🩺 5 Common Medication Mistakes People Make And How to Avoid Them
Hi guys welcome back to my blog,
As a medical virtual assistant, I make it my point of duty to help my clients value their medication and take it appropriately without abusing them. I scheduled their medication time and send reminders to them to enable them or guides them properly to avoid the use of medication.
So proper use of medication is really important irrespective of what you are managing whether chronic illness, treating an infection, or just taking supplements, you need to use Medication properly.
Through my experience as a pharmacy technician, I’ve seen different occasions how people make mistakes easily on medications that affect their health many of which can be prevented.
In that case, I decided to share 5 common medication mistakes people make as well as practical ways to avoid them.
Infographics illustrating the 5 mistakes
💊 1. Skipping meditation Doses and Not Completing a Prescription
The Mistake:
Some patients feel that once they feel better, they can stop taking their medication especially antibiotics.
⚠ Why is it a Problem?
Well, stopping a medication can lead to relapse, treatment failure, as well as forming resistance to the medication. And once a bacterial growth wild or change, the medication may no longer kill or stop their growth which will make it difficult to treat as fewer antibiotics options are available for a particular treatment. Then exploring other options will be more expensive, which may cause prolong illness.
✅ Ways to Avoid It
Find out why full adherence is necessary from your doctor, pharmacist or Pharmacy technician tech.
Make it your priority by setting app reminders to stay on track or contact a medical virtual assistant to help you do that.
Your medication should be visible and accessible in a safe location, this will remind you to take it without missing a dose.
- Stop procrastinating, take your medication once you remember.
⚗️ 2. Combining Medications Without Proper Guidance
The Mistake
So many people do combine prescribed drugs with over-the-counter meds or some herbal medicine, they feel the combo will work out magic to them. Well I don't blame them because due to how they feel, the act on what they feel will relieve them quickly but it is very wrong to do that without consulting a professional.
⚠ Why Is It A Problem?
It is a big problem because it is very harmful and can cause a serious side effects or reduce effectiveness of the prescribed medication.
It can cause some side effects that will either lead to deformity or death.
I've experienced different occasions which patient lose their lives because of this ignorance, do not be a victim please, that's the reason we are here to help you.
✅ How to Avoid It
When ever you go to your doctor, be free to share your full medication list with your pharmacist or doctor. Let them know what you took, currently taking and planning to take. They will advise you better.
Always stick to prescribe medication and take it appropriately when necessary.
Please don’t assume that natural medicine can be taken alongside prescription medication always reach out to a health physician for advice.
We know natural medicine is very effective as it is raw without being refined so please caution should be taken while taking it, do not mix it up with prescription drugs.
If confused, always reach out to your medical virtual assistant as well as your doctor, pharmacist and pharmacy technician or which every one that will give you a quick response.
⏱ 3. Failure To Adhere To Dosage Instructions Properly
The Mistake
In most cases, patient do take wrong dosage and assume they needed to take it, they also take medication at the wrong time, or not even following instructions at all such as with or without food, before bedtime, morning only etc.
People feel if their illness is not relieving faster than they expected, they can self-adjust their dosage to suit the level of the illness so it can work faster as they think.
But is it ideal? NO
⚠ Why Is It A Problem?
Wrong use of medications can make it less effective or cause some serious side effects that lead to another illness.
For example in cases of a diabetic patient taking insulin, you fail to test your glucose level before taking insulin and it will drastically go very low to a point of the patient being unconscious and need urgent medical attention. This is something that would have been avoided easily.
Or taking overdose of medication that will affect your liver and kidneys e.g Paracetamol (Acetaminophen), people do abuse it and take 2000mg (4 tabs of 500mg) at a time to relief pains faster but yet paracetamol is purely synthetic drug which is very dangerous if you misuse.
✅ How to Avoid It
Listen to all instructions given to you by the physician about the medication and your illness.
Always take some time to read the label on each medication and ask if you don't understand.
If possible you can use a dosing schedule or reminder app or contact a medical virtual assistant to help you.
Before adjusting your dose, consult a professional and give your reasons then listen to their advice.
🗓 4. Using Expired Medications
The Mistake
Patient do ignorantly keep using old medications after their expiration date especially routine medications. E.g diabetes patient, hypertensive and HIV patient. They do get their medication for at least 1 month
⚠ Why Is It A Problem:
Expired medications are not effective and could be very harmful to the body. It may cause other serious illness.
✅ How to Avoid It
Always check expiry dates regularly on your medication packs.
Do not dispose medication packs unnecessarily.
If any medication is found expires, do not keep it.
Check medication expiration date before purchasing.
👥 5. Sharing Prescriptions with Friends and family
The Mistake:
Giving out your prescription meds to a family member or your friend who has similar symptoms is not recommended, it is wrong.
What works for your system might not necessarily work for another person. Each one need to undergo medical checks before taking a particular medication.
⚠ Why Is It A Problem?
Well, there are some people that react to medication due to allergies, conditions, or drug interactions. In this case, the person needs a physician to prescribe medication to him or her.
It is true your friend and a family member may have similar symptoms, similar health issues but you and that person body system can never be the same. He might have other challenging health issues that need to be addressed therefore, do not share your prescription with others.
✅ How to Avoid It
Do not borrow medications or give out yours to others, it might be the same medication, but different strengths etc.
Encourage your loved ones or friends to seek the help of a professional.
Self-medication is very risky please tell others the need to abstain from it.
💬 Let’s talk more on this topic!
Have you ever made any of these mistakes—or know someone who has?
Share your experience or drop your questions in the comments. Let's learn from each other.
I'm grateful @shiftitamanna