Medication Series: Avoid These Common Mistakes When Issued a Prescription

When your life gets busy or your health is suffering, taking and managing your medication in the right way can be difficult. In fact, approximately half of people prescribed chronic medications do not take them as directed. Unfortunately, this can account for almost 50% of treatment failures and 25% of hospitalizations every year in the US.

“Making every effort to take your medications as directed can save you a lot of money in addition to managing your symptoms or illness, so be your own best advocate,” says Denis Fortier, Pharmacist at Cheshire Medical Center.

“Pharmacists are specialized in how medicines work and interact. I suggest you build a rapport with your personal pharmacist. They can be a tremendous resource to help you with these issues. ” Earlier this year, Fortier highlighted some common medication mistakes in the free workshop Your Medicine Cabinet and You.

Mistake #1: Being under-prepared for the appointment with your doctor

We all want to make the most of the time we have face-to-face with providers. However, appointments can be intimidating and overwhelming for some, especially if you are receiving news about your health. To make sure you get the most out of an appointment that involves changes or additions to the medications you take, Fortier suggests:

• Write down and bring your questions with you so you don’t forget to ask something if your doctor does not go over everything you want to know.
• Write the answers to your questions during your appointment on a note pad in case a concern comes up down the road.
• If you are worried you won’t understand your doctor’s instructions, ask your doctor’s office if you can take another individual with you.
• If you need an interpreter or auxiliary equipment in your appointment, call to arrange this first. Voice: (603) 354-6656; VP: (603) 499-4168; TTY/TDD: (603) 354-6657

Mistake #2: Not keeping your full list of medications up to date

Keeping an up to date list of your medications is very important for your prescribing doctor, especially if you have more than one. It is also vital to the pharmacist who issues your prescriptions and any emergency personnel who will need to know in the event that you have an accident or get sick. Fortier suggests:

• Don’t just learn the names, doses and when you take each of your medications—also keep an up to date list of them at all times.
• Your list should any include herbal supplements, over the counter (OTC) medications, and implants like intrauterine devices (IUDs).
• Each time you update your medication list with your doctor, ask for a printed copy to confirm the changes have been made.
• Make sure this medication list is also updated with your pharmacist.
• Look into helpful services like Medic Alert.

Mistake #3: Forgetting to ask your doctor these questions when they prescribe a new medication

• “What will happen if I DON’T take this medication?”
• “How, when, and with what frequency should I take this medication?”
• “What should I do if I accidentally skip a dose?”
• “What do you expect this medicine to do for me, and how will we tell if it is working?”
• “How long will I need to take this medication for and should I keep taking it even if my symptoms go away?”
• “Is taking this medication my only option?”
• “What are potential side effects or allergic reactions that I should look out for and when should I seek medical attention?”
• “Will you need to change or stop any of my other medications if I take this?” This question is especially important if you see more than one doctor.

An additional resource is AARP’s list of questions to ask your doctor.

Mistake #4: Leaving the pharmacy without these details

• Verifying the prescription medication you received has your name on it.
• Verifying the name and dose of the medication you received.
• Reading the printed instructions and making sure you understand them.
• Asking your pharmacist questions about anything that is not clear or doesn’t seem right.
• Asking any of the above questions if you are still unsure of the answers.
• Asking about medication-specific questions like:
  • “What foods, drinks or activities should I avoid while taking this medication?”
  • “How do store this medication properly?”

Sources:

• The Unmet Challenge of Medication Nonadherence
• Medication Adherence: The Elephant in the Room