FAMILY MEDICINE® COLUMN
By John C. Wolf, D.O.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine®
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

SHARING OR MISUSING MEDICATIONS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS

Question: Both of my parents take several medicines for their health problems. I know that they occasionally get confused and take their medicine twice or forget to take it altogether. They seem to be fine in spite of this. Should I be worried about these occasional mix-ups in how they take their medicines?

Answer: The quick and short answer to your question is yes, you should be concerned. Medicines make powerful changes in the body. That is why they are prescribed. Failing to take the drugs as they are prescribed can lead to serious consequences, although we all know that missing an occasional pill rarely does. So, the real concern is how often occasionally occurs. And the particular type of medicine also makes a difference. Some drugs must be monitored closely and taken precisely to avoid problems. Anticoagulants, beta-blockers, antidiabetic agents, and calcium channel blockers are just a few classes of these.

Your question makes me suspect that your parents might be helped by using a pill reminder system. This can be as simple as having a bottle or pillbox for each day of the week. The week's medicines are divided into the seven daily containers on the same day each week, usually Sunday. It is then easy to look into the container to see if today's medicine has been taken. There are also more sophisticated devices that beep to remind the person when each day's dose should be taken. Talk to your parents and to their pharmacist. He or she can show you a variety of these helpful devices.

There are several other common problems related to medicine use that may apply to your parents. I frequently have patients tell me that they have borrowed medicine from a spouse or friend. This is usually because they developed a symptom similar to those of the disorder the other person was being treated for. My patient then shows up in my office with a medical problem that is actually the result of taking this new drug, or sometimes with a request for his or her own prescription for the drug.

Sharing prescription medicine is always a bad idea. It can lead to serious interaction with other drugs the person takes. In fact, the problems with undesirable interaction of medicines isn't just limited to prescription products. It is estimated that almost one-third of adults take herbs and other alternative medicines. These too can cause interactions. As an example, ginseng can increase blood pressure. Ginkgo, garlic and fever few can increase the risk of bleeding in those taking aspirin or Coumadin, an anti-clot medication. There are many more potential undesirable consequences from taking these so-called natural, safe, and herbal cures along with prescription drugs, so be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are using them.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to John C. Wolf, D.O., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Grosvenor Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701.