Sometimes it takes more than a glass of water to take your medicine. Knowing how much and when are important for your health and safety – especially when over a third of adults take three or more prescription medications daily.
Medication mistakes are more common than you might think. Yale New Haven Health pharmacist Kris Venables, RPh, who manages Yale New Haven Health Pharmacy at North Haven Medical Center, shares the following safety tips.
What If I Miss a Dose or Forget to Take It?
Life gets busy. Sometimes we forget to take our medication as prescribed. If you miss a dose, check with your pharmacist. “Sometimes taking your medication too close to your next dose, or completely skipping a dose of your medication, can cause side effects,” Venables said.
How Can I Keep My Medications Organized?
Venables recommends these four things:
- Store meds where you see them every day. If you must take your medication with food, keep it in the kitchen. If you need to take it first thing in the morning, keep it on your nightstand with a glass of water. But be sure to keep it out of the reach of children or pets. Another place to avoid? The bathroom. “Don’t store your medicines in the bathroom. Moisture can affect your medicines,” she said.
- Use pillboxes. Pillboxes can be great to help organize medication on a weekly or monthly basis. With many different styles available, you can choose one that’s best for you. Pillboxes that offer morning, noon and night compartments can help you keep to a schedule. Some have removeable compartments so you can take a day’s dose with you. “There are also pillboxes that have alarms on them that can be set to go off as a reminder to take your medication,” said Venables. Other factors to consider? Check durability, capacity, design and price.
- Set up reminders. Use your cell phone, an alarm clock or a virtual digital assistant such as Alexa or Siri.
- Keep a list. It doesn’t matter if it’s paper or digital, what matters is you have an accurate list of your current medications, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements. Your medication list can be a lifesaver in an emergency or when visiting your healthcare team for care.
Taking a trip? Here’s What You Should Do:
Bring your medications in the bottle with the prescription label on it – especially if you are traveling internationally. Different countries have different rules about prescription medications.
Always pack your medications in your carry-on, not your checked baggage. You don’t want your meds to miss your connection. And pack more medication than you think you’ll need in case your trip gets extended. Also consider the temperature of your medications. “Temperatures get extreme in the luggage area of an airplane,” Venables said. “If you are traveling with a medication that requires refrigeration, be sure to travel with it in a cooler bag with an ice gel pack.”
Can I Take All of My Medications at the Same Time?
Check with your doctor or pharmacist first. “Some medications need to be taken at certain times of the day to work their best. And some vitamins should be separated from other medications so that they don’t lessen the effect of your medications,” Venables said.
If I Start Feeling Better, Can I stop Taking the Medications?
Always take all your medication as prescribed by your doctor. If you’re on an antibiotic, you need to take every dose as directed to make sure the infection is completely cleared up. If you stop too soon, the bacteria could still be present in your body and you’ll feel sick again.
If you’re on maintenance meds, Venables noted you should continue taking them as directed even if you think you’re feeling better. Talk to your doctor before stopping any medication. “These medications play a role in preventing disease progression and long-term complications,” she said.
Remember: Your Pharmacist is Here to Help.
Ask your pharmacist or primary care provider about scheduling an appointment for a comprehensive medication management review. During these visits, the pharmacist will look for possible interactions between your prescription and non-prescription medications and supplements and make sure everything you’re taking is aligned with the treatment plan.
“We can also help you make a schedule and provide specific advice that can make taking your medication a little easier,” Venables said. Some options include:
- Syncing your medications with auto refills through MyChart, which can reduce trips to the pharmacy
- Delivery right to your door
Yale New Haven Health retail pharmacists are available to answer any questions you may have about your medications. “You can stop by and speak to us in person or give us a call any time,” said Venables.
Call 203-230-3940 to speak with the pharmacy team.
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