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Medication can be life-changing or even life-saving. But being on multiple drugs at the same time isn’t without risk, making these medication management tips very important.
Some formulas can cause dangerous interactions or harmful side effects, especially when combined. Others become more or less effective when taken the wrong way, combined with certain foods, or stored incorrectly in between doses.
Keeping track of all of these side effects and potential problems isn’t always easy. In fact, the more medications you take, the more likely you are to experience contraindications (negative interactions) or side effects, but that doesn’t mean you should just stop taking medicine, either.
This practice can be just as harmful.
Important Medication Management Tips
The real solution to this?
Use smart medication management to become more aware of:
- What you’re taking
- How you should take it
- How to avoid problems
We’ve included a few tips to get you started in today’s post; they just might save your life.
1. Stick With One Pharmacy
Many patients have busy lives. When they need a prescription filled, they head to whichever pharmacy is closest – but this is rarely wise.
It’s safer to maintain a relationship with a single pharmacy because they can get to know you, help you monitor your health, and maintain a full ongoing record of your medication. This allows the pharmacist to see your history at a glance so they can anticipate problems even before they occur.
2. Be Aware of Common Food Interactions
What do dairy, grapefruit juice, and sardines have in common? All three are common household foods…and all three have the potential to negatively interact with certain medications. Some of these interactions can even be dangerous.
- Dairy can render certain antibiotics ineffective
- Grapefruit juice changes how the body processes certain drugs
- Sardines, on the other hand, are loaded with iodine, which may interfere with thyroid drugs
Always ask your pharmacist what foods you should avoid when you start a new drug.
3. Tell Your Pharmacist About OTC Drugs
Drugs like Aleve, Tylenol, and Motrin have become so common in America that many people take them almost without thinking. But it’s important to remember that OTC drugs are, in fact, still drugs; they, too, must follow responsible medication management.
- Taking Tylenol in combination with certain prescription painkillers, for example, could cause you to inadvertently overdose on acetaminophen because both drugs contain the same substance
- Taking Motrin at the same time as blood thinners like Warfarin could even put you at risk for a gastrointestinal bleed.
Tell your pharmacist if you start taking any OTC drugs – or better yet, ask them if they’re okay to take first. In most cases, the answer will still be yes.
4. Always Read Product Labels and Instructions
Every drug you purchase, be it OTC or prescription, comes with a sheet of instructions and/or an instructional label.
Always read these instructions in full before you begin taking your medication. Often, potential interactions and problems will be outlined, here – but you’ll also learn how to take the drug safely and effectively, too.
5. Ask Questions
Have a question about your medication? It’s okay to search for experiences or information online – sites such as the CDC website all contain reliable info on common medicines and health conditions. This can be an excellent resource if you want to get to know your own health.
Still, it’s important to be aware that not everything you read online can be trusted. Even on trustworthy sites, there’s no guarantee that what you find will be accurate to your unique situation.
The safer option is to ask your pharmacist; he or she can review your file and give you an answer that considers your full health picture. You can always trust your pharmacy to have your best interests in mind!
6. Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol is a contentious substance where medications are concerned. While it doesn’t always negatively interact with every medicine, it is inherently hard for the liver to process, as are many medications. Drinking while taking multiple medications essentially forces your liver into overdrive, which can eventually lead to low-grade damage, permanent scarring, or even liver failure.
Taking Tylenol – a common hangover cure, ironically enough – in combination with alcohol is especially problematic. In fact, new evidence shows it may take only 2,000 mg of Tylenol to cause near-fatal overdose in people who ingest three or more drinks per day. That’s only four extra-strength pills per day.
Then, there’s also the risk for sedation. If you mix any drug that causes you to feel sleepy with alcohol, you will likely feel more sleepy. In the case of opiates, it might even suppress your breathing to dangerous levels.
7. Don’t Exchange Medications
We know medications can be hard to afford, as can accessing healthcare. This is what often leads people to give others their medication or take someone else’s medication in the first place.
But this can be incredibly dangerous as:
- You don’t know if that’s really the right drug or dose
- It’s impossible to be aware of any potential interactions or contraindications that might occur
You could seriously harm yourself or the other person – and that’s just not worth the few dollars you’ll save.
8. Keep a Medication Management Diary
Being aware of what you take, when you take it, and what kind of side effects occur might feel overwhelming, especially if you’re on five or more drugs. Keeping a medication management diary can help.
Whether you use a notebook or one of the many fancy smartphone apps available now, it’s a great way to stay in tune with your treatment.
Make a note in your diary whenever you are prescribed a medicine. Each day, enter a small note when you take your medication. Record the time and how you were feeling.
If any odd symptoms crop up, write these down too. They may include:
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Dizziness
This can help you identify potential problems or triggers, such as nausea after your morning blood pressure medication, while also ensuring you are always aware of the drugs you take, when you take them, and how they help.
Keeping a medication diary on your person might even save your life someday, especially if you take life-saving medication like warfarin or insulin. Emergency responders often look for this info if they are called to help someone who is unconscious or otherwise unable to respond.
Conclusion
Practicing safe medication management is not only helpful, but it can be life-saving as well.
Talking to your pharmacist can give you the best insight into your individualized medication plan, as well as ways to stay healthy and safe.
Read More:
Active vs Inactive Ingredients in Medication (and What That Means for You)