A SPOONFUL OF MEDICINE…..Medication Do’s and Don’ts
Do you take a long list of medications to manage serious health problems? Or do you simply reach for an over-the-counter medication from time to time? Either way, there’s a lot you can do to make sure you get the most benefit from the medication -- and stay safe in the process. These medication safety tips are a good place to start.
Medication Safety Tips: Know Your Medications
What you don’t know CAN hurt you. The more you know about any medication you use, the better you can be sure you’re using it properly. For each medication you take -- whether it’s a prescription medication or an over-the-counter drug make sure that you are aware of things like how to take it correctly, with or without food? What time of day? Does the medication interact with another medication or food? Can you take it with alcohol? Will the medication make me drowsy?
Unfortunately when medications are prescribed in this country you are given little more that a clip-plastic pouch with “3 x day” written on it. This is not enough information. Ask the doctor or pharmacist what is the content of the medication (not the brand name as medicines are marketed under many different brands world-wide. For example the content of “Panadol” is “Paracetamol”) then you can pull up the full prescribing information on websites such as www.medicinenet.com
Medication Safety Tips: Remember These Dos and Don’ts
These 10 medication dos and don’ts can help you make sure that your medication works safely to improve your health.
DO take each medication exactly as it has been prescribed.
DO make sure that all your doctors know about all your medications.
DO let your doctors know about any other over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbs that you use.
DO keep medications out of the reach of children.
DON’T change your medication dose or schedule without talking with your doctor.
DON’T use medication prescribed for someone else.
DON’T crush or break pills unless your doctor instructs you to do so.
DON’T use medication that has passed its expiration date. Storing medications in the tropics can be tricky and you may be wise to store them in the refrigerator to avoid mould and moisture spoillage.
DON’T store your medications in locations that are either too hot or too cold. For example, the bathroom cabinet may not be the best place for your medication.
Children and Medicines
Giving medicine to children can be particularly tricky. If you are giving syrup or drops to a child or baby make sure that you use the measuring device provided, and if there is none given with the medication invest in a medicine spoon.
Medicine spoons are transparent tubes with marks that show typical dosage amounts. A medicine spoon makes it easy to give the right dose of liquid medicine. The tube shape and large lip get most of the medicine into a child’s mouth without spilling. Most pharmacies have these.
Using ordinary kitchen spoons to give medicine can result in administering the incorrect dose as kitchen spoons vary greatly in size.
You will probably have more luck dropping syrups into babies mouths by aiming for the inside cheek than for the back of the tongue as this will avoid the gag reflex which will cause them to return the medicine.
Eye Drops
Eye drops should always be administered in the outer aspect of the eye (the corner closest to the ear). The drops will then wash across the entire eye just as tears do. If drops are administered in the inner corner of the eye they will immediately be ejected from the eye and will not be effective in treating the problem.
Ear Drops
Ear drops should be administered into the bowl of the ear and then poured into the ear-hole. This serves to avoid air bubbles which prevent the drops from entering the canal, as well as warming the drops. COLD SOLUTIONS SHOULD NEVER BE PUT INTO THE EAR CANAL. Always have a doctor check the ear-drum before using medicated ear drops as if the ear drum is ruptured (usually from infection) then ear drops should not be used, Ear and eye drops should be discarded 2 weeks after opening.
Kim Patra is a qualified registered nurse and midwife who has been living and working in Bali for almost 20 years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com or Hp. 081 2366 0000.
