Dr. Clem wants you to keep an eye on your medicines. 

*Do you know that medication errors cause injury and sickness totaling one and a half million dollars every year?

*Half of these errors can cause death for people sixty and older.

*According to the Food and Drug Administration, “older people” have greatest risk for medicine side effects, especially those who take four or more medicines.

*Three most common prescription errors include unclear directions on how often to take the medicine, mistaking one medicine for another that sounds similar, and the number of pills to take at each dose.

*Good news: About ninety percent of medicine errors are identified and corrected by pharmacists. They make time to educate every customer about drug allergies and side effects.  

Before you leave the pharmacy, eyeball the pills to see if they look like what you’ve been taking, especially if it’s a new medicine.

*Medicines can change between refills.Your doctor might prescribe a generic drug that has a different shape or color but the same ingredient.

*You have the right to ask the pharmacist if the medicine is appropriate for your condition.

*Finally, consider using one pharmacy for all your refills. This simplifies the process and allows you to know the staff and operating hours.    

Questions? If so, query me.

By the way, that distinguished looking guy in the above photo isn’t me. I wish it was. 

Quote for the day:  “I was under medication when I made the decision not to burn the tapes.”  Richard M. Nixon.