Preventing Prescription Errors(Link here for part I of this discussion.) Two weeks ago I told you about medication errors that affect thousands of people annually. From too-similar drug names, to undecipherable handwriting, to incorrect dosages, contraindications, and patient non-compliance, problems with drugs are dangerous and can be deadly. I don’t want you to suffer from a drug error! Here are some simple steps you can take to keep yourself safe. First, regardless of your doctor’s penmanship skills, when he writes you a prescription, plan to write down the information yourself, too. Ask him to spell the name of the drug and the manufacturer for you. Remind your doctor of the various medications you already take. Include any herbs, vitamins, and other over-the-counter preparations you take regularly since some interact negatively with prescribed drugs. Then ask your doctor the following questions. Recording their answers will help confirm you’re receiving the right drug in the right dose: - Why did your doctor prescribe that drug?
- What form does the drug come in? (liquid? Tablets?)
- Is there an acceptable generic version?
- How much and how often should you take it?
- Should it be taken with, or without, food?
- Are there any foods or beverages you should avoid while taking the medication? (Some antibiotics are useless if taken with milk, and many drugs interact negatively with alcohol.)
- Are there any activities you should avoid? (Driving can be dangerous if the drug makes you drowsy.)
- How long should you take the drug?
Finally, ask about side effects and when you should call the doctor instead of just coping with them. For example, a dry mouth may be a minor side effect, but dehydration would require a call to his office. Once given your prescription at the pharmacy, compare it to your notes, since some drug problems arise from the dispensing, not the prescribing. Check the container your medicine comes in to be sure it matches what your doctor ordered. Then, ask the pharmacist to verify that what’s inside the container matches its label. Once you have confirmed you have been given the right drug, make sure you follow your doctor’s dosage instructions closely. Not surprisingly, some medication errors come from the patient side of the equation. It’s our responsibility as patients to verify the treatments we receive. After all, we’re the ones who suffer if we don’t take that responsibility. © 2006 Trisha Torrey Return to Main List of Columns
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