April 2008
One-minute consult: Drug mistakes
By Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy
Q How can I avoid medication errors?
A It helps just to be aware of how common drug mistakes are, especially among Medicare patients. My agency, one of 11 within the Department of Health and Human Services, has developed a checklist for drug safety. When you go to your doctor's office, pharmacy, or the hospital, you should bring a bag (or at least a list) with all your medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and vitamins. Ask that your meds be reviewed to make sure there are no duplications or contraindications.
Q How should I handle a new prescription?
A Ask your doctor if it's safe to take the new drug with your other medications or supplements. Labels can be hard to read, so look at the directions, and check to make sure you understand them. Do you know how often and for how long you should take it? For example, ask if "four doses daily" means taking a dose every six hours around the clock or just during regular waking hours. If it's a liquid, ask your pharmacist what to use to measure it. Household teaspoons often don't hold a true teaspoon. Specially marked cups or syringes can help you be sure that you are taking the correct dose. Ask if there are medicines, foods, or activities that you should avoid while taking the drug. Ask if you need lab tests to check how the medicine is working to make sure it doesn't cause harmful side effects. When you get a refill, check the pills. If they look different, ask your pharmacist why.
Q Should I stop a drug if I have side effects?
A Side effects-reactions that are not part of the intended effect of the drug-can occur with many medications. Some, like dry mouth, dizziness, or sleepiness, may go away after you take the medicine for a while. But if you have an uncomfortable symptom, like muscle cramps, digestive distress, or thoughts of suicide, call your doctor. You may need a different drug or a change in dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what side effects your medicine may cause, which ones are potentially serious, and what to watch out for. If you know what could happen, you'll be better prepared if it does.
Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, is a general internist and a health-services researcher.
This article first appeared in the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
A It helps just to be aware of how common drug mistakes are, especially among Medicare patients. My agency, one of 11 within the Department of Health and Human Services, has developed a checklist for drug safety. When you go to your doctor's office, pharmacy, or the hospital, you should bring a bag (or at least a list) with all your medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and vitamins. Ask that your meds be reviewed to make sure there are no duplications or contraindications.
Q How should I handle a new prescription?
A Ask your doctor if it's safe to take the new drug with your other medications or supplements. Labels can be hard to read, so look at the directions, and check to make sure you understand them. Do you know how often and for how long you should take it? For example, ask if "four doses daily" means taking a dose every six hours around the clock or just during regular waking hours. If it's a liquid, ask your pharmacist what to use to measure it. Household teaspoons often don't hold a true teaspoon. Specially marked cups or syringes can help you be sure that you are taking the correct dose. Ask if there are medicines, foods, or activities that you should avoid while taking the drug. Ask if you need lab tests to check how the medicine is working to make sure it doesn't cause harmful side effects. When you get a refill, check the pills. If they look different, ask your pharmacist why.
Q Should I stop a drug if I have side effects?
A Side effects-reactions that are not part of the intended effect of the drug-can occur with many medications. Some, like dry mouth, dizziness, or sleepiness, may go away after you take the medicine for a while. But if you have an uncomfortable symptom, like muscle cramps, digestive distress, or thoughts of suicide, call your doctor. You may need a different drug or a change in dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what side effects your medicine may cause, which ones are potentially serious, and what to watch out for. If you know what could happen, you'll be better prepared if it does.
Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, is a general internist and a health-services researcher.
This article first appeared in the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
