General Medication Safety Tips
Be an advocate for yourself. Ask questions -- find out all you can about your medical conditions. If you have questions about the medications prescribed for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
These tips also apply for anyone in your care. Don't be shy. Ask to have any instructions repeated. Ask to have the label and dosage explained to you. Examine every prescription that you pick up, if you discover a discrepancy ask to have it resolved immediately. Do not take a medication or administer a medication to anyone, if you believe there may be a discrepancy.
Ask questions regarding a new medication. Your pharmacist can give you written patient information regarding what to expect when you take your new prescription.
- Discuss the risks and benefits of a new medication with your doctor or pharmacist. Find out what your choices are.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any allergies you may have.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all of the non-prescription drugs, vitamins, herbals and other dietary supplements you are currently taking. Some may interfere with the effectiveness of your prescription drug.
- Make sure that you know your physician's name and the name of the clinic. If you cannot read the physicians name on the prescription form, it's likely the pharmacist cannot read it either. Ask the physician to print his/her name.
- Examine the label when you pick up a new prescription. Ask the pharmacist about anything on the label you do not understand.
- Examine the label and contents when you pick up a refill prescription. If the pills look different than those you were taking, tell your pharmacist immediately.
- Take your medications as directed by the doctor or pharmacist. If you are having difficulty with your medications schedule, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your dosing regimen. Don't try to adjust it yourself.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you believe you are having side effects from a new prescription. Pay attention to how you feel, if you feel differently after beginning a new medication, call your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
- If you believe that you or someone in your care is having a drug interaction, call your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
- If you miss a dose of your medication, or if you mistakenly take more medication than recommended, call your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you mistakenly take medication that is not prescribed for you, or if you have taken too much medication, prescription or non-prescription, call the poison control center immediately. Hennepin Regional Poison Center Emergency Phone: 1-800-222-1222 (voice and TTY)
- Don't increase, decrease or stop taking medicine without calling your doctor.
- Don't crush or split pills unless you have been instructed to do so by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Don't share your prescription medications with anyone; don't take medication prescribed for someone else. Discard outdated medications.
Store your medications as instructed by the pharmacist. Place them in a safe place away from heat, moisture or freezing temperatures. The bathroom cabinet is not the best place for medications. Safe places might be in a linen closet, dresser drawer or kitchen cupboard.
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Roseville, MN 55113