6 tips to avoid mistakes when taking medicine

The article was written by Dr. BS Le Thi Huong - General Doctor - Department of Examination - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

To use a prescription as safely and effectively as possible, it must be taken in the correct way and in the correct dose as directed by your doctor. However, many patients do not follow the correct steps when taking prescription medications, and make common mistakes when using medications to treat their illness. Here are 6 tips to help patients avoid making mistakes when using medication.

1.Learn the name of your medication Instead of just having your doctor prescribe it and send it to you, be sure to ask for the name of the medication. This way you will notice if the pharmacy offers you something different. Also, each time you get your medicine back, look at it before you leave the pharmacy to make sure it's the same as what you bought before. Are the colors, sizes, shapes and textures the same? Is the packaging the same? If anything about the medicine seems different, ask your pharmacist about it.
2.Ask questions about medication usage Some good questions to ask:
What should I do if I forget a dose? Should I take this medicine before, during or after a meal? How much time between each dose should be? What side effects may I have? When should I contact my doctor or pharmacist if I have certain side effects? Are there any other drugs, foods, or activities that I should avoid while using this medicine? Should the medicine be kept in the refrigerator or at room temperature? Take notes or ask your doctor to write down instructions or other information about your medication or condition to help you remember. 3. Know what your medication is? For example, you only take eye medication when you have a headache, but you should be taking it every day to treat your eye disease. It is important to understand your medication because you are more likely to use it correctly, are more likely to know what to expect from it, and can better reflect what you are taking and problems for you. your doctor and pharmacist.
4.Read medicine labels and follow directions Before using any medicine, you should know when to take it, how much to take, and how long to take it. Remember to read the medicine label at all times. In the middle of the night, you could accidentally drop drops in your ear or give your older child's medicine if you don't carefully check the label.
>>> Instructions on how to read drug labels
Please use the measuring device that came with the medicine. If you don't have your liquid medicine meter, ask for one at the pharmacy. Also, carefully read the drug information that accompanies the patient's prescription before using the medication.
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5.Inform all healthcare professionals about the medications and supplements you are taking (including vitamins and herbs) Get in the habit of showing your list of medications to everyone. all your healthcare professionals every time you visit the doctor, pharmacy and hospital. List all prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements, including vitamins and herbs.
Informing all your healthcare professionals about everything you use will help ensure that you are not taking two medicines with the same active ingredient or using anything that would interact with something else that you are using.
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You can inform your healthcare providers about medicines and dietary supplements with "My Drug Record". This includes putting all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications in a paper bag and taking them to your doctor's office to be examined by a doctor. Including functional foods and herbs.
6.Always carry a list of medications and tell your loved ones. Always keep a list of medicines and supplements with you, such as in your purse or bag, and keep a copy. in the home. Share a copy of the drug list with a family member or friend, or let them know where you keep the list. In an emergency, he or she will be able to tell your doctor about the medications and supplements you take.