June 2016 – Newsletter: Misconceptions about Medicines That Could Be Deadly: Part 2 — If One Is Good, Two Will Be Better
SafeMedicationUse.ca, ISMP Canada's consumer–focused website, is publishing a 3–part series highlighting common misconceptions that consumers have about medications. The series is based on ISMP Canada's recent analysis of medication errors resulting in deaths outside regulated healthcare facilities.The second article of this series describes a patient who used too much of a nonprescription herbal medication containing methyl salicylate (also known as oil of wintergreen) for relief of arthritis pain. The medication was intended to be applied on the legs once or twice daily, but the patient reportedly applied it more frequently, which led to multiple medical problems that contributed to her death.
Tips for Practitioners:
• To verify that your patients understand the dosing regimen for any medication that you dispense to them, ask every patient to repeat the dosage (amount and frequency) back to you.
• Educate your patients about the importance of not taking more than the prescribed dose of any medication, including nonprescription and herbal medications.
• When performing a medication review, ask patients about their use of herbal products, and check for potential interactions with prescription medications.
Tips to Share with Consumers:
• Always read the label carefully before taking any medications. Follow the directions provided, and never take more than the recommended dose. Taking an extra dose of certain medications, or taking a dose earlier than instructed, could cause severe harm.
• Take note of the recommended maximum daily dose of your medication. This is the total amount of medication that can be safely taken in one day. Keep track of the amount of medication that you take, and ensure that you do not take more than the recommended maximum daily dose.
• Herbal products may interact with your prescription medications. Tell your doctor and your pharmacist about any herbal medications you are taking.
• Be aware of the signs and symptoms of overdose for your medications, and know when to seek medical attention.
• If you are unsure about how to take your medications, ask your pharmacist or another healthcare professional.
For additional information on using a safe amount of medications, read the complete newsletter at:
https://safemedicationuse.ca/newsletter/newsletter_Misconception2ExtraDoses.html
