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Medicine missteps

When it comes to medicines, you may already know how essential it is to exactly follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or on over-the-counter (OTC) Drug Facts labels.

When it comes to medicines, you may already know how essential it is to exactly follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or on over-the-counter (OTC) Drug Facts labels. But you may be overlooking some habits or beliefs that can keep you from getting the full benefit of your medicines or cause you to risk your health and safety. See if any of these common medicine missteps apply to you.

Taking too much medicine. Overdoses of medicine are the number one cause of medication-related deaths in the US according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The most deadly overdoses have occurred with prescription drugs that are often abused, such as Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen), Xanax (alprazolam), and Adderall (dextroamphetamine and amphetamine). But overdoses of over-the-counter medicines have also been linked to deaths. In fact, overdoses of Tylenol (acetaminophen) have led to nearly 1,000 deaths last year. Medicines should only be taken as directed on the prescription or package label, and as recommended by your healthcare provider.

Confusing medicines with one another. Medicines frequently have look- or sound-alike names that are easy to mix up. Frequently confused medicines with look- or sound-alike names include:

  1. Zantac (ranitidine), an acid reducing medicine, and Zyrtec (cetirizine), an allergy relief medicine

  2. Lamictal (lamotrigine), an anti-seizure medicine, and Lamisil (terbinafine), an antifungal medicine

  3. Celebrex (celecoxib), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, and Celexa (citalopram), an antidepressant

Be sure medicines are clearly labeled, and separate the storage of those with names that look or sound alike. Reading the leaflet that comes with prescription medicine, or reading the Drug Facts label on OTC medicines, can help detect a mix-up because most look- and sound-alike medicines are used for different purposes. If the purpose of the medicine doesn't apply to you, call the pharmacy to verify that you have received the correct medicine.

Medicines interacting with one another. Some medicines should never be taken together because they can interact with each other in ways that alter their effects. These interactions could be dangerous, even deadly on rare occasions. Since many older people take 5 or more prescription medicines daily, many of which are ordered by different doctors, the potential for a serious interaction is heightened. It is important to keep a current list of all your prescription and OTC medicines. Review the list with your doctor at each visit, and provide it to your pharmacist. Pharmacy computers will often detect medicines that interact and alert the pharmacist, who can then call your doctor to discuss a possible prescription change.

Food and drug interactions. Similar to drugs interacting with each other, certain foods can prevent some medicines from working appropriately. For example, the blood thinner, Coumadin (warfarin), becomes less effective when foods high in vitamin K (e.g., green leafy vegetables, broccoli, Brussels sprouts) are eaten. Another food product that changes the way medicines act is grapefruit juice. It is important to read and follow the directions and warnings on both prescription and OTC medicines to ensure that they are taken correctly. Reviewing with your pharmacist how to take the medicine is also helpful.

Wrong route of administration. According to the FDA, 16% of medicine errors in the home involve taking the medicine by the wrong route of administration. For example, a person may swallow a tablet whole instead of letting it dissolve under the tongue as directed. Or someone may put ear drops in the eye, or swallow a liquid product intended to be applied to the skin. Again, it is important to read and follow the directions on all prescription and OTC medicine label.

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