Medications, Part 1

How does this medication work?  What are its possible side effects?  Is there any danger in combining this medication with my other medicines?  Will this new prescription interact poorly with my diet?  How do I administer this new drug?  

Questions like these are among the most common concerns for caregivers.  While each medication regimen is unique and has unique implications, I would like to share some of the general guidance I have given patients, caregivers and my own family members:

• Read each medication bottle carefully before beginning any new medication.

• Learn both the generic and brand names for the medications your physicians prescribe. Sometimes a physician or insurance company will prescribe the generic medication as a cost-saving measure.  If you are not aware of the generic name, you may be at risk of inadvertently double-dosing the medication.  (For example, Ibuprofen is the generic name for the brand-name drug Motrin; Warfarin is the generic name for the brand name drug Coumadin.  It would be very dangerous for a patient to take both Coumadin and Warfarin.)  If you are confused, ask the doctor or pharmacist for clarification.

• Check the label every time you receive a prescription and again when you prepare the medication for your loved one.  Many medications have similar names but very different actions on the body.  An example is Zantac (for stomach problems) and Xanax (for anxiety); another is Celebrex (for arthritic pain) and Celexa (for depression). 

• Read the label for the dose (strength) of the medication, how often it is to be given and any other special instructions (such as “take with meals” or “take only as needed.”)  Medication labels also provide instructions regarding possible interactions with food, other medications or environmental factors.        

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• Make a list of all medications being given to your loved one.  It is important to list the medication by name(s), dose, how it is to be given (by mouth, applied to the skin, as an injection), when it is to be given, and what it is for.  Double check this list for possible errors.  Revise the list any time there is a change in medication.  If you have home care or hospice nurses and therapists coming to your home show them your list.

• Take all medications with you to each physician’s visit, because one doctor may not be familiar with the medication another doctor has prescribed.  If you are using a mail-order pharmacy as well as a local pharmacy, the local pharmacist should also review all the medications every time any change occurs, and at least annually to avoid potential errors or serious interactions between medications. Bring the actual medications to the physicians and pharmacist unless specifically instructed by them not to bring the containers to the visit.

• Review the use of any over-the-counter (OTC) products -- such as Tylenol, Advil, vitamins, herbal supplements – with your doctor before your loved one starts using them.  OTC products are medications, too, and can cause serious side effects or interact poorly with prescription medications.  Advise your doctor if any problems have occurred since usage began and if the medication was stopped.   

• Take all medications that are currently being used to the emergency room if a visit is required so that the ER staff has an accurate list of the medications being used.   Take the medications back to your home. The hospital staff will administer all medications the doctor has ordered.

• Pay close attention to the medication list provided when your loved one is discharged from the hospital or any healthcare facility.  Prior to discharge, you receive a list of all medications that are now to be given to your loved.  Do not assume that the doctor wanted your loved one to restart any previous medications unless they are specifically named on the new list. If you have questions, call the doctor for verification before giving any medication not on the new list.  And remember to update the medication list with new medications and changes to previous medications. 

To be continued…..