yourmasterMedicines

A guide to help older people know more about their medicines

This booklet is intended tohelp you get the best from

your medicines.

ContentsGetting the best from your medicines 1

Taking the first step 2

At the pharmacy 4

General tips for taking medicines 5

Remembering to take your medicine 7

Have you checked the expiry date? 8

What should I do if? 9The medicine causes side effectsI forget to take my medicineI take too much medicine

Medicines and falls 10

Carers can help too 11

Personal Information Pack (PIP) 13

Patient Medication Record (PMR) 15

1

Getting the best from your medicines

Medicines are likely to play an increasing role in your life as you get older,helping you to control many conditions such as high blood pressure, highcholesterol and diabetes as well as minor ailments such as colds andheadaches.

The doctor or pharmacist will have decided what medicine is most suitablefor you, having discussed your condition with you.

But at the end of the day, it is important that regardless of which medicinesyou take, whether it’s a tablet for hayfever or something you take every dayfor your heart, it is up to you to use it correctly.

Taking medicines can be a complicated business especially if you are notused to taking them or have to use several medicines at once.

You are the most important person when it comes to getting thebest from your medicines so read on and master your medicines!

2

Taking the first stepThe first step to getting the best from your medicines is to ensurethat the right medicine is prescribed for you.

When we’re not feeling well, we often turn to our family and friends foradvice. Sometimes this is not the best course of action as the treatmentsthat suited them may not be right for you. Alternatively you may findinformation on the Internet, however, it may not be very detailed orreliable.

Deciding to go to the doctor’s surgery or the local pharmacy may be abetter option but before doing that, stop and think about what you want.Here are some useful tips that will help:

• Write down any questions you have before you visit your doctor orpharmacist so that you don’t forget them. If you don’t like askingquestions, why not bring a friend, a family member, or your carer withyou?

• Tell the doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you are taking atevery visit. Some medicines interact with each other, which can changethe way they work. Your doctor or pharmacist may have newinformation about your medicines that might be important to you.

• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any allergies or reactions you haveexperienced in the past.

• Make sure you understand what the doctor or pharmacist tells you. If youare not sure, don’t be afraid to ask again. Remember, it is your right to know.In particular, be sure you have the following information:

- The name of the medicine prescribed for you.

- What it is for and how it works.

- How to take the medicine, e.g. what dose, when and how often eachday?

- Possible side effects and what you should do if they occur.

- Anything you should or shouldn’t eat or drink while using the medicine.

- If the medicine is likely to affect any others that you are taking (includingany non-prescription medicines, herbal or homeopathic remedies or anyother complementary medicines).

- If the doctor needs to see you again and if so, when?

- How long you should take the medicine for.

- What to do if you need a repeat prescription.

- What to do if the medicine doesn’t seem to be working.

You will find this information in thepatient information leaflet that

comes with your medicine. Youwill also find it on

www.medicines.ie.

3

At the pharmacy If you get a prescription from your doctor, have it dispensed assoon as possible unless he or she has indicated that theprescription is only to be used if, for example, you are feelingworse.

Here are some tips while at your local pharmacy:

• Get to know your pharmacist. He or she is there to help you and has arecord of the different medicines you get from that pharmacy.

• It is a good idea to get all your prescription medicines from the samepharmacy so that the pharmacist is aware of everything that you aretaking.

• If you have forgotten any of the information that the doctor gave youabout the medicine, ask your pharmacist. They can also help withquestions that you forgot to ask the doctor.

• Remember that your pharmacist is an expert on medicines and canadvise you on any aspect of them. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASKQUESTIONS – if at first you don’t understand, ask again! Make sure youunderstand what to do because knowledge really is the best medicine!

.

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5

General tips for taking medicines • Know as much as possible about the medicines you are taking. Remember,

understanding what it is all about is one way of being in control.

- Before taking your medicine, always read the label on your medicine andthe leaflet provided – here you will find lots of useful information abouthow to use the medicine, its side effects, what to do if you miss a dose, etc.

• Finish all your medicines, unless your doctor tells you not to. This is particularlyimportant for medicines like antibiotics where you must take the full quantityeven if you are feeling better.

• If your doctor prescribes a new medicine, find out if you should stop taking anymedicines that you are already on.

• Medicines often have more than one name:

- A generic name e.g. Paracetamol. This is medical name for the activeingredient of the medicine.

- A brand name e.g. Panadol or Anadin. This is the trade name amanufacturer gives to a medicine.

This means the medicine may have several names or types of packaging. If yourpharmacist gives you a medicine that looks different to the one you are used to,make sure you get an explanation before leaving.

• Don’t save a prescription for future use unless your doctor tells you to.

• Don’t share your medicine with others or use a medicine that was prescribedfor someone else.

• When certain medicines are mixed with alcohol, the result can be harmful.Check with your doctor or pharmacist.

• If you are away from home, make sure you carry enough of your medicine withyou to take the proper dose while you’re out. Take extra in case you are awaylonger than expected.

