if there will be any potential problems with medications he/she may prescribe.

Simply click on the link for the form. Then, either fill it out online and print it, or print it out and fill it in by hand. Either way, please print multiple copies. Any information you enter will NOT be saved once you close the window. This is to protect your privacy. When you're done, simply close the form window, and continue using our site.

The form can help you tell your doctor about specifics in your medical history that are important. In addition to the form, since it's not always easy to remember exactly what's been said in a doctor's office, you might want to consider bringing a pad and pencil with you, to jot down the answers to your questions.

Here are some of the important questions the FDA says you can ask about any medication, either prescription or over-the-counter:

• What exactly does this medicine do?
• What's the best time or times of day to take this?
• Are there foods I should avoid when taking this?
• Should I take this with foods or on an empty stomach?
• What about other medications or supplements I'm taking?
• What are side effects I should watch for?

Even if you've taken this medication before, you should still check with your doctor to make sure nothing has been changed. That's an especially good idea as we get older, since age can change the way our bodies are affected by medications. (Read about "Taking Medicine")

More safety tips

According to the FDA, between 30 and 50 percent of people using medicine are not using them exactly as prescribed. One of the biggest reasons is lack of information. Although some patients may be nervous about asking so many questions, it's important to remember that medications are potent and avoiding mix-ups should be a main priority.

Here are some other tips from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

• Read the label carefully.
• Take the medicine exactly as you're told to.
• Make sure each of your doctors (if you have more than one) knows all of the medicines you're taking.
• Have your doctor help you make a schedule (if you are taking more than one medicine) so you know what medicines to take at what times of the day.
• Use one pharmacy for all your prescriptions. The pharmacist can help you keep track of what you're taking.
• Make sure your family or roommate knows what you're taking and when you're supposed to take it.
• Don't take over-the-counter medicines when you are taking prescription medicines without consulting with your doctor.
• Take the medicine for the full time. Don't stop, change the dosage or how often you take it without checking with your doctor.
• Never take someone else's medicine.
• Check the expiration date.

Another concern is what is called pill splitting. Sometimes it costs the same to buy a supply of a medication that is 40mg as one that is 20mg. Patients then sometimes cut the pill in half, saving themselves money. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) says that can be dangerous. Not all medications are safe to take after they have been split. Some are coated to be long-acting or to protect the stomach. ISMP recommends that you consult your doctor on your medication. If the doctor decides the pill can be safely split, have the doctor write the prescription to reflect that, "Take 1/2 tab daily." You should consider having the pharmacist cut the pills for you. ISMP says cutting the pill to less than half is not a good idea since each cut makes the dosage less accurate.

Make sure you follow the doctor's and pharmacist's advice on storing the medicine too. A cool, low-humidity area, away from children's reach, is most often advised; however, don't place medicines in the refrigerator unless instructed to do so. (Read about "Your Medicine Cabinet")

It's also essential that if any unusual symptoms develop while taking medication, you contact your doctor right away. However, if you do start to develop unusual symptoms, experts advise against deciding to stop taking a medication on your own; ask your doctor first.

Finally, if you miss a dose of the medicine, ask your doctor what to do. Don't assume that you can just take double the dosage next time to make up for the missed medication.

Over-the-counter

If you do decide to use an over-the-counter medication AAFP says keep the following in mind:

• Check out all the choices carefully. Don't be put off by how many there are.
• Read the label carefully and note what symptoms the medicine will treat.
• Look for a medicine that will treat only the symptoms you have. For example, if you only have a runny nose, don't pick a medicine that also treats coughs and headaches.
• Be aware of the side effects and how much is the proper dosage.
• Know what foods and other medicines shouldn't be combined with the one you are buying.
• Check out what conditions the medication can make worse such as high blood pressure and breathing problems. (Read about "Hypertension: High Blood Pressure" "Respiratory System")
• If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Online drug warnings

There are now hundreds of places online where you can buy medications. There are a number of things you should think about, according to the FDA, if you buy medical products online.

• Don't buy from sites that offer to prescribe a prescription drug for the first time without a physical exam, sell a prescription drug without a prescription or sell drugs not approved by FDA.
• Don't do business with sites that have no access to a registered pharmacist to answer questions.
• Avoid sites that do not identify with whom you are dealing and do not provide a U.S. address and phone number to contact if there's a problem.
• Don't purchase from foreign Websites at this time because generally it will be illegal to import the drugs bought from these sites, the risks are greater, and there is very little the U.S. government can do if you get ripped off.
• Beware of sites that advertise a "new cure" for a serious disorder or a quick cure-all for a wide range of ailments.
• Be careful of sites that use impressive-sounding terminology to disguise a lack of good science or those that claim the government, the medical profession or research scientists have conspired to suppress a product.
• Steer clear of sites that include undocumented case histories claiming "amazing" results.

As always, talk to your healthcare professional before using any medications for the first time. Remember, medicines can contain powerful ingredients, so it's always a good idea to let a qualified healthcare professional advise you on the best way to use it.

Related Information:

    Anaphylaxis

    Children & Prescriptions

    Medication and Digestion