{"id":7818,"date":"2021-06-14T01:29:01","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T01:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alternatech.net\/?p=7818"},"modified":"2021-06-14T01:29:01","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T01:29:01","slug":"15-everyday-medication-errors-that-are-secretly-ruining-your-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/15-everyday-medication-errors-that-are-secretly-ruining-your-health\/","title":{"rendered":"15+ Everyday Medication Errors That Are Secretly Ruining Your Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. Not understanding medication dangers\n

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The number of home medication errors that resulted in calls to Poison Control doubled over a 13-year study period, according to recent research, and that\u2019s only the mistakes that were phoned in. Luckily, most of those mistakes weren\u2019t life-threatening, but they can be: One-third of the medication errors in the study resulted in hospitalization. The first step to avoiding these mistakes is awareness of how serious they can be.\n

2. Taking too high a dose\n

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Even too much Tylenol can cause serious liver damage, according to the U.S. FDA. \u201cIf you take a dose that\u2019s too high, you may have an increased chance of side effects\u2014for example, increased drowsiness from pain medication or bleeding from too much anticoagulant, such as Warfarin [Coumadin]\u2014due to having too much of the medication in your body,\u201d says Barbara Young, PharmD, MHA, editor of consumer medical information for the American Society of Heath-System Pharmacists\u2018 (ASHP) AHFS Drug Information resource.\n

3. Taking meds too often\n

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A Boston University study found that 15 percent of those who use NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Advil or Aleve exceed the recommended dose in a one-week period, which can lead to serious side effects like intestinal bleeding and even heart attacks. For prescription meds, it\u2019s likewise important to stick to the dosing times to avoid overtaxing your body. \u201cSeveral mechanisms to remove the drug from the body usually involve the liver or kidneys, or both, so if you have problems with either, your doctor may tell you to take a lower dose or take your medication less frequently,\u201d Young says.\n

4. Taking too low a dose or too infrequently\n

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If you don\u2019t take enough of your medication, you also put your health at risk. For example, one of the things you can do to prevent deep vein thrombosis, a deadly blood clot in your leg, is to keep up your proper dosing of blood thinner, if that\u2019s been prescribed to you. \u201cThe body metabolizes a drug at a certain predicted rate, so taking them on the prescribed schedule is important to maintain this consistent level,\u201d Young says. \u201cThink of a bucket with a small hole in the bottom\u2014if you want to maintain a certain level of water you must add a certain amount, or dose, at certain intervals.\u201d If you add too little or wait too long, the water level will fall too low.\n

5. Taking meds with\u2014or without\u2014food\n

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The directions on the Rx are not just suggestions. \u201cFor some medications, food, or certain types of food, will affect how the drug is absorbed from the stomach into the body,\u201d Young says. Some may be absorbed too slowly or not as fully with food, such as the osteoporosis med Fosamax or the thyroid drug Synthroid. So, take them on an empty stomach or for a certain period of time before you eat again. \u201cOn the other hand, some medications may irritate the stomach, such as NSAIDs including ibuprofen, and are best taken with food to minimize any irritation,\u201d Young says. Read the label or ask your pharmacist if you should take your medication with or without food.\n

6. Not avoiding specific foods\n

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Even if you take your meds with a meal, you might not realize you should avoid some foods. \u201cCertain antibiotics should not be taken with calcium-containing food or OTC drugs, which will affect how they are absorbed by the body,\u201d says Dave Walker, RPh, Medical Advisory Board member, MedShadow Foundation. \u201cCalcium can actually inactivate antibiotics, including tetracycline and doxycycline.\u201d Drugs that are affected by a high-fat meal include Viagra and Lunesta, Young says. Plus, \u201cthe metabolism of several medications, including statins, is affected by the enzymes in grapefruit juice,\u201d Walker says. Ask your pharmacist if there are any food interactions to avoid with your medication.\n

7. Mixing meds inappropriately\n

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Your medication could also be making you sick. It could be because you\u2019re inadvertently counteracting or doubling up on meds\u2014and this includes OTC drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements. \u201cThe interaction can increase or decrease the effectiveness of the medicines, cause unexpected side effects, or increase the risk of known side effects,\u201d says Michael J. Gaunt, PharmD, Medication Safety Analyst, Editor, ISMP Medication Safety Alert! Community\/Ambulatory Care Edition at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). For example, some medications should not be taken at the same time as antacids because the absorption may be changed by the reduction in stomach acid, Young says.\n

8. Not getting a med schedule from your doctor\n

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The FDA advises making sure your doctor or pharmacist knows everything you take in order to come up with an approved list for when to take each drug, supplement, and vitamin. \u201cIf you take a number of medications, consult with your pharmacist to find the best schedule for you to take them,\u201d Young says. \u201cIf you group your medications to take at similar times, it will improve your chances of taking your medications consistently and on time.\u201d Just make sure your healthcare provider is on board with the plan.\n