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• If you are taking medicines on a long-term basis, you must visit yourdoctor regularly to have your medication reviewed and a newprescription issued if necessary. Prescriptions are valid for a maximum ofsix months unless your doctor has specified a shorter period. If you areunsure whether your prescription is still valid, check with your doctor orpharmacist. Generally your pharmacist will remind you when you needto get a new prescription.

• If you have difficulty:

- reading small print on medicine labels, ask your pharmacist to uselarge print on containers.

- using an inhaler or eye drops or swallowing tablets, ask yourpharmacist’s advice. For example, there are devices available to helpyou use an inhaler properly. If you don’t ask your pharmacist, youmay never find out!

- opening child-resistant containers, ask your pharmacist to useordinary bottle tops instead. But remember to keep medicines thatare in non-child-resistant containers well out of reach of children.

• To avoid mistakes, never take medicines in the dark.

• Never mix different medicines in one container. Always store yourmedicines in the containers they were supplied in. If you transfermedicines to other containers, you may not be able to identify them orknow when they expire. The stability of certain medicines can also beaffected if they are transferred from their specially designed packaging.

• Check with your pharmacist before you take any non-prescription orherbal medicines.

• At least once a year, ask your doctor or pharmacist to review all yourmedicines to see if they are still needed, particularly if you are takingfour or more medicines.

• If you don’t feel that your medicine is helping you, talk to your doctorand ask why.

7

Remembering to take your medicineWe have all forgotten to take our medicines at one time or other. The following hints willhelp you to remember!

• Take your medicine at the same time every day.

• Take it with meals (unless the label says otherwise) or other daily events, like brushingyour teeth.

• Put a sticker or reminder note on your medicine cabinet or fridge.

• Get your family or friends to remind you.

• Send yourself reminders using your mobile phone or PC.

I’m on several medicines – how can I remember to take them all?If you are taking several medicines together, it can be difficult to keep track of when totake each of them. The following tips may help:

• Ask your doctor if it is possible to simplify your medication. This may be done by reducing thenumber of medicines or how often they have to be taken, for example, by using controlledrelease products (these are medicines that are designed to work over a longer period).

• Use a chart or diary to write down the details of all medicines you are taking. Apatient medication record (PMR) is perfect for this and one is available at the back ofthis booklet. Why not have a special medication calendar or use a medicines reminderchart (see below)? You could even mark it every time you take your dose.

• Make an instruction sheet for yourself by taping a sample of each pill you have on asheet and writing down all the information about that pill to remind you to take it.

• Get some coloured labels and stick them onto your medicine bottles to help simplify yourroutine. For example, blue could be for morning, red for afternoon and yellow for bedtime.

To help you remember to take your medicines you may download and print outa useful ‘Medicines Reminder Chart’ from either www.ipha.ie or www.ipu.ie.

Have you checked the expiry date?• All medicines are labelled with a “best before” date or "expiry" date.

This date is printed on the bottle, tube or box and also on every blisterstrip. (The number that appears beside the expiry date is themanufacturer’s batch number).

• The expiry date is usually in the format “Exp: 01 2012” or “Exp 01/2012”– in this example, medicine is safe to use until the end of January 2012.If a specific date is given e.g. “Exp 20/1/2012” – the medicine can beused up until 20th January 2012 but not after that date.

• Always check the expiry date of a medicine before you take it. If it isout-of-date, do not use it!

Out-of-date or unused medicines should be returned to yourpharmacist who will dispose of them safely.

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What should I do if?The medicine causes side effectsSometimes when taking medicines, things we don’t expect can happen.That’s the time to call your doctor. Here are examples of signs to watch for:

- Skin rashes or itchiness

- Difficulty breathing

- Unusual headaches or dizziness

- Unexplained or easy bruising

- Mood changes

- A loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting

- Slurred speech, memory loss or impaired judgement

- Changes in sleeping patterns such as unusual drowsiness or recurringunpleasant dreams.

There is the possibility that these symptoms may be the result of yourmedication but they could be connected to other causes. In any case,contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Always check with your doctor or pharmacist first before you stop taking amedicine because of its side effects.

I forget to take my medicine- If you forget to take your medicine, don’t assume that you should

double the next dose or simply skip the missed dose. The correctcourse of action varies from medicine to medicine.

- The patient information leaflet that comes with the medicineincludes information on what to do if you miss a dose. If you don’thave the patient information leaflet or are in any way unsure ofwhat to do, check with your pharmacist or doctor.

I take too much of the medicine- If you accidentally take too much medicine, don’t panic. The patient

information leaflet that was provided with your medicine will tellyou what to do. If you don’t have the patient information leaflet tohand, search for it on www.medicines.ie or check with yourpharmacist or doctor immediately. 9

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Medicines and fallsSome medicines that make you more likely to have a fall as they can change theway the body’s natural balance systems work. As people get older this can bemore of a problem.

The two main side-effects which can be a problem are sleepiness and faintness /dizziness.

SleepinessThis is one of the most common causes of falls due to medication. The medicineswhich may cause this are:

• Sleeping tablets;

• Tranquillisers;

• Some of the older medicines for depression;

• Some of the older medicines for hay-fever and allergy;

• Medicines used to treat mental health conditions.

