Medication Safety – Top 10 Tips

Taking medications seems like a simple thing:  you get prescribed a medication, you get the prescription filled at the chemist, you take the drug as directed… What could possibly go wrong?  Here are top tips for staying safe with meds. 

The Chemist is Key: If possible, always get all your medications – including over-the-counters – from the same chemist. They will spot drug interactions and other potential problems before they happen! Even better  – Blister packs for the win.  This is usually a free service. One reason some patients end up being prescribed more medication is that they are missing doses – we all do it!  Realising how many doses you are missing can help you and your doctor.

Do What a Doctor Does

Did you know? In hospitals, pharmacists are part of the team. They work with doctors to double check dosages, drug interactions, what time drugs are taken. Take on an empty stomach? Does it need to be stored in a fridge? Do what a doctor does: if you have questions, ask a pharmacist!

(Can I say how much I love blister packs?  When a patient shows up in the ED or urgent care with a blister pack, I have so much information that I can use to help them:   medication name and dose, time of day they usually take it, last dose they took and how many doses they might have missed recently – it’s gold!)

Too embarrassed to ask about the Viagra or Ozempic at the counter?  What about that haemorrhoids or constipation?  Most chemists have a private consultation room – just ask to meet the chemist behind a closed door. Your nail fungus is no one else’s business.  

 Supplements are not necessarily the natural alternative that they are marketed as. They can have side effects, and are not regulated.  Anything marketed as “having FDA approval” in Ireland should be a red flag – since the FDA has no jurisdiction here and that term does not mean what people think it means! Especially talk to your doctor if you are using supplements as an alternative to standard medical treatment. Many supplements can also interact with your prescribed drugs.

DId you know?  The HPRA – not the FDA! – regulates medications and medical devices in Ireland!

Are Supplements better than drugs?

Supplements are not just the alternative to “Big Pharma”  While the pharmaceutical industry does have its serious problems, the supplement industry is not a charity, either. It is actually worth more globally and subject to far less regulation. It is worth talking to your doctor – there is evidence in some cases for truly natural alternatives — such as exercise, yoga, diet changes, sleep interventions.  It might be a safer –  and more effective – treatment – so discuss with your doctor. Contrary to marketing, doctors are huge fans of diet changes and exercise as first line treatment where it’s safe and appropriate!  Be aware that supplements can have side effects.

Buying drugs abroad is not a great idea to get something your doctor won’t prescribe. Melatonin is an important example of this. Even though this is available without a prescription in some countries, it is strongly advised in those countries to talk to your doctor before taking it. It does have side effects. This is really important for children.

Too much of some medicines can sometimes be a problem.

• • If you are constantly buying Nexium and Gaviscon or rennies for your heartburn, see a doc.

  • If you are taking medication for a headache daily, see a doc.

  • “Analgesia rebound headache” is a special sort of daily headache that is actually caused by overusing headache tablets! It’s not the patient’s fault, but you might need help to end the cycle of daily headaches. 

  • If you are misusing medication to help you sleep regularly

  • Codeine can be addictive, so if you are using it daily without a prescription,  talking to your pharmacist or GP is a great first step. Many patient worry that they will be judged, but they have heard it before and can really help. 

Antibiotic resistance is a real global threat.  Don’t take antibiotics if you don’t need them – like for colds or flus. If you do need antibiotics, always finish the entire course, even if you feel better.

Online prescribing by a dial-a-doc service can be convenient but always make sure your pharmacist and GP know that you have been prescribed medication by another doctor or pharmacy service, especially weight loss medications. Don’t tell small lies on the online questionaires just to be sure you’ll get a prescription. If you are exiting an online weight management service, talk to your GP about your next step because you will need long term care and follow up with obesity medicine services to help prevent weight recurrence!

Should I use online prescribing services?

The market for weight loss injections means the rise of online weight management services, many of which are just “pill mills” – they only dispense medication. If you think about it, you would not get asthma inhalers, diabetes insulin, or blood pressure tablets prescribed this way — so why obesity medication? There is an accepted standard of care for obesity medicine, and patients deserve better than injection dispensing online. If you are getting medications online, link in soon with a real-life, in-person doctor. You should expect whole-patient care, screening for complications, routine safety bloods, and long-term plan to revent weight recurrence (when teh weight comes back on if you suddenly stop the drugs)>

Never buy or share prescription medication, including pain killers, sleeping tablets, weight loss medications, or antibiotics.  It’s just not safe.

Just Avoid Blackmarket drugs – including medications sold on social media such as “compounded” weight loss medication or injectable tanning agents (“melanotan”)– have real risks, including contamination.

Social media is not a good place for medication advice. We are seeing so much medication misinformation targeting women in particular, particularly around birth control.  Medical misinformation does not empower patients. It has the potential to really harm. If you have questions about medication, chat to your doctor or chemist.   We are importing a great deal of chatter from the US. Among this is that doctors and pharmaceutical companies are in the business of keeping people sick and on medicine. Which obviously make no sense here in Ireland:  Here, your doctor is not reimbursed to prescribe.   The HSE is not looking for business.   It would be in the interest of the health service to prescribe you fewer drugs.

Always keep drugs out of reach of children.  Always. You can’t work the child-safety cap on the Calpol – but your 3 year old probably can!