9. Not understanding your prescription label\n

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Don\u2019t be embarrassed if you\u2019re confused\u2014research from Northwestern has shown that prescription labels are notoriously hard to understand due to awkward wording. \u201cJust being able to read the label doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll be able to interpret it,\u201d the study\u2019s lead author, Michael Wolf, Ph.D., MPH, said in a press release. \u201cWhat is \u2018twice daily\u2019? The most common misinterpretation was to take two pills a day,\u201d instead of four. Another example is \u201cthree times a day\u201d\u2014does that mean breakfast, lunch, and dinner; or evenly spaced over 24 hours? Make sure you confirm everything with the pharmacist.\n

10. Not knowing what your medication is for\n

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You should be aware of what each drug is for when you start taking it. \u201cHaving an understanding of the condition or disease that the medication is being used to treat will help you also understand the importance of taking it,\u201d Young says. \u201cOften medications may be used to treat more than one condition, so know why you are taking the medication. Especially when you talk to other doctors or health-care professionals.\u201d\n

11. Not knowing the names of your meds\n

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Avoid confusion and reduce the chance of mistakes by knowing the names of the drugs you take. \u201cStudies show that patients who know the names of their medications have better adherence to their medication regimen and are less likely to mix up their medications or take the wrong one,\u201d Walker says. \u201cKnowing both the brand name and generic name of a medication is especially helpful since the prescriber may be using the brand name to prescribe, while the pharmacy would usually dispense the generic name.\u201d\n

12. Not checking the label\n

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Pharmacists can sometimes make mistakes. \u201cWe at ISMP regularly receive reports of pharmacies giving a correctly filled prescription to the wrong customer,\u201d says Gaunt. \u201cA study conducted by ISMP found that this error happens about once for every 1,000 prescriptions filled.\u201d Taking the wrong drug could cause an adverse reaction or leave your condition untreated, so check that the label is correct before you leave the pharmacy.\n

13. Not taking your meds correctly\n

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It may seem obvious at first glance, but you\u2019d be surprised at how easy it is to screw this up. According to the Mayo Clinic, common mistakes include mixing up eye and ear drops, chewing non-chewables, using silverware to measure teaspoons, and cutting up pills. Understanding the right way to take your meds \u201cwill assure that you get the correct dose or appropriate amount of medication for each dose, which is especially important for medications that have a narrow range for dosing,\u201d Young says. A good rule to follow: When you pick up your medication, confirm with your pharmacist exactly how to take it.\n

14. Stopping the medication too soon\n

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You feel better, so you can stop your med, right? Nope. \u201cStopping a medication abruptly can lead to severe consequences,\u201d Walker says. Your blood pressure or blood sugar levels could spike if meds to manage them are stopped. \u201cSome medications may have adverse effects when stopped suddenly, including SSRIs such as Prozac, which takes time to build in the system to become effective,\u201d he says.\n

15. Taking other people\u2019s meds\n

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Your friend swears by her prescription drug, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should take it if she offers. \u201cWell-meaning individuals may think to share their prescription medicines with others to help treat their symptoms,\u201d Gaunt says. \u201cHowever, a medicine\u2019s effect depends upon the individual\u2019s medical conditions and their tolerance to the medicine. Sharing of medications, such as powerful opioids [pain medicines], has resulted in patient harm, including death.\u201d Even if you feel your symptoms aren\u2019t being adequately handled by your doctor, don\u2019t use someone else\u2019s meds\u2014instead, get a second opinion.\n

16. Taking too many meds\n

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According to the CDC, 29 percent of American adults take five or more medications. \u201cEvery time you add another medication you can almost count on increasing the chance of side effects, adverse drug reactions, and drug-drug interactions,\u201d Walker says. The doctors can prescribe you more drugs to control the side effects of other drugs. For example, \u201cADHD medications can change sleep patterns that need to be balanced with other medications\u201d Walker says. \u201cIt\u2019s paramount that you speak to your prescriber and pharmacist to fully understand the potential risks associated with taking multiple medicines.\u201d\n

17. Storing and disposing of meds incorrectly\n

You need to kept your drugs in the proper conditions to maintain their effectiveness. Medications may require a certain temperature range, protection from light, or protection from humidity to maintain the product integrity so the medication won\u2019t physically change or lose potency.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some everyday medication mistakes are really dangerous for your health. Every year, errors in medications taken at the homeland many people in the emergency room. Here’s what to avoid in order to stay safe. 1. Not understanding medication dangers The number of home medication errors that resulted in calls to Poison Control doubled over a\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7819,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"%%title%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"Some everyday medication mistakes are really dangerous for your health. Every year, errors in medications taken at the homeland many people in the emergency room. Here's what to avoid in order to stay safe.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[51,110,115,125],"class_list":{"0":"post-7818","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tie-life-style","8":"tag-healthy","9":"tag-healthy-life","10":"tag-healthy-lifestyle","11":"tag-mistake"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/medical-mistake.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writehorizon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}