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What You Can Do to Avoid Medication Errors

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-07-26 16:04:00-04:00

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Ever been given the wrong dosage or the wrong medicine? Since 1992, about 20,000 reports of medication errors were sent to the Food and Drug Administration. The Institute of Medicine says some injuries or illnesses due to medication are sure to happen. For example, a very strong drug may come with a greater risk of harmful side effects. But sometimes an error is made in prescribing or filling or taking the medication. These errors can be prevented.

The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) encourages us to think about the "3Rs" for safe medicine use. Ray Bullman, NCPIE's Executive Vice President, says this means:

• Recognizing that all medicines have risks as well as benefits;
• Respecting the power and value of medicines—properly used; and
• Remembering that medicine safety is also about personal responsibility—learning what you need to know to use your medicine safely and appropriately.

Do your part to avoid errors. Take time to see how you can play it safe, at the doctor's, at the pharmacy, and at home.

At the Doctor's

• Prepare for your visit to the doctor ' s office.
  • Make a list of questions before your visit. Bring your questions or checklist to your appointment so you can remember what you want to ask.
  • Bring an updated listing of all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take, including herbal supplements.
• If your doctor prescribed medicine for you, confirm the name of the drug and the dose. Be sure you understand how, when, and for how long you should take it. Read your notes back to the doctor to be sure they ' re correct.
• Ask the doctor or nurse to explain what the drug will do. Ask if any lab tests will be needed to check how the drug is working in your body. Ask about side-effects. If cost is a concern, ask if there is a generic or lower cost brand-name medication that works just as well. Write down the information you receive.

At the Pharmacy

• When you take the prescription to the drug store, include a copy of your list of medicines and over-the-counter drugs that you take. Some pharmacies may keep a list of the drugs you get from them on their computer. Ask for a copy so you can make sure the information is up to date.
• You will probably be told to sign an electronic log or clipboard when you hand in your prescription or when you receive it. By signing, this means you know your " HIPAA " (federal privacy law) rights and, in many pharmacies, that you have received an offer to be counseled by the pharmacist. By signing it, they assume you do not want to talk to the pharmacist. If you would like to talk to a pharmacist, let the clerk or the pharmacist know that you have questions and want counseling.
• When you get your medicine, check that the drug ' s name and directions are the same as what your doctor told you. Check your notes.
• Confirm the medicine directions with the pharmacist. Double check with the pharmacist about how you should take the drug. Ask about food-drug interactions, alcohol-drug interactions, and necessary monitoring tests. Make sure the pharmacist has your updated list of medications so the pharmacy can check for possible interactions, too.

At Home

• Keep your personal medication record (the list of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal supplements) updated. Give a copy to loved ones, keep a copy with you, and consider posting a copy on your refrigerator.
• Use a pill organizer so you can easily see if you need to take your pill or if you already took it. You can fill it once a week. This takes the guesswork out of taking the pills. It reduces missed doses, reminds us that we took our medicine, and avoids double dosing. It can be really handy if you ' re helping someone take care of their medicines.
• Read carefully the written information that comes with your medicine. It has important information about, side effects, warnings, precautions, how to store it, and how and when to take your medicine.

AARP Resources

Medicines Made Easy
Using this publications order form, request a free copy of "Medicines Made Easy" – a booklet containing loads of important information on how to safely and effectively manage, use, and store your medicines. Bonus: A handy medication record to help you track your medications. Order your copy online using this form or call 1-888-OUR-AARP and ask for D18366 (English) or (D18511 (Spanish).

Over-the-Counter Safety Tips
Take care when taking over-the-counter drugs. Follow these tips to protect yourself.

Medicines and You
This online course will help you, or someone you care for, better manage medications and learn what to ask doctors and pharmacists.

Additional Resources

Be MedWise
Being "medwise helps us use medications safely." Find helpful tips about reading drug labels and using medications.

Think it Through: A Guide to Managing the Benefits and Risks of Medicines
This straight-forward article helps you get the best results from your medications, at minimal risk.