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Tips For Preventing Medication Errors

The medication matrix puts millions of seniors at risk for disastrous health consequences caused by a prescription with a dose that exceeds the recommended limit; a prescription with a dose that is considered too high for the age of the patient; and/or being prescribed a medication that interacts negatively with another medication or separate health condition.

Contributing to the potential of medication errors is a lack of communication within the medication matrix between the numerous physicians, specialists and pharmacists involved in a senior's health care, which can lead to issues such as overlapping therapies of the same medication or other adverse drug events.

Seniors can solve the medication matrix with the following tips:

Know Your Prescriptions and Keep Track of Your Medication Use: Follow the dosage instructions as indicated for each medication you are on. Understand how much to take and how frequently. If you don't understand the directions, call your doctor, pharmacist, or caregiver. It may help to make a chart of what prescription you are supposed to take, how much and when. Check off when you have taken each medication during the course of the day. A pill box can help you to keep track of your medications, especially if you are taking a number of different drugs at various times of the day.

Make a Medication List: Make a detailed list of all medications, herbal products, supplements and/or overthe- counter medications (OTC) you are taking, and bring a copy to each doctor appointment.

Talk to Your Doctors: Speak with your doctors or healthcare providers to understand your medical condition and the medications you are taking. Tell your doctors how many other doctors you are seeing, and what are you seeing them for. Request that any specialist you see send a copy of your reports to your primary physician.

Ask Questions: Ask your primary physician if and how often he/she communicates with the other doctors you are seeing, if you are a candidate for a lower dosage medication, and possible side effects for combining the medications you are taking, as well as potential interactions with other medical conditions you may have.

Consider Home Delivery: To cut down on multiple pharmacies and potential confusion, ask your health plan provider if home delivery is an option for you. Home delivery is a safer and less costly alternative to getting your medication at a retail pharmacy. Many pharmacy benefit managers offer home delivery that can be accessed via phone or through the Internet.