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12/19/2008 - Some tips to help you safely take your medications.
· Follow your doctor's directions exactly. This sounds pretty basic, but 21-55% of all older adults fail to take their medications, or take them at the wrong times or in the wrong amounts.
· Make sure you understand how and when to take all your medications.
· Ask your nurse, pharmacist or doctor to write down the directions, if necessary, to be sure you will remember them.
· If you have trouble reading labels, ask for large-print type on your prescription labels. A magnifying glass and a bright light can also help.
· Do not reach for your medications in the dark-it's too easy to mix them up.
· Never drink alcohol while on medications.
· Develop a system for keeping track of your medications. Use a Pill Organizer or turn your medicine bottle upside down every time you take a pill, as a reminder that you have already taken that medicine. Ask your nurse to assist you in setting up a system if needed.
· Do not take anyone else's prescription medicine or give yours to others.
· Always keep taking a drug until your doctor says it's time to quit. Stopping when you "feel better" can lead to unforeseen complications.
· Contact your Alacare Nurse if you experience any side effects after taking a drug.
· Let your Alacare Nurse know any time you:
- Start or stop taking a medication
- Begin taking a different dose of any medication or change how often you take a medication, including prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies and dietary supplements.
· Follow your doctor's directions exactly. This sounds pretty basic, but 21-55% of all older adults fail to take their medications, or take them at the wrong times or in the wrong amounts.
· Make sure you understand how and when to take all your medications.
· Ask your nurse, pharmacist or doctor to write down the directions, if necessary, to be sure you will remember them.
· If you have trouble reading labels, ask for large-print type on your prescription labels. A magnifying glass and a bright light can also help.
· Do not reach for your medications in the dark-it's too easy to mix them up.
· Never drink alcohol while on medications.
· Develop a system for keeping track of your medications. Use a Pill Organizer or turn your medicine bottle upside down every time you take a pill, as a reminder that you have already taken that medicine. Ask your nurse to assist you in setting up a system if needed.
· Do not take anyone else's prescription medicine or give yours to others.
· Always keep taking a drug until your doctor says it's time to quit. Stopping when you "feel better" can lead to unforeseen complications.
· Contact your Alacare Nurse if you experience any side effects after taking a drug.
· Let your Alacare Nurse know any time you:
- Start or stop taking a medication
- Begin taking a different dose of any medication or change how often you take a medication, including prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies and dietary supplements.
When medications are no longer needed, your Alacare Nurse can ensure that all medications are inventoried and disposed of in a proper manner.
· Medications should be removed from their containers and flushed down the toilet or washed down a drain.
· The disposal of medications by the Alacare Nurse should include a witness. (caregiver or family member)
· Remove any patient identification from the empty prescription bottles before disposing them in the trash.
* See Policy ID 1425 Medication Disposal
When in doubt about any medication always ask your nurse,
pharmacist or doctor.
