Medication Misuse
February 14, 2006

The correct medication at the correct dosage has the ability to make a sick person healthy. However, the wrong medication, or the wrong dosage also has the ability to make a healthy person sick or the sick even sicker. REMSA would like to share the importance of carefully reading and reviewing medication instructions to avoid any misuses that can cause harm to an individual.

Medication Safety

Pharmacists in hospitals and health systems play an important role in preventing medication errors. To make sure you use medicines safely and effectively, REMSA recommends that you:

• Keep a list of all medications that you take (prescribed drugs, nonprescription medicines, herbal supplements, home remedies, and medical foods) and medicines that you cannot take due to allergic reactions, and share those with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Tell your health care provider how you actually take your medication, especially if this is different from the originally prescribed directions.
• Learn the names of the drug products that are prescribed and given to you, as well as their dosage strength and schedules.
• Ask if you should avoid certain foods, beverages, other medicines, or activities while you are taking the drug.
• Ask for any written information available on the drug product.
• Question anything you don't understand or that doesn't seem right. Be especially alert to unexpected changes, such as receiving a prescription refill that seems to have a different strength or appearance from your original prescription.
• Show that you understand how to use your medication by repeating information about your prescription back to your doctor or pharmacist.
• If you're too ill to follow these suggestions, ask a friend or relative to help.
• Remember that when you're in a hospital or health system, you can always ask to speak to the pharmacist if you have questions about your treatment or medications.

Emergency Preparedness and Medications

REMSA recommends that consumers be aware of their medication needs as they prepare for any emergency. Following the tips below can help you be ready:

• Keep a list of all your medications in your wallet (include lists for your immediate family members, and drug name, strength, dosage form, and regimen).
  Wear your medical-alert bracelet or necklace.
  Store 3-5 days of medications that are important to your health.
• Include any medications used to stabilize an existing medical condition or keep a condition from worsening or resulting in hospitalization, such as medications for asthma, seizures, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, psychiatric conditions, HIV, and thyroid disorders. Carry these with you, if possible, in a purse or briefcase in labeled containers.
• Don't store your medications in areas that are susceptible to extremes in heat, cold, and humidity (e.g., car or bathroom). This could decrease the effectiveness of the medication.
• Use child-resistant containers and keep your purse or briefcase secure.
• Rotate these medications whenever you get your prescriptions refilled to make sure they are used before their expiration date.
• Refill your prescriptions while you still have at least a 5-7 day supply of medications left. Keep in mind that some sources, such as mail-order pharmacies, have a longer lead time to refill.
• If your child takes medications, talk to your school system to find out their emergency preparedness plans.
• If you are being treated with a complex medication regimen, talk to your physician or pharmacist to create appropriate emergency preparation plans.

Medication for Children — Taking Medicine Correctly

Research shows that up to half of children who take medications do not take them properly. For your child's prescription or OTC to work the way that it should, it is important to follow exact guidelines for its use.

Stick With the Schedule:

Prescription medications need to be given consistently, and at the right times, to help your child get better. Do not skip a dose of your child's medication. When you first get the medication, ask your pediatrician or pharmacist what to do if a dose is not given on time.

Give the Right Amount:

Measure carefully. Do not be tempted to increase the amount of medication you give your child in an attempt to speed up recovery. Giving your child more medication than is directed may harm him. With both prescription medications and OTCs, follow the directions exactly.

Know Your Child's Weight:

With OTCs, it is best to determine how much medicine to give by checking the label to see how much is recommended for your child's weight. Age is not always an accurate measure of how much medicine your child should receive.

Do Not Stop too Soon:

Your child should continue to take his prescription medication for its full course, even if he begins to feel better. The same goes for instances where he does not like the taste of the medication or protests.

Take Medications Safely:

You can help prevent overdose or poisoning by following these tips:

• Always use good light. Giving medicine in the dark increases the risk that you will give the wrong medication or the wrong dose.
• Read the label before you open the bottle, after you remove a dose, and again before you give it. This routine can ensure your child's safety.
• Always use child-resistant caps and lock all medications away from your child.
• Give the correct dose. Children are not just small adults. Never guess how much to give your child based on her size.
• Do not increase the dose just because your child seems sicker than last time.
• Always follow the weight and age recommendations on the label. If you have questions, ask your pediatrician.
• Do not confuse the abbreviations for tablespoon (TBSP or T) and teaspoon (tsp or t).
• Avoid making conversions. If the label calls for 2 teaspoons and you have a dosing cup labeled only with ounces, do not use it. Use an appropriate measuring device.
• Be sure your pediatrician knows if your child is taking more than one medication at a time.
• Supervise your children when they take any medications. Never let young children take medication by themselves.
• Before using any medication, always check for signs of tampering. Do not use any medication from a package that shows cuts, tears or other imperfections.
• Let your pediatrician know if your child is taking any herbal products, supplements or home remedies. These substances can interact with many prescription medications and OTCs.
• Store your medications in a locked, childproof cabinet that is not located in the bathroom. Medications stored in a bathroom medicine cabinet can be affected by humidity.

It is not always easy to give medication to a child. You may find your infant or toddler hates the taste and spits out the medication or refuses to swallow it. Try adding a little sugar or juice (not honey) to the dosing device to make it taste better. However, do not combine medications with milk or try to mix them into a bowl of cereal. These may effect the medication's active ingredient and limit its absorption. Your child also may only eat part, or it may settle to the bottom and never get into her mouth.

Older children may be more willing to take chewable tablets than liquid medicines. Although most children's medications are flavored to make them taste better, avoid calling them candy. It might make your toddler decide to take them on his own.

Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns about giving your child medications. Keep your pediatrician informed about any changes in how your child is feeling or if your child has any reactions to the medication.

To set up a media interview with a REMSA representative, please call Scott Walquist at 775.686.2116.

REMSA is a private, not-for-profit emergency medical services system serving northern Nevada. REMSA’s state-of-the-art 9-1-1 dispatch communications center is fully accredited, as are all emergency medical transport services of the company. REMSA provides quality patient care with no taxpayer support or other subsidies.

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