What You Should Know when it Comes to Medication Safety

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What You Should Know when it Comes to Medication
Safety
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• Medications are prescribed to have a specific
  effect on your body, such as lowering blood
  pressure or decreasing blood sugar levels. While
  the perfect drug would only take effect on the
  intended problem, this is never the case. Besides
  the positive effects of a drug, there are also
  negative (or adverse) reactions that may occur.
  In the US, there are over 2 million serious
  adverse drug reactions (ADR) each year and
  100,000 people die each year from adverse drug
  effects making ADRs the 4th most common cause of
  death in the US 1.

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• The more medications you take, the greater the
  possibility of adverse effects. This can be due
  to taking more than one medication for the same
  condition, or an interaction that occurs between
  2 or more medications. The older you are, the
  more exaggerated the negative effects may be,
  especially during the first few weeks after
  starting a new therapy. Often, after some time,
  your body will adjust to the new medication, and
  some of the negative effects may lessen or even
  subside.

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• As healthcare professionals, we want our patients
  to succeed in their health! By taking ownership
  of your medications you can be empowered and take
  charge of how you feel in partnership with your
  healthcare team. Here are some questions you
  should ask yourself when it comes to your
  medications

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• Why am I taking this medication?
• How does it work?
• What outcomes can I expect (positive and negative)

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• For instance, if you take medication for high
  blood pressure, be familiar with what your goal
  blood pressure should be. For some people, their
  blood pressure is higher than usual when taken at
  the doctors office (some people get nervous or
  agitated by waiting a long time). If you think
  that is the case, take your blood pressure at
  home, when you are calm and in your usual
  routine. Keep a diary, so you can accurately
  report your blood pressure readings to your
  healthcare provider at your next appointment. If
  the medication prescribed is not achieving its
  purpose, it is not effective in preventing
  disease progression.

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• Any new medication should be started when you
  will be at home, so that any negative effects
  will occur while you are comfortable and home.
  Report any adverse effects that are uncomfortable
  or intolerable to your pharmacist or prescriber.

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• Apps that we like when it comes to learning more
  about medication safety include
• Pocket Pharmacist
• iPharmacy
• Thanks for tuning in and let us know in the
  comments below what you think and if you have
  specific experiences to share about what works
  for your and what didnt work for you please
  share in the comments section!

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• Let us know about tele health app platform
  provides virtual primary care, urgent care, and
  assistance with everyday health related problems
  in Newyork, New Jeresey, Pennsylvania and all
  near by states.

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• For more tips on medication safety check out
  these sites
• http//www.consumermedsafety.org/
• http//www.ismp.org/