Unfortunately, medication errors happen. They happen in hospitals, in pharmacies, or even at home. Add sometime people get hurt because of these errors.

      The more information you have, the better you will be able to prevent errors and to take care of yourself. You have to ask your doctors and nurses about medications, and you have to expect answers.

      Your doctors, nurses and pharmacists work hard to keep you healthy, but you are also responsible. Learn what questions to ask. Expect answers – its your life and your health !

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Make a list of medications you are taking now. Include the dose and how often you take them.

• Any time that your medications change, change your list too.

• Keep medications to their original containers. Many pills look alike, so by keeping them in their original containers, you will know which is which and how to take them.

• Never take someone else’s medication. You don’t know if it will interact with your medications, the dose may be wrong for you , or you may be allergic to it.

• Read the label every time you take a dose to make sure you have the right drug and you are following the instructions.

• Turn on the lights to take your medications. If you can’t see what you’re taking you may take the wrong thing.

• Don’t store medications in the bathroom medicine cabinet or in direct sunlight. Humidity , heat and light can affect medications ‘ potency and safety.

• Store medications where children can’t see or reach them, for example, in a locked box or cabinet.

• Flush any old medications, including used patches. Down the toilet. Children and pets might get hold of medicines that are thrown into the wastebasket, and some drugs actually become toxic after expiry date.

• Don’t chew, crush or break any capsules or tablets unless instructed. Some long – acting medications are absorbed too quickly when chewed, which could be unsafe. Other medications either won’t be effective or could make you sick.

• To give liquid medications, use only the cup or other measuring device that came with it. Dosing errors can happen if you use a different cup or if you use the cup with other liquids because the cups often are of different sizes or have different markings. Also , household teaspoons and tablespoons are not very accurate, which is important with some medications. Your pharmacist may give you a special oral syringe instead.

• Take your medications and the list of your medications with you when you go to the hospital. Your doctors and nurses will need to know what you are taking.

• After your doctors have seen them, send your medications home with your family. While you are in the hospital. You may not need the same medications.

• Tell your doctors, ‘you want to know the names of each medications and the reasons you are taking them. That way, if anyone tells you anything different, you will know to ask questions, which might prevent errors.

• Look at all medicines before you take them. If it does not look like what you usually take, ask why. It might be a generic drug, or it might be the wrong drug. Ask the same questions you would ask if you were in the pharmacy.

• Do not let anyone give you medications without checking your hospital ID bracelet every time. This helps prevent you from getting someone else’s medications.

• Before any test or procedure , ask if it will require any dyes or medicines. Remind your nurse and doctors, if you have allergies.

• hen you are ready to go home, have the doctor or nurse go over each medication with you and a family member. Update your medication list from home, if any prescriptions change or if now medications are added.

• Take your medication fist every time you go to your doctor’s office. Especially , if you see more than one doctor. They might not know about the medications other doctors prescribed for you.

• Ask your doctor to explain what is written on any prescription, including the drug name and how often you should take it. Then when you take the prescription to the pharmacy, you can double check the information on the label.

• Tell your doctor you want the purpose for which the medication is written on the prescription. Many drug names look alike when written poorly, knowing the purpose helps you and the pharmacist double – check the prescription.

• f your doctor gives you samples, make sure that he or she checks to be sure that there are no interactions with your other medications.