Health and Wellness
Keep a list of medications handy at all times
Medication, when taken correctly, can still have side effects. When taken incorrectly, the consequences can be dire. That's why Boscobel Area Health Care Pharmacist Doug Knoble is passionate about helping people understand their medication needs, and take all medication according to how it is prescribed.
"The most frequent cause of medication errors is miscommunication about those medications," explained Knoble.
Communication errors can happen if a patient misunderstands why a medication is being given, how often they are to take it, how long they should continue taking it, or any restrictions when using the medication.
In order to decrease errors, Knoble suggests the following:
- Keep a record of medications in one place, such as listed on a Med Minder Card of note card.
- Bring your list of medications with you to every doctor appointment.
- Bring your list of medications with you every time you go to your pharmacy. When purchasing over-the-counter drugs, ask the pharmacist about any side-effects or dangers involved from mixing the over-the-counter drug with the prescription medications you are taking.
- Understand the purpose of each medication.
- Keep a list of any allergies, particularly drug allergies. Preferably, keep this in the same place as your list of medications.
- If any changes occurs in your health, or you start experiencing a side effect from a drug, contact your physician immediately.
Knoble has Med Minder Cards available for people who would like a tool to help record medications, allergies, and instructions in one place. For more information, contact Boscobel Area Health Care at 608-375-4112.
