Medication Managment

From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Tue Aug 15 17:56:49 2000


MEDICATION MANAGEMENT

Over-medication or medication interaction occurs when more than one drug is taken and one interferes with the other. This may take the form of impairing absorption of a drug or of either enhancing or impairing the normal breakdown of a drug by enzymes in the body. As a result, one drug may cause another to be ineffective. Conversely, the action of one drug may lead to high and even toxic levels of another. The results can be serious and even life-threatening.

Drug interactions may also result by taking an over-the-counter (OTC) medication in conjunction with a prescription drug. A good example is the risk of bleeding in persons taking anticoagulants such as warfarin if aspirin is taken. There are many others, as well.

To prevent over-medication and/or medication interaction, the Mayo Clinic suggests:

1.) Be sure you know what medications you are taking and the reason for each.

2.) Inform your physician and pharmacist of all medications you take, whether by prescription or OTC.

3.) Be sure that any specialists are informed about other treatments outside their specialty: i.e. diabetic and cardiac specialists need to be aware of what the other is prescribing.

4.) Do not add an OTC drug without checking for potential interactions with other medications you are using.

5.) If possible, have all of your prescriptions filled by one pharmacy so that there will be a record of your current medications to allow a search for possible interaction when a new drug is added.

6.) Be sure you understand all of the instructions for taking each medication and follow them. Always read the printed material that you should receive when a prescription is filled or refilled.

7.) Do not assume the new instructions will be unchanged in the case of refills; as new interactions and problems are recognized, the printed information may change.

And if you are uncertain about any aspect of a medication you are taking, consult with your physician or pharmacist. You owe it to yourself.

http://www.pol.org/features/healthworks/Aging/meds.htm


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