Every year, the Palmetto Poison Center receives thousands of calls from South Carolinians regarding their medications. Many of these callers are elderly persons who have questions about their prescriptions or recommended dosages. This specific sector of our population is oftentimes prone to uncertainty, which can stem from a number of sources, including loss of memory or confusion resulting from a large volume of prescribed medications.
Forgetting to take (or accidentally taking too many) prescription drugs can have dangerous consequences, as unintended drug events can lead to costly emergency hospitalization. Blood thinners and various medicines for diabetes and regulating blood pressure are of particular concern, since many seniors are prescribed these types of medication. Any accidental ingestion (or failure to adhere to the dosages prescribed by your doctor) can be potentially threatening to one’s health.
Tools such as pill organizers or medication reminders can prove extremely useful in combating medication poisoning. If you are technologically savvy, you may even want to consider downloading software on your computer or applications on your iPad (or similar device) that help to remind you when it’s time to take certain medicine. Performing a search for “medication management” will display numerous results.
In addition to using newer forms of technology, here are a few other simple tips to assist in preventing medication poisoning:
• Use a calendar or journal to establish a routine for taking your prescribed medications.
• When you have a doctor’s appointment, be sure to take a list of all your medications with you. Keep in mind that it is possible for herbal medications to react with prescription medications.
• Be sure to use any reading aids necessary to ensure you take the proper medication as well as follow all dosage instructions.
• Store medicines away safely. This prevents accidental ingestion by any younger children or grandchildren who may accidentally gain access to them.
• Never take medication that has expired or medication that has been prescribed to someone else.
Additionally, the South Carolina College of Pharmacy and the Palmetto Poison Center are offering free classes and materials to interested participants during May, June, July and August of 2013 through their statewide “Saving Our Seniors” medication safety program.
Some topics that will be covered include instructions on taking your medication safely, drug interactions, and using medication logs. If you would like more information on the program, please visit www.poison.sc.edu, or contact Christina DeRienzo by phone at 803-777-0570 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Question of the week
Q. What should someone do if he or she suspects they have medication poisoning?
A. Call the Poison Control Center or your doctor immediately. The Center can be reached toll-free at 1-800-222-1222. In addition to offering assistance if you take the wrong medication or too much of a particular medicine, the Center is able to answer any questions you may have regarding possible drug interactions. When calling, knowing your age, the name of the substance ingested, the time the substance was ingested, and your approximate weight can serve as helpful information for the poison information specialist.
For more information, contact the SC Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging at 803-734-9900 or 800-868-9095 or visit www.aging.sc.gov.