When medications cause harm
Created on 8/1/2008
Advances in the realm of pharmaceuticals, both prescription and over the counter, have proven to be nothing short of a medical miracle for most people. Whether for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, even for the common cold, scientists have been able to develop drugs to help relieve what ails us. It has long been understood, however, that what causes beneficial changes in the body has the potential to do harm, too. A famed 15th century physician, Paracelsus, is credited with the following statement now applied to medications, "Poison is in everything, and no thing is without poison. The dosage makes it either a poison or a remedy."
Why bring this up now? A report based on data from more than 50 million death certificates suggests there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of death due to medication mistakes in the home over the last 20 years. It seems many of us are not taking our medications as prescribed, or are mixing medications with other drugs, herbs, supplements, and sometimes even with alcohol. As evidenced in the study, the consequences can be devastating.
Alone this information would be reason enough for concern, but just a few years ago the Institute of Medicine reported that medication errors within medical facilities, especially nursing homes, are all too common and result in harm to over 1 million people each year. Estimates are that approximately 7,000 people each year die from medication errors that occur under direct medical care within hospitals and nursing homes.
These are sobering statistics. The medications available to us can be of tremendous benefit, but the sword is clearly double-edged. Does this mean we shouldn't take medicine when it is needed? No, of course not, but the information underscores the need for each of us to 1) have an open partnership with our healthcare providers so we can learn how best to use the agents recommended to us, 2) use the drugs as recommended, and 3) ask questions! Make sure you're receiving the correct medication from the nurse in the hospital by making a direct, but kind, inquiry about what the pill you've just had placed in your hand actually is. If the pill color in your newly refilled prescription is different than usual, make sure you've received the proper medication. If you're starting to take vitamins and supplements, meet with your pharmacist to be sure none of the agents might interfere with your prescription aids. Simply put, if you're not sure about what you're about to take, ask first!
Remember, your healthcare providers are expert partners in helping you stay well, and they are human, which means mistakes can happen. As a matter of fact, you're human, too! So...no mixing medication with alcohol unless your doctor says a little bit of alcohol is permissable - period. If you're using pain medication, be sure to ask your doctor about using sleep aids or anti-anxiety agents before you take them. Don't use another person's prescription medication. Don't try to make up for missed doses of medicine by taking more of it all at one time.
Whether the discussion centers around medications, vitamins and supplements, or herbal remedies, your doctor and your Harris Teeter pharmacist can help you navigate the waters of prescription and non-prescription drugs safely. Please, if you're starting to use a new agent, or unsure about any part of your prescription, don't hesitate to ask an expert for help.
And MOST importantly...do what you can to be well and stay well. If we all do more individually to help prevent the development of illness, perhaps we'll be able to rely less on medications overall. Eat well, exercise, get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, relax a little - there's a prescription that goes down easier, and more safely, than any pill.
Be well.
Dr. Russ
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