Faintness / dizzinessThis can be caused by lowering of blood pressure. It is the other major cause offalls in older people. This is usually noticed as a feeling of faintness or dizzinessas you stand up when you have been sitting or lying down. Some medicineswhich may have this effect are:

• Medicines used to treat blood pressure;

• Medicines used to treat other heart problems;

• Medicines used to treat urinary problems;

• Some types of eye drops for glaucoma;

• Some older medicines for depression;

• Medicines used to treat mental health conditions;

• Medicines used to treat Parkinson’s Disease.

It is important to remember that you should not stop any of thesemedicines suddenly. If you feel that one of your medicines may bemaking you feel drowsy, faint or dizzy, refer to the patient informationleaflet that came with the medicine or ask your local pharmacist tocheck whether it can cause these effects. If the medicine(s) could be aproblem consult your doctor. Together, you and your doctor will be ableto decide what is the best thing to do.

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Carers can help tooMost of the information in this booklet is aimed at older people who canmanage their own medicines. However, some people may not be in aposition to look after their own medication such as older people and peoplewith physical or learning disabilities. Here their carer (who may be a familymember, friend or minder) has a very important role to play in helpingthem to take their medicines properly.

If you are a carer,

• Accompany the person in your care when they go to see the doctor orpharmacist.

• Seek information and assistance from the doctor or pharmacist on howbest to help them take their medicines correctly.

• If you do not have enough information:

- About the side effects of any medicines be sure to ask the doctor orpharmacist. Alternatively you may visit www.medicines.ie for thisinformation.

- About any medical procedures which may need to be conducted e.g.injections, catheters, be sure to ask the doctor or pharmacist.

Carers with daily contact with older people should be monitoring andevaluating the capabilities of older people in their care and should beaware of the links between patient assessments and medicine taking. Theyshould be aware of the action to be taken if they have concerns about theolder person in their care.

Read this booklet carefully – it has lots of suggestions that will beof use to you.

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13

Personal Information Pack (PIP)PIP is a pack containing an insert with relevant medical and personalinformation about its owner which is intended to help medical andemergency services ascertain a person medical and medicines history.

It is kept in the fridge and its owner carries a key ring to enable emergencyservices and hospital staff identify that they have a PIP. A green sticker isalso provided which is inserted in the inside frame back of the hall door inorder for emergency services and GP’s to identify home-owners with a PIP.

From a GP perspective this means that if called to the care of a patientwhom they don’t know they can retrieve the PIP from the fridge toascertain their medical and medicines history.

Similarly, fire fighters, Gardaí and ambulance personnel may retrieve the PIPfrom the fridge to discover the person’s history and in turn they may bringthe PIP to the hospital, should the person need hospitalisation.

This means that when the patient arrives in the emergency department,staff have a good idea of the past medical and medicines history of thepatient, along with personal information relative to carers, next of kin,allergies, donor information etc.

The reason for keeping the PIP in the fridge is two fold. Firstly, most peoplehave a fridge and this is an easy ‘common location’ for storage, andsecondly the fridge is usually the last thing to burn in the event of a fire.

You can buy a PIP from your local pharmacist at a cost of €2. Youshould ask them to help you in completing the details in it.

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This medication record will help you to keep track of your medicines. Keep it up todate with all prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking. Carry it withyou at all times and show it to your doctor each time you visit. If you see more thanone doctor, make sure each one knows about all the medicines you take. Show it toyour pharmacist when you pick up a prescription or non-prescription medicine.

Patient Medication Record (PMR)Name:Address:

Tel. No.:Blood Group:

Medical Card Number:Drugs Payment Scheme Number:Long Term Illness Scheme Number:

Doctor’s Name:Doctor’s Tel. No.:Pharmacy Name:Pharmacy Tel. No.:Health Centre:Health Centre Tel No.:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY PLEASE NOTIFY:Name:Address:

Tel No.:Relationship:

PLEASE TICK ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WHICH APPLY TO YOU:I am allergic to

Morphine Gluten CodeineAspirin Peanuts X-ray contrast dyePenicillin Shellfish OtherInsect bites Sulpha drugs

I have Heart condition Glaucoma DialysisEmphysema Epilepsy HypertensionContact lenses Abnormal ECG Removable denturesArthritis Hearing aid Pacemaker Diabetes Kidney problems Other

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List all prescription and non-prescription medicinesDate Name, Dose and Directions Reason

Visit www.medicines.ie for medicines information.

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© IPHA 2008

Other booklets useful in helping you get the best from your

medicines include

Tips for Taking MedicinesFeel Better – a guide to managing your minor

ailments effectivelyAsk Your Pharmacist about Pain Relief

and all are available from your pharmacist or through the

Health Service Executive.

Visit www.feelbetter.ie

for more information on managing your minor ailments effectively.

Visit www.medicines.ie

for medicines information.

Produced byThe Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association

www.ipha.ie

and theIrish Pharmacy Union

www.ipu.ie

in association with Age Action Irelandwww.ageaction.ie