At least once per year, bag up your medications
and take them with you to your doctors appointment. Too often errors occur
when:
1) we assume an over-the-counter medication is safe leading to serious drug
interaction, and
2) a new medication is prescribed without stopping an "old" one.
Be honest! Tell your doctor, nurse and pharmacist about everything you take
- including herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications.
Information you should know about your medications:
• What is this medicine
for?
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• How am I supposed to take it, and for how
long?
• Is this medication safe to take with other medicines, herbs or dietary
supplements?
• What food, drink, or activities should I avoid while taking this
medication?
• What side affects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
• If the medication requires a special device (such as an inhaler) how do I
use it?
Examine your prescriptions when you pick them up. If the instructions are
unclear, or if you suspect the medication, dose or instructions are
incorrect - speak to the pharmacist! There are no dumb questions!
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Another common happening that causes medication
errors is not understanding the abbreviations associated with medications.
Here are some of the most common, and what they mean:
p.r.n. = as needed
q.d. = every day
b.i.d. twice a day
t1d. three times a day
q.i.d. four times a day
a.c. = before meals
p.c. = after meals
h.s. = at bedtime
p.o. = by mouth
n.p.o. = nothing by mouth
STAT = immediately
w/ =with
Adapted from:
Debbie Best, Congregational Health Ministries |
