Over-the-counter liquid medications can be found in practically every medicine cabinet. Surprisingly though, there’s not a standard way to measure liquid medicines doses.
It’s a fact of life. Medication errors happen every day in all healthcare settings, even in the most prestigious medical centers. And more than ever, consumers are aware of just how often these medications errors can happen. But with this knowledge comes power. Consumers can and should take an active role when it comes to medication safety during a hospitalization.
Traveling can be hectic enough without the added problem of worrying about your medicines. So when you’re on-the-go, it’s important to make sure your medicine travels safely with you. Here are some things to keep in mind to reduce the risk that something will go wrong:
Most pharmacists, physicians, and consumer advocates believe that to ensure safe medication use, all patients must know important information about the medicines they are taking. Here is a list of the “top ten” questions you should have answered before beginning any new medication:
With so many different medication names, it's possible for a mix-up to occur between two different drugs. This can occur because many medications share very similar letters. When spoken or written, these names can sound or look very similar. We call these medications, sound-alike or look-alike medications.
Sometimes you need to look for clues that could alert you to a mistake with your medication. Check it out with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before taking your medicine if:
