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http://www.intelihealth.com/enews?268646 Hopkins Insider: Medications: Make No Mistake February 23, 2000 By J. Raymond DePaulo, M.D. Drug mix-ups kill thousands of people every year. Here's how to protect yourself. BALTIMORE (Johns Hopkins Health Insider) - In November, the Institutes of Medicine released a report that focused public attention on widespread medical errors. Researchers had found that each year some 44,000 Americans die as a result of such errors. Quite often, the mistakes are drug related. Although not every possible mishap is within your control, there are plenty of ways to help keep yourself safe from harm - both in and out of the hospital. The following tips include many from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a good source of additional information. What to Do . . . in the Hospital Start with a "brown bag review." Bring to the hospital all the medications you take at home: prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as herbal products and other supplements. Although the hospital will use its own supply of medications needed during your stay, at least the staff will know what you've been taking. Ask the name and purpose of every drug you're given. This keeps you informed - and forces your caregivers to check what they're administering. If you get a medicine that looks different from what you're used to taking, speak up immediately. Maybe the brand or dosage was changed - or maybe someone made a mistake. Competent staff will always check each patient's identification bracelet before administering any medication. Make sure they do. At discharge, ask questions about your medicines - what each one is for, how to take it, what to do if you miss a dose, what side effects to watch for, and how to avoid interactions. . . . in the Doctor's Office Each time you see your doctor, do another brown bag review. The doctor should check for expired drugs, duplicates, conflicting prescriptions and so on. Don't just bring a list; you risk leaving something out or getting something wrong When your doctor writes a new prescription, ask about it: brand name, generic name, the purpose, dosage, how to take it and how long to take it. This way you can double-check the information against what you're told at the pharmacy. . . . at the Pharmacy Talk to your pharmacist about your medications. Every prescription dispensed today should come with a patient information sheet describing everything you need to know about the drug. If you don't get one, ask for it. Then read it. Consider patronizing a single pharmacy. Doing so increases the chances that computer records will flag potentially dangerous drug combinations. If you get a refill and the packaging or the product looks different than it did the last time, find out why. . . . at Home Read the information sheet before taking any drug - and read the label each time you take it. Don't take an expired drug. Discard drugs you no longer take. Do't take drugs in darkness, no matter how sure you are that you're grabbing the right bottle. Store all medicines well out of reach of children. E. Robert Feroli, Pharm.D., is an assistant in medicine in The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and assistant director of pharmacy at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Bonnie daughter of Jim 77/72 * * * Live well * Laugh often * Love much Join SPARKLE [log in to unmask]