RTD DISEASE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
Medicine Safety
Medicine Safety
stayinginshape.com
When we're feeling sick or
hurt, medicine can be the cure for what ails
us. But medications are not without potential
risks. Depending on their active ingredients,
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
warns they can cause side effects, trigger
allergic reactions or interact with other
medications, either prescription or over-thecounter. Medicines can even interact with
foods or drinks, particularly alcohol, that we
consume.
More safety tips
According to the FDA, between 30 and 50
percent of people using medicine are not
using them exactly as prescribed. One of the
biggest reasons is lack of information.
Although some patients may be nervous
about asking so many questions, it's
important to remember that medications are
potent and avoiding mix-ups should be a
main priority.
Here's some other tips from the American
Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Because of this, it's important to talk with
your doctor and pharmacist before taking
medications. A MEDICAL HISTORY FORM
can help. This form contains the type of
information your doctor needs to determine
if there will be any potential problems with
medications he/she may prescribe.
The form can help you tell your doctor about
specifics in your medical history that are
important. In addition to the form, since it's
not always easy to remember exactly what's
been said in a doctor's office, you might
want to consider bringing a pad and pencil
with you, to jot down the answers to your
questions.
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Here are some of the important questions
the FDA says you can ask about any
medication, either prescription or over-thecounter:
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What exactly does this medicine do?
What's the best time or times of day
to take this?
Are there foods I should avoid when
taking this?
Should I take this with foods or on an
empty stomach?
What about other medications or
supplements I'm taking?
What are side effects I should watch
for?
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Even if you've taken this medication before,
you should still check with your doctor to
make sure nothing has been changed.
That's an especially good idea as we get
older, since age can change the way our
bodies are affected by medications.
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Read the label carefully.
Take the medicine exactly as you're
told to.
Make sure each of your doctors (if
you have more than one) knows all
of the medicines you're taking.
Have your doctor help you make a
schedule (if you are taking more
than one medicine) so you know
what medicines to take at what
times of the day.
Use one pharmacy for all your
prescriptions. The pharmacist can
help you keep track of what you're
taking.
Make sure your family or roommate
knows what you're taking and when
you're supposed to take it.
Don't take over-the-counter
medicines when you are taking
prescription medicines without
consulting with your doctor.
Take the medicine for the full time.
Don't stop, change the dosage or
how often you take it without
checking with your doctor.
Never take someone else's
medicine.
Check the expiration date.
Trying to Save Money?
Another concern is what is called pill
splitting. Sometimes it costs the same to buy
a supply of a medication that is 40mg as one
that is 20mg. Patients then sometimes cut
the pill in half, saving themselves money.
The Institute for Safe
Medication Practices
(ISMP) says that can
be dangerous. Not all
medications are safe to
take after they have
been split. Some are coated to be longacting or to protect the stomach. ISMP
recommends that you consult your doctor on
your medication. If the doctor decides the pill
can be safely split, have the doctor write the
prescription to reflect that, "Take 1/2 tab
daily." You should consider having the
pharmacist cut the pills for you. ISMP says
cutting the pill to less than half is not a good
idea since each cut makes the dosage less
accurate.
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Online Drug Warnings
There are now hundreds of
places online where you can
buy medications. There are a
number of things you should think about,
according to the FDA, if you buy medical
products online.
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Discuss with your doctor and pharmacist
ways to save money on your
prescriptions. You can also contact
employee benefits or your health
insurance company directly for
suggestions.
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Make sure you follow the doctor's and
pharmacist's advice on storing the medicine
too. A cool, low-humidity area, away from
children's reach, is most often advised;
however, don't place medicines in the
refrigerator unless instructed to do so.
It's also essential that if any unusual
symptoms develop while taking medication,
you contact your doctor right away.
However, if you do start to develop unusual
symptoms, experts advise against deciding
to stop taking a medication on your own; ask
your doctor first. If you are experiencing life
threatening symptoms contact 911.
Finally, if you miss a dose of the medicine,
ask your doctor what to do. Don't assume
that you can just take double the dosage
next time to make up for the missed
medication.
Over-the-counter
If you do decide to use an over the counter
medication AAFP says keep the following in
mind:
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Check out all the choices carefully. Don't
be put off by how many there are.
Read the label carefully and note what
symptoms the medicine will treat.
Look for a medicine that will treat only
the symptoms you have. For example, if
you only have a runny nose, don't pick a
medicine that also treats coughs and
headaches.
Be aware of the side effects and how
much is the proper dosage.
Know what foods and other medicines
shouldn't be combined with the one you
are buying.
Check out what conditions the
medication can make worse such as
high blood pressure and breathing
problems.
If you have questions, ask your doctor
or pharmacist.
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Don't buy from sites that offer to
prescribe a prescription drug for the first
time without a physical exam, sell a
prescription drug without a prescription,
or sell drugs not approved by FDA.
Don't do business with sites that have
no access to a registered pharmacist to
answer questions.
Avoid sites that do not identify with
whom you are dealing and do not
provide a U.S. address and phone
number to contact if there's a problem.
Don't purchase from foreign Websites at
this time because generally it will be
illegal to import the drugs bought from
these sites, the risks are greater, and
there is very little the U.S. government
can do if you get ripped off.
Beware of sites that advertise a "new
cure" for a serious disorder or a quick
cure-all for a wide range of ailments.
Be careful of sites that use impressivesounding terminology to disguise a lack
of good science or those that claim the
government, the medical profession, or
research scientists have conspired to
suppress a product.
Steer clear of sites that include
undocumented case histories claiming
"amazing" results.
As always, talk to your healthcare
professional before using any medications
for the first time. Remember, medicines can
contain powerful ingredients, so it's always a
good idea to let a qualified healthcare
professional advise you on the best way to
use it.
RTD Benefit Questions:
Rudy Trujillo (ATU Benefits) 303-412-1001 ext.11
Myra Simmons (Benefits) @ ext 2361
Health & Welfare Plan 303-745-7004
www.myuhc.com 1.888.887.4114
www.kaiserpermanente.org 1.800.777.9059
RTD Wellness
Jim Jacobsen x3148
DeAnna Mathis x3145
Mail code: PLT-Wellness
Fax: 303.299.4114
Staff Hours: 8am-4:30pm
www.rtd-denver.com/wellness
RTD Rehabilitation
Daniel Pinto x3144
Glenys Henderson x 3149
7am-4:00pm M-F