What May Cause Complications With Using Multiple Medications?

What May Cause Complications With Using Multiple Medications?

The pharmacist/patient relationship is increasingly important in helping patients use their medications properly. Research shows that pharmacist intervention improves patient compliance and that compliance improves patient outcomes while lowering overall health care costs.

NACDS is offering the following background information designed to assist consumers with the appropriate use of their medications.

Questions to ask about proper prescription drug use... 
Today's medicines can achieve remarkable outcomes in the treatment of diseases and illnesses that just a few years ago would have required extensive hospitalization or extended care. But even the best medicine can't produce its intended results if patients don't use their medication as directed.

Improper use of medication can lead to serious problems... 
Improper use of prescription drugs--or "noncompliance" with medication instructions-- can lead to complications and even hospitalization.

Three out of every five doctor visits result in a prescription being issued by the physician. However, as many as half of all patients fail to have their prescriptions filled and as many as 30% fail to have their prescriptions refilled.

Moreover, studies show that by the time the patient gets from the doctor's office to the pharmacy, many have forgotten half of the doctor's instructions about their prescribed medication.

In fact, it is estimated that medical complications that result from medication noncompliance are responsible for the following:

• 10% of all hospital admissions;
• 25% of all hospital admissions among the elderly;
• 23% of all nursing home admissions, and;
• Loss of 20 million work days annually.
• As many as half of all patients fail to take their medications as directed...
• Ask the pharmacist questions about proper use every time you get a new prescription.
• Use only one pharmacy for all prescriptions so a complete medication profile can be maintained.
• Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all the drugs--both prescription and non-prescription--you are using.
• Never take prescriptions that are prescribed for another person.
• Take all of the medicine as prescribed; don't stop taking it once you start feeling better.
• Never take medicines in the dark; the wrong medication may be taken.
• Do not take more or less than the recommended dosage without consulting the prescribing physician or pharmacist.
• Never hesitate to ask the pharmacist any questions you have about your medication.

Questions To Ask 
Here are the questions a consumer should ask the pharmacist each time they bring in a prescription to be filled.

1. What is the name of the medicine and what is it supposed to do?
2. How long am I to take it? What time of the day? How often?
3. What if I miss a dose, or forget to take it?
4. If I start to feel better, can I stop, or take less than what the doctor prescribed?
5. Do I take it with food? Are there foods, drinks or other medications-- prescription or non-prescription--that I should avoid with this medicine?
6. What side effects, if any, should I watch for? What should I do if they occur?
7. What should I do with any left over medicine?
8. Are there special storage precautions for this medicine?

Keep A Personal Record
A personal record of the medications you take can make it easier to remember when and how long to take your medications. Your physician or pharmacist can help you fill it out.

Medication
Frequency
Start date
End date