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Most Common Medication Mistakes and the best ways to Avoid Them.
Taking Too Many Pills is the most Common Medication Mistakes. The Problem: Overdosing remains the #1 cause of medication related deaths. This was reported by the FDA study about drug errors. Hence, the need for a smart pill box alarms timer. For example, the top Prescription drugs that have the most chance of abuse are the most common culprits. Other Examples, prescription painkillers like: Ocecotyn. Another example, , anti-anxiety prescriptions such as Xanax. Moreover, stimulants like Aderall. In fact, people are able to overdose on any kind of prescription medications. In fact, overdoses of the commonly used medication Tylenol have been linked to as many as 1,200 fatalities in 2016. Reported by the FDA in a report by ProPublica.
Some older adults are unable to use an Auto pill dispenser with Locks
In fact, Seniors need to take all their medications properly. However, they make Common Medication Mistakes. By the same token, depending on which medications are missed, this can cause serious effects on an older person’s health. In addition the cost of medications. Even with prescription drug coverage provided by Medicare Part D, the monthly costs of medications can be high. This is a burden for older adults. Conversely, often have limited financial resources.
It can also cause people to skip taking certain medications. In addition many will not fill prescriptions for more expensive medications. An example, inhalers.
There are of course many other medication-related problems that can occur. Especially when hospitalizations or multiple doctors are involved. But the ones above are especially common when it comes to the primary care of aging adults. To sum up, there are many ways to prevent common medication mistakes
What You Can Do abut Common Medication Mistakes
Recognize your pills. In an ideal world, every older adult would have access to a reliable process for reviewing medications, ensuring that the benefits outweigh the risks and burdens, and monitoring for side-effects and problems. However, as many of you know, our healthcare system is not yet ideal for aging adults. So if you are caring for an older person and want to be proactive about checking on medications. Here are some specific things you can do.
Review the Beers List of Potentially Inappropriate Medications for Older Adults. See if your older relative is taking medications on the list. This document includes a comprehensive list of “anticholinergic” drugs. Included should be other medications that are especially risky for the elderly. kitty kane
Don’t panic if you discover that an older person is taking a medication on the Beers list.
You’ll want to understand why the benefits are likely to outweigh the burdens. For example , and you can also ask if a lower dose is possible. You can also review “Ten Medications Older Adults Should Avoid or Use with Caution,” authored by the American Geriatrics Society. This document highlights ten especially commonly used medications. Theses can often be stopped or reduced.
If you need help spotting risky medications, consider asking a pharmacist for assistance.
Make a comprehensive list of all medications being taken. First include prescription drugs. Second, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal supplements. Then, for every drug being taken, make sure you and your older relative understand. The purpose of taking the drug. Ask yourselves if the drug seems to be serving its purpose. Similarly plan to ask the doctor. If it’s a drug to manage a symptom such as pain. Likewise consider how the symptom seems to be doing. See if the doctor has reassessed the symptom lately. Even more if the symptom is still bothersome, you’ll want to discuss with the care provider.
By way of contrast, there alternatives to taking the drug. For example can they be repeating symptoms. As an illustration there are often non-drug alternatives. These can and should be considered. For instance, certain types of counseling can be effective for depression and anxiety. In a like manner, physical therapy can help treat some forms of pain. Pelvic floor exercises and timed toileting can reduce incontinence. If a lower dosage is possible.
In general, the risk of side-effects and problems goes up with higher doses of medication.
Consider asking if a lower dose is possible for any of the medications. If you’re concerned about drug-drug interactions, have a medication list of what is in the Smart Pill Box Alarms Timer. Furthermore check for possibly dangerous interactions. Don’t forget to include any over-the-counter drugs or supplements. Check for interactions with OTC’s as well.
You can use an online drug interaction checker such as this one, or ask a pharmacist for help.
If you identify a potentially problematic interaction, let the doctor know as soon as possible. But don’t stop the medication on your own, as that can be dangerous too. If cost is an issue, ask the doctor about options for reducing the medications, or at least switching to less expensive alternatives.
For instance, stopping a medication that is not working well for a symptom can help reduce drug costs. If medication is required for a given problem, such as very high blood pressure, ask if there is a cheaper medication available. Pharmacists may be able to offer suggestions regarding less costly alternatives, or other ways to modify the medication plan. If taking medications on schedule is an issue, ask the doctor for help simplifying and streamlining the daily medication plan. Obviuosuly, Smart Pill Box Alarms Timer is the first step.
For drugs taken several times a day, there may be a once-a-day option.
Or ask whether a drug can be stopped, and a non-drug treatment tried instead. Pharmacists can often recommend ways to safely adjust when and how medications are taken. Keep the doctors well-informed about your relative’s medications and medication use.
In particular, help the doctors avoid these two common pitfalls:
Problem the confusion as to what has been prescribed by other doctors. Most seniors see multiple doctors. Moreover, hospital stays can create additional changes to the medication list. Don’t assume that doctors have an up-to-date list. In fact, they almost never do. Bring an up-to-date list every time you see the doctor. Subsequently bring the bottles along too.Be sure not to forget supplements and over-the-counter drugs.
Confusion as to what the older person is actually taking.
If your relative hasn’t filled a prescription due to cost, or isn’t taking a medication for any reason, be sure to let the doctor know this. This is especially important if the older person has had concerns about side-effects. By implementing some — or ideally all — of the steps above, you can help make sure that an older person gets the most benefit from medications,while minimizing the risks and burdens.
The Smart Pill Organizer was designed for the special needs of Early and Middle Stages of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends that a Pill reminder should be the first decision for management of prescriptions. Med-Q Smart Pill Box Alarms Timer isn’t the old auto pill dispenser with lock.
Upgrade to something better than an auto pill dispenser with locks
If you are using a auto pill dispenser with locks time to upgrade. Simply put, if you need an auto pill dispenser with lock mechanism you are in trouble. Modern technology is an improvement over a pill dispenser that mist lock to prevent mistakes. Using a 21st century Smart Pill Box Alarms Timer, you can get rid of the locks
Watch more MedQ to Upgrade your old Auto pill dispenser with Lock
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