July 2016 – Newsletter: Misconceptions about Medicines That Could Be Deadly: Part 3 — What Works for Me Will Work for You
SafeMedicationUse.ca, ISMP Canada's consumer–focused website, published 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 third and final article of the series describes a man who had been complaining of a mild cold and had experienced insomnia in the past. During the night, his wife noticed that he was groaning in his sleep, but she did not try to wake him. He was found dead the next morning. At the scene of the death, the police found the consumer's prescribed medications, along with a supply of morphine 30 mg sustained–release tablets. Post–mortem bloodwork revealed high levels of morphine, although there was no evidence that morphine had ever been prescribed for this consumer. The cause of death was determined to be accidental morphine toxicity.
Tips for Practitioners:
• Remind patients that their prescribed medications are only for them and should never be shared with others, even if symptoms seem similar.
• If a medication is prescribed for "as needed" use (e.g., analgesics), ask that patients return any unused medication to the pharmacy for safe disposal when the medication is no longer needed.
Tips to Share with Consumers:
• Never take another person's medication. Medical treatment is tailored to each person's medical history.
• Never share any of your prescription medications with others.
• Speak with your healthcare professional before adding a new prescription or nonprescription medication, vitamin, supplement, or herbal product to your usual regimen. Any one of these products may interact with your current medications.
For additional information on safely using one's own medications, read the complete newsletter at: https://safemedicationuse.ca/newsletter/newsletter_Misconception3SharingMedicines.html
