Using Your Medications Safely

Be Safe

Patients and their health care providers, including the pharmacist, must work together to ensure that medication therapy is used in as safe a manner as possible. The potential for medication errors is an inherent part of any health care system, but your pharmacist plays an important role in developing and implementing processes and procedures to prevent errors from occurring. To ensure that medications are used safely and effectively, patients are asked to review and follow the suggestions outlined below.

Communicate with Your Pharmacist

• When you talk to your pharmacist, be an active listener. Take notes and repeat instructions.
• Ask questions. Never hesitate to ask your pharmacist about your medications or express your concerns. It may be helpful to have your questions prepared before you talk to the pharmacist.
• Read the prescription label and examine the medication as soon as you receive it. Question any unexplained changes in medication color, shape, size, markings or amounts.
• Know what to expect from your medication. Ask how soon you should see results and what you should do if the medication doesn't seem to be working.
• Provide information on any type of allergic reaction that you may have experienced with a medication.
• To avoid possible drug interactions, always tell your pharmacist about medicinal products that you are using, including other, prescription medications, nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal remedies.
• Ask if you should avoid certain foods, beverages, other medicinal products or activities while you are taking a new rnedication.
• If you do not receive printed information about your medications, ask your pharmacist.

Use Your Medications Safely

• Take prescribed medications for the duration of time that has been prescribed. Don't skip doses or stop therapy without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
• Never take more than the recommended amount stated on the medication label.
• Never self-medicate with prescription drugs that were not prescribed for you.
• If you experience any unexplained symptoms or changes, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
• Store products in a cool, dry environment out of direct sunlight.
• Store medications away children and pets to avoid poisonings.

Other Important Considerations

• Keep a list with you of all the medications you are taking (including nonprescription and herbal remedies). Share this list with all your health care providers.
• Select a single pharmacy from which to obtain your medications. Using one pharmacy will ensure that the pharmacist is aware of all medications that you are taking and can review your medication profile to detect possible drug, food, or disease state interactions.
• If you're too ill to follow these suggestions, ask a relative or friend to help.

Know and Document

• Pharmacy phone number
• Doctor's name and phone number
• Medications (include all prescription, nonprescription, herbal, and vitamin products)

Last Reviewed 2005

Source: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Pharmaceutical Care

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.