Safe use of medications

Medications now control many diseases and conditions that were crippling or fatal in the past. However, the more medications there are, the more important it is for everyone to take responsibility for using them properly. Everyone must learn to manage their medications safely and effectively.

When you visit the doctor or hospital

You should tell the doctor or hospital staff all they need to know to assist the diagnosis of your problem and to prescribe the proper medicines.

Before you go prepare a written list of things to tell the doctor and the questions you want to ask about your illness and treatment. The Medimate booklet can help with that. Get your free copy from your local pharmacy or health centre (also available from National Prescribing Service website).

Bring all the medicines that you are using or a written list of them. Include the medicines that you take that do not require a prescription such as pain killers, cold remedies, laxatives, ‘natural’ remedies or herbal teas. Remember medicines other than tablets – creams, inhalers, patches, liquids. Ask your pharmacist to prepare a list or to help you prepare it; or use the form in your Medimate booklet.

By the end of the visit, be sure you get instructions from your doctor for properly taking any medicines prescribed. You should know the answers to these questions for each medicine prescribed for you:

• What am I taking?
• When and how often should I take it?
• Under what circumstances - before, with, after, or between meals? At bedtime? As needed? What does ‘as directed’ mean?
• How long should I take it?
• Will there be any side-effects? Should I report them?
• Should I avoid any foods, alcohol or other medication? Or not drive my car? Or not operate machinery?

It is important not only to hear the answers to these questions but also to get your doctor to write them down so you can refer to them later.

Your pharmacist

The pharmacist is an expert on medicines and their effects. It is your pharmacist's professional duty to explain how to take the medicines that she or he supplies. Make sure you can read the labels and ask the pharmacist if you do not understand the instructions.

Organising a system for taking your medicines

To get the most benefit from prescribed medicines, you must take them properly - according to directions. Follow the instructions on the label and any other instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist.

To help people to keep track of doses of medication the following systems have been developed.

Medication chart

If you take several medicines and you have trouble keeping in mind which medicines to take when and the specific directions for each, obtain a medication list form from the National Prescribing Service and complete it with the relevant information. Keep it up to date.

Under each of the headings, put the details for each of your medicines, as shown.

Hang the chart near the place where you keep your medicines and follow it carefully.

Medication organisers

Several container systems are available to help people organise their medication doses on a daily or weekly basis (Webster-pak, Nomad, Persopak, etc.). Such ‘organisers’ are a great help in reminding people to take their medication, making sure they are taken on the right day and at the right time, etc.

Other useful systems include dosettes, where each dose of most medications can be placed in separate sections of the container ready for each day of the next week. Ezy Dose Pharmadose is an organiser with indicators of days and times in braille for the visually impaired.

Ask your pharmacist about these systems and how they can help you to take your medication in the safest and best possible way.

Cautions

It is quite common for children to be poisoned by pills which look like lollies and are found in handbags or in drawers. Store your medicines safely, especially away from children. Preferably use a special cupboard with a lock.

Some medicines lose their strength if exposed to the open air, others must be kept refrigerated. Check with your pharmacist or doctor about whether your medicines will deteriorate if left out in the open for a week in a medication organiser, whether they need to be stored in the refrigerator or in their original packaging.

Old medicines

Do not hoard unused medicines or those that are out of date. Clean out your medicine cabinet periodically and dispose of unwanted medicines. The safest way to do this is to take them back to your pharmacist.

Seniors Quality Use of Medicines Program

Peer educators from COTA Seniors Voice visit seniors clubs and groups to talk about medicines – how to get better results from the medicines you take, how to avoid medicine mix-ups and what you can do to enjoy better health. Contact 8232 0422 to book a visit.

Useful contacts

• Your pharmacist
• Your doctor
• Medicines Line - tel. 1300 888 763
• The Poisons Information Centre
• (Women’s and Children’s Hospital),
  tel. 13 1126 (24-hour Emergency Service)
• Drug Information Centres at major hospitals:
  Royal Adelaide Hospital, tel. 8222 4000
  The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, tel. 8222 6000
  Flinders Medical Centre, tel. 8204 5511