Medication Safety

Managing medications can be complicated, especially if you take multiple drugs to treat different conditions. Unsafe medication practices and errors are the leading cause of avoidable harm and injury in healthcare around the world. Learning about proper medication safety can help reduce and prevent harm to yourself and your loved ones.  

Medication safety tips 

1. Take medicine as prescribed  
   It is important to take your medication regularly and follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider. Do not skip or stop taking your medication without first talking to your healthcare provider. Conversely, don’t take any medication that is not prescribed to you. Misuse of medications, such as taking someone else’s prescribed medicine, can be very dangerous and lead to further harm (1).  

2. Be open with your doctor about all medications you are taking 
   If you go to different clinicians for different conditions, it is extremely important to tell them about each medication you are currently taking. One helpful tip is to keep a medication list that includes the medicine’s brand name, dosage, how often you take it, and why you’re taking each medication. It should also include any other over-the-counter medication you take regularly (2). 

3. Be aware of potential drug interactions and side effects 
   It is important to learn the potential side effects of any medications you are taking. Interactions can occur when the medicine is taken with another medication, herbal medicine or supplements and food or alcohol also can react to the drug. Make sure to review the instructions that come with your medication carefully or talk to your doctor or pharmacist to fully understand all potential side effects (3). 

4. Manage medications safely 
   Storage is an important component of safe medication management. Make sure you read your medication label to understand how to properly store your medicine. While most medications need to be stored in a dry cool place, some may need to be stored at a specific temperature. Additionally, if you live in a household with multiple people, store each person’s medication separately or color code the medication to prevent mixing them up (4).  

Sources: 

1. “4 Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 26 May 2021, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/4-medication-safety-tips-older-adults.  

2. “Medication Management and Safety Tips.” Medication Management and Safety Tips | Johns Hopkins Medicine, 29 Sept. 2022, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/help-for-managing-multiple-medications.  

3. Some Medication Safety Tips to Know for Older Adults . RxSaver, 10 Aug. 2017, https://www.rxsaver.com/blog/medication-safety-tips.  

4. Cafasso, Jacquelyn. “Everything to Know about Medication Safety.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 18 Sept. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/health/pill-identification#storage.