Medication Safety Tips for Adult Caregivers

WESTPORT, CT, August 27, 2007 – Those who care for adult loved ones must be continually on alert for signs that their loved one is over-medicated or having a negative reaction to a drug or a combination of drugs (see sidebar). The following preventive measures are the “best medicine” when it comes to avoiding these predicaments altogether:

	Some key signs of adverse drug reaction and over-medication:   Weakness or tremors   Fatigue   Excessive drowsiness   Constipation or diarrhea   Agitation, anxiety or excitation   Sudden weight loss   Dizziness, sudden sweating or nausea   Incontinence   Confusion   Frequent falls

		Notify your loved one's doctor(s) about all medications she/he takes—prescription and over-the-counter medications. If more than one doctor is prescribing medications, aim for the primary care physician to be aware of all the drugs your loved one is taking.
		Remember that pharmacists are knowledgeable about drugs, their side effects and what drugs can be safely combined. So talk with your pharmacist as well as your loved one's doctors.
		Try to have all your loved one's prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy

		because pharmacists typically enter each customer's prescription drug record into a computer program designed to alert them if drugs have been prescribed that might interact dangerously. Naturally, this doesn't protect against interactions that may occur when taking an over-the counter drug, so talk to your pharmacist about this, as well.
		Ask doctors and pharmacists about potential side effects to be on the lookout for-especially which side effects may be cause for alarm. (For example, should you call if your loved one experiences headaches or nausea after taking the medication or will these side effects clear up after a couple of days?) Write down all the information so you and your loved one can refer to it later.

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Media contact: Michael Civiello
LifeCare, Inc.
pr1@lifecare.com
203-291-4170