Best Ways To Avoid Drug Errors

Approximately 1.3 million people are injured annually in the US States due to “drug errors”. So if your medications or pills look different, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Asking questions about your prescription medications and free Rx discount cards are the best ways to avoid various possible drug errors. Few more ways to avoid drug errors are described below:

1. Do Not Stop Your Medication Abruptly

Most of the medications last in your system for a short time and stopping your medications abruptly can affect your health and can also worsen your medical issues. So if you feel that medicine is not effective or you’re having some side-effects from it, consult your doctor for changing it. Some patients stop taking their medications abruptly which leads to potential side-effects and even death.

2. Check pill bottles before leaving the pharmacy.

Make sure to open your pills bottle and check whether your pills look the same, before leaving the pharmacy. If your pills appear to be different, there can be a chance that your pharmacist might have placed a label on the bottle or attached information alerting you to the change. Double-check with the pharmacist directly to be sure that you have the correct pills.

3. Search pill using Pill Identifier Wizard

Various pill identifiers are available online that offer you a chance to match your medications. You can also use these to recognize the stray pills that you find in your home or from other people. Make sure to follow up with your health care provider for any of your concerns.

4. Consult with your healthcare providers

It’s better to consult with your doctor to avoid mistakes or medication errors. It will not only help you to identify the medication properly but will also help you to gather relevant information about your treatment like:

1. What is the medicine used for?

2. Brand or generic name of your medication.

3. When to take medicine?

4. How long you need to take it?

5. Common side effects of your medicine.

6. Any food, disease, or drug interactions with your medication?

7. What can happen if you miss a dose?

Make sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you take including prescription and OTC drugs, supplements, vitamins, and any medical foods to avoid possible drug interactions.

5. Generic medication shapes and colors change frequently.

The drug manufacturer can change the shape, color, or imprint of a drug from the original one when a drug becomes available generically. Your pharmacist can offer you a generic drug to save money. So if you’ve any concerns about medication, ask your pharmacist about it. If you still have some doubts, it’s better to take a drug as prescribed by your doctor.

As out-of-pocket expense is very high when it comes to prescription drugs, most of the people stop taking their medications abruptly or switch to some generic medications to save money which worsen their health conditions. To avoid this, it’s better to use prescription discount cards to buy prescription medications.