Pay careful attention to all medications.... medicationis often a critical component of a treatment plan, yet so many struggle to follow medication regimens. Research shows that over 50 percent of Americans do not take their medications as prescribed. Medication noncompliance, including skipping medication, taking the wrong dosage and taking medication at the wrong time, leads to thousands of adverse health events or deaths each month in the U.S. To complicate the situation, up to 20 percent of prescriptions are dispensed with errors. To make medication compliance easier:
• Always carry a full list of the patient's medications with you.
• Make sure each doctor has a complete list of medications, including over-the-counter drugs. Don't assume doctors know what other doctors have prescribed.
• When getting new medications, find out how and when the patient should take them. It is vital that all medications are taken as prescribed and all reactions are recorded and reported to the doctor.
• Speak to the pharmacist if medications look unfamiliar.
• Use pill organizers and create a system to remind yourself when it's time for the patient to take medications.
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