Mistakes can happen, but there are things you can do to protect yourself. Here are ways you can help protect yourself from medication errors:
1. Keep a list – Keep a current list of the medications you are taking. This will help you and your provider(s) get a full view of the medication you’re taking. This includes:
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medications (like cough syrups, decongestants, laxatives, aspirin, etc.)
- Herbal supplements (like St. John’s wort, echinacea, CBD, etc.)
- Dietary supplements (like vitamins, melatonin, fish oil, etc.)
2. Include your medication details – For each medication, list:
- Drug name
- What the drug is for
- Drug strength
- How often you take it
- Special requirements (such as if you take it on an empty stomach, with food, etc.)
Keep this information in your purse or wallet. Have this information available for medical appointments, hospital visits, and emergencies.
3. Inform your providers – Make sure your providers know which medications you are taking. It’s also important to tell them about any allergies or reactions you have had to medications.
4. Double-check your medications – When you pick up a medication, check that the name and date of birth on the bottle are correct. Open the bag at the counter and check the medication’s name, strength and directions. If this is a drug you’ve taken before, make sure it looks the same. If it looks different, ask your pharmacist before taking it.
5. Take medications as directed – Avoid skipping doses, taking extra doses, or changing the schedule unless your doctor or provider tell you to.
Other things you can do to protect yourself:
- Check the packaging – Make sure the medication is not expired and the package has not been tampered with or damaged.
- Use one pharmacy – Using the same pharmacy for all of your medications lets your pharmacy check for drug interactions, duplicate medications, and dosing errors. If you can, you should also try to use the same doctor of provider.
- Organize medications – Use a pill organizer to keep track of when to take your medications. You can also use a medication app on your smartphone or mobile device to help you keep track as well. If you don’t have a pill organizer, keep your medications separated based on when you take them (morning, evening, bedtime, etc.)
- Measure correctly – Use the syringe or dosing cup that came with the medication to measure how much to take. A kitchen spoon is not an accurate way to measure.
Know your meds – Some medications cannot be cut, crushed or chewed when taking them. For some drugs, doing this can make the medication less effective. - Ask for help – If you’re having trouble remembering or organizing your medications, ask a trusted relative or friend to help you manage them.
- Report adverse effects – An adverse effect is a negative side effect you may have from your medication. If you find an error or have an adverse effect, report it to your provider and the pharmacy.
- Ask for a medication review – Your provider can review your medications for possible interactions or other issues.
- Know the signs of medication errors – Know the side effects of your medications and what the pills should look like.
- Properly dispose of old medications – Bring unwanted medications to a drug drop box at your local police department or throw them in the trash. Never flush them down the toilet.
- Know if your medication can be cut, crushed, or chewed before taking it – Certain medications must be taken whole. Cutting, crushing or chewing these medications will affect how much medication you get and when, especially with medications that release over time.
- Don’t sign too quickly – When you pick up your medication and are asked to sign—the one most of us sign automatically—you are signing an agreement that you’ve gotten the information you need and don’t have questions for the pharmacist. Don’t sign it without checking first.
- Read the label carefully – Read every word. Check the name of the drug and directions for use. If the directions are unclear, ask the pharmacist to explain them. If the name on the label isn’t the name of your doctor, notify the pharmacist.
- Ask for printed information sheets – Ask the pharmacist if you need any additional counseling on the medication.
Questions to Ask Your Provider
- What is the name of the medication?
- Why am I taking it?
- What are the possible side effects?
- Does it interact with any of the medications I'm taking now?
- How should I take it? With food? At a certain time of day? How often?