YOU (Patient) Role in Medicine Safety

When it comes to taking medicine, you play an important role in ensuring your safety—and the safety of those you care for. By partnering with health professionals involved in your care, you can help them determine which medicines are most appropriate for you or your dependents. Partnering also helps your health care professionals teach you how to take these medicines safely.

Who plays a role in medicine safety?

• Pharmaceutical companies that develop, test, and produce medicines
• Regulatory agencies that approve the use of medicines—like the CDSCO, U.S.FDA or European Medicines Agency (EMEA)
• Health care professionals who prescribe medicines
• Pharmacists who dispense and provide counsel regarding your medicine
• Patients and care givers who take medicines or give medicines to those they care for

What is involved in approving a medicine?

• All medicines have benefits as well as risks. Before any new medicine is approved by regulatory agencies such as the CDSCO, EMEA or FDA, it undergoes extensive testing—usually in several thousand people. The goal of this testing is to determine how safe and effective the medicine is—and to show that its benefits outweigh the known risks. A medicine is approved for use by appropriate patients only when its benefits have been adequately shown to outweigh the risks for its intended use in those patients.

You can help make your treatment plan safer by:

• Telling your doctor about your complete health and medication history
• Asking questions and getting the facts about your medicine
• Seeking counsel from your pharmacist

Sharing Your Medical History

Your medical history is the foundation upon which your doctor builds the best treatment plan for you. A detailed history helps your doctor get to know you, identify possible causes of any health conditions, and determine which—if any—treatments you may need.

Your doctor may ask you about:

• Any symptoms you may be experiencing
• Any medical conditions you've been diagnosed with—such as heart disease or arthritis
• Any illnesses you have experienced—like flu or hepatitis
• Any surgical operations you have had—such as a tonsillectomy or caesarean section
• All medicines and treatments you are currently using
• Anything that could affect your ability to take medicine safely or regularly

What medicines should you tell your doctor about?

• Products you take every day or just once in a while
• Nonprescription (or over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines—such as pain relief products (including those applied to the skin), cold or allergy remedies, antacids, or laxatives
• Prescription medicines, including samples
• Vitamins, supplements, and herbal or natural remedies
• If you are a female, oral contraceptives, contraceptive patches, or long-acting contraceptive injections

You should also tell your doctor about the use of:

• Alcohol
• Cigarettes
• Substances such as marijuana or cocaine

Disclosing everything you take is extremely important, because some medications can mix dangerously with others, even in small doses.

What can affect your ability to take medications?

• Known allergies or sensitivities
• Being pregnant (or trying to conceive) or breast-feeding
• Having memory problems
• Having trouble swallowing, seeing clearly, or using your hands

Getting All the Facts

It's not unusual to feel nervous or overwhelmed when discussing important health issues with your health care professional. But remember—understanding your medical condition and treatment plan is essential to good health.

Be an active patient or caregiver

• Prepare ahead of time—bring a list of questions with you to the appointment
• Record the most important facts about your medicines
• Bring along a friend or relative for additional support
• Write down notes during your conversation with the doctor, nurse or pharmacist
• Tell your health care professional if you have any communication issues—like hearing loss or English as a second language
• Ask for clarification of anything you don't understand—and persist until you get clear answers

Considering a medicine

Before you and your doctor decide on a medicine, there are many important points you'll need to discuss.

Making Medicine Decisions: Risks, benefits, and choices

When you and your doctor decide on a certain medicine, you are making a choice—one that weighs the benefits the medicine can offer to your health against the risks of side effects. Together, you will decide how much risk you are willing to accept in light of the potential benefits.

Factors that may affect risk perception include:

• Past experience (good or bad) with medicines, for oneself or a friend or family member
• Educational level
• Age
• Cultural background
• Personality (for example, optimistic versus pessimistic; eager to try new things versus prone to avoiding risk)
• Learning style (for example, persuaded by scientific data versus more affected by personal stories and anecdotes)

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ASK YOUR PHARMACIST 

Akshaya Srikanth,

Pharm.D Internee,

FIP-YPG Transilator,

India