Sixty-four percent of American households regularly use prescription drugs. 26% of Americans use the Internet to search for prescription drug information.1 Even more Americans take over-the-counter drugs. To keep from taking too much or too little of an over-the-counter medication or a prescription medication, one must be able to understand why a medication is taken, what the proper dose is, and how best to administer the medication, as well as any contraindications. Many Americans have a low health literacy rate, making it difficult for them to identify and properly interpret and use such health information, especially drug information.
According to the Institute of Medicine, “at least 1.5 million Americans are sickened, injured or killed each year by errors in prescribing, dispensing and taking medications.”2 Patients can help protect themselves from prescription errors by understanding why they take the medications they do and bringing a list of all their medications and dosages, including supplements and alternative therapies, to their doctor’s appointment.3
Being able to locate and understand drug information is especially important for elderly patients. Older adults often take more than one medication at a time. Taking multiple medications makes it easier to confuse dosages and times when medications are supposed to be taken, as well as increases the risk for side effects.4 In addition, as people age, it becomes difficult for the body to break down medications, “thus, older people sometimes need smaller doses of medicine per pound of body weight than young or middle-aged adults do.”5 Making a chart of all your medications, their dosages, how to take them, and when to take them can help make taking multiple medications safer.
