If we follow these simple health warnings we can avoid putting our health at risk.
The quality of life that medication has given us is undeniable, but it cannot be used in any way . We are talking about substances that can have very harmful effects if we do not use them properly. It is for this reason that today we will see how to promote safe medication through some simple but essential warnings.
The 15 essential warnings for safe medication
There are a series of rules that must be unbreakable for our medication to be safe . Unfortunately, not everyone takes into account the warnings given by health authorities.
From HealthyMortel we want to promote good practice when dealing with medications, so below we will see the most important warnings to have a safe medication. When using medications, we must be cautious so as not to put our health or that of our family at risk.
1. Proper conservation
So that the medicines are not altered, they must be kept in an appropriate place . You have to find a place in the house where there is not a lot of temperature and humidity. At the same time, medicines must be protected from light so that they are not affected.
2. Out of reach of children
This place to store medicines must be out of the reach of children . There are some drawers that are very accessible for the little ones, who with their eagerness to explore can become interested in them. We can’t let them end up in his mouth.
3. Notify the doctor if we take other medications
Before taking that the doctor prescribes a new medicine, he must know if we already take any . In most cases it will be irrelevant, but it is vitally important in some cases. There are medications that interact in such a way that they can become toxic, so we must avoid these situations.
4. Ask your doctor any questions
For any doubt we have, we should ask the doctor . There is no need to fear that he will think that we are ignorant or anything like that. In fact they are aware that this is their job and not that of their patients. Your duty is to inform us whenever necessary.
5. Do not alter the packaging
There are people who alter the packaging and this cannot be done . To guarantee safe medication, we must respect the way in which we find drugs. These are designed to be preserved according to their initial packaging, otherwise they could be altered.
6. Do not alter the capsules
Respecting the way in which the capsules are presented is very important . Some people decide to alter the medication and this can affect the ability of the drug to work. For example, removing the capsules to take the powder inside is not suitable; the active principle will see its absorption altered, mainly due to alterations in absorption.
7. Do not split tablets
Similar to the previous point, there are people who alter the tablets by dividing or chewing them. Although sometimes it is due to swallowing problems, you have to think that drugs are not usually designed to be taken like this. It is preferable to resort to other presentations before dividing the tablets .
8. Read the leaflet
Do not take any medication if you have not read the package leaflet first . In this informative paper you can read contraindications that we might have missed. There are many drugs that cannot be taken in case of suffering from certain diseases, pregnancy, being of a certain age, etc.
9. Do not give adult medications to children
Under no circumstances should adult medications be given to children . In the prospectus it puts the range of allowed ages, and if it does not say that the medicine in question is suitable for children, we must respect it. Only the doctor could prescribe it if necessary.
10. Respect the doses
The doctor will prescribe us a dose that we must respect . It is not acceptable not to follow their guidelines, because for example there are medications such as paracetamol that can become toxic if we take a few times more than the appropriate dose. Only the package insert and the pharmacist can tell us about the dosage in addition to the doctor.
11. Respect the frequency and time of administration
Medicines are not normally taken once and that’s it . They are designed to be taken with a certain frequency and for a certain time. For example, antibiotics in the vast majority of cases need to be taken for a few days and with a certain frequency so that they have the corresponding effect.
12. Reminders
It can be a great idea to prepare reminders for us so as not to forget the moment to take a medication . As we have mentioned, there are medications that must be taken every certain number of hours. Writing a note in the kitchen or creating an alarm will be a good way to remember the time in question and ensure safe medication.
13. Inform the doctor of any eventuality
If we attribute unexpected or very pronounced side effects to the medication, we must inform the doctor . Sometimes some people suffer reactions outside of what is considered normal, whether due to allergies, intolerance, metabolism disorders, etc. If this is the case, the doctor, once informed, may withdraw the medication if necessary and find another solution for the case.
14. Do not self-medicate
There is no need to resort to self-medication in any way . Only professionals who know medicines can be the ones who decide whether or not we should take a medicine. The doctors will be the ones who prescribe the medicines and the pharmacists can also help us.
15. Pay attention to the expiration date
An expired medication should not be taken . Each drug is sold with an expiration date. In most cases this is for years, but we should not keep them in the medicine drawer indefinitely. We must periodically check that the expiration dates of our medicines do not expire if we want to guarantee a safe medication.
16. Pay attention to the retention period
The conservation period would be the expiration of the medicine once opened . It does not happen with all medicines, but in some cases (such as syrups, for example), once the medicine is opened, the storage period is shorter. In these cases, the box will indicate it.
Bibliographic references
- Campmany, ME (2006). Storage and administration of medications. OFFARM, 25(8), 70-7.
- Davis, T.C, Wolf, M.S., Bass, P.F., Thompson, J.A., et al. (2006). Literacy and Misunderstanding Prescription Drug Labels”. Annals of Internal Medicine, 145 (12), 0000605–200612190–00144.
- Tannenbaum, C., Farrell, B., Shaw, J., Morgan, S., Trimble, J., Currie, J., et al. (2017). An ecological approach to reducing potentially inappropriate medication use: Canadian Deprescribing Network. Can J Aging, 36(1), 97–107.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.