PharmaPassport Health Tips Blog» 5 Dangerous Medication Mishaps

5 Dangerous Medication Mishaps

Amanda — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:17:54 +0000

100,000 people die each year due to medication mistakes and 1.5 million become sick or injured due to improper use. Many of theses deaths and injuries are accidental. It’s shocking that the public is unaware of how use prescription and over-the-counter medicines safely. Read about these medication mistakes and enlighten yourself on how to safely use medications.

Age - One mistake people make is that they forget to ask their doctor or pharmacist if certain medications are safe for certain age groups. Many doctors are still uninformed about medications that cause risks to elders and children. Older adults process medication differently, and they are at an increased risk of problems like dementia, dizziness, falling, and high blood pressure. Some drugs can increase these risks and are more likely to cause dangerous side effects in people older than 65. To avoid this problem, check with your doctor and the Beers List before taking any medication you are unsure of.

Similar Medications – Many medications have similar appearances or names causing medications to accidentally be misused. The doctor’s handwriting may be hard to read, or the name of the drug could be incorrectly placed into the computer. The pharmacist could even grab the wrong medicine off the shelf as most pharmacies are organized alphabetically. For example, it is easy to mix up Proloprim and Proferrin; however one medication is an antibiotic used to treat infections, and the other is an iron supplement. To avoid this costly mix-up, ask your doctor to tell you the name of the medication after he or she writes it down. After receiving your medication at the pharmacy, check the prescription label and directions to make sure you received the correct medicine.

Combining Medications with Similar Side Effects– All drugs have possible side effects, but if you take two or more medications at the same time without consulting your doctor, they can interact with each other and cause unwanted or dangerous effects. Some drugs, including ones that involve blood pressure and dizziness, can magnify the other’s potential effects. If you are taking a drug with the potential side effect of high blood pressure, and then you being taking a medication with the same possible effect, your blood pressure will become dangerously high. If you combine medicines that may cause dizziness, it can lead to falls and fractures. Before taking any combination of medicines, talk to your doctor about their possible effects and reactions with each other.

Combining Medications with Similar Components- It’s easy to accidentally combine medications with similar effects or properties. You might be taking one medication for pain, one for anxiety, and another for insomnia – but little do you know that they are all sedatives and can cause toxic effects when taken in large doses. The risk for overdose is highest in drugs that are designed to deal with the central nervous system. Narcotic painkillers and sedatives are examples of these. To avoid accidental overdose, tell your doctor before taking any new prescription medication about all prescription and over-the-counter medication that you are already using.

Mixing Alcohol with medicine – Many people don’t realize the dangers of alcohol in general, let alone the dangers of mixing it with medication. Alcohol can be a deadly poison when taken with painkillers, sedatives, and other medications. Many experts now believe that there should be no alcohol consumption with any medication because alcohol can decrease the effectiveness of any medication or increase the risk of side effects. Alcohol can cause a dangerous reaction with over-the-counter drugs like Benadryl and cough and cold medicines. The cough and cold medicines can also contain alcohol themselves – so you can end up with alcohol poisoning. Other drugs like antidepressants can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure when mixed with alcohol, and some sedatives like Ativan or Valium can depress the heart rate enough to cause a coma when taken with alcohol.

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Improve Your Memory Through Dreams

Amanda — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:32:23 +0000

The days of staying up all night to study for exams are over. The real key to improving the memory is through sleep and dreams. A study recently concluded that there is a definite link between sleep and an improved memory.

A recent study of 99 participants found a link between sleep, dreams, and memory. The experiment had the participants navigate through a virtual maze on a computer screen. Half of them were allowed to take a 90 minute nap, while the other half stayed awake. Later on the participants were re-tested on the virtual maze. Those who napped performed better than those who stayed awake, and what is more is that those who reported dreaming about the maze during their nap performed 10 times better than the nappers who didn’t dream. Another study found that people who dream about doing specific tasks actually improve their ability to perform that task in the waking world.

Scientists don’t know exactly how dreams boost learning and memory capacity because dreaming is such a complex process, but it doesn’t need to take as long as 90 minutes for your memory to improve. In fact, a short nap as little as a 12 minutes can make your memory flourish. Many North American’s are suffering from insomnia and aren’t getting the daily sleep they need. Some find themselves sleeping in on weekends to make up for it instead of sleeping 7 – 8 hours a night on a regular basis. Sleep is an important part of your physical and mental health and shouldn’t be neglected.

5 Ways to Stay Energized

Amanda — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:07:00 +0000

If you aren’t an athlete in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, you probably start off your day with average energy levels that are increasingly hard to maintain throughout the day. Try these energy preserving tips so you can feel your best all day long.

1. Drink water – Dehydration will cause you to quickly become tired. Often, you may feel like eating even if you aren’t very hungry without realizing that what you really need is water.

2. Take Vitamin B – Vitamin B12 helps provide your body with a boost of energy. Its job is to release the energy contained within the food that you consume so that its easy to use. Try taking vitamin B supplements if you want an added boost of energy to your lifestyle.

3. Snack regularly – eating snacks high in protein every few hours is beneficial for your mood and energy. Stay away from sugars, though – sweets will make you crash. Try nuts and seeds, eggs, nut butter on crackers, and strips of chicken or turkey.

4. Avoid drinking coffee after 3pm – Yes, coffee has many health benefits, but when it comes to energy boosts, the time you drink coffee is crucial. The high your coffee gives you in the morning can cause a low around 3pm if you consume it too early in the morning. Try not to drink coffee in the evening – even if you think it doesn’t effect you, the caffeine can keep you up at night causing minor insomnia, preventing you from getting a full nights rest – the critical key to high energy levels. If you are going to drink coffee, have it in the late morning.

5. Exercise – going for runs, doing pilates, or taking a 30 minute walk can increase your energy levels and keep you going. A study by Patrick O’Connor at the University of Georgia found that sedentary people who completed a regular exercise program reported improved fatigue compared to groups that did not exercise at all. Nearly every group studied benefited from exercising, and if you don’t exercise now, or if you are constantly tired, being a bit more active will help your energy levels.

5 Herbs that Can Help you Quit Smoking

Amanda — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Quitting smoking is hard for those who smoke regularly. Most people who stop smoking have a hard time keeping it that way. If you are trying to stop smoking with things like Nicorette gum or nicotine patches, consider using herbs at the same time to ease the process. Many herbs come in different forms such as extracts, liquids, capsules, and dried bulk for making tea. When you buy herbs, follow the directions on the package on how to use them.

Lobelia

Lobelia is a strong herb which can relax the mind and body. Many people use this natural substance for smoking cessation. It is an old herb used for cleansing the lungs and curing symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough. Recent studies have found that Lobelia may produce similar effects to the human body as nicotine, yet unlike nicotine, Lobelia is non-addictive and helps eliminate the desire to smoke cigarettes. Lobelia is known to have the effect of making cigarettes taste very bad. Lobelia is also reputed to have the effect of making cigarettes taste very bad.

Mimosa Tea

An evergreen shrub found in Brazil and South Mexico. The root bark is used to prepare a brewed beverage which is beneficial to those trying to quit smoking. Those who quit smoking may feel anxiety and have headaches. A strong cup of Mimosa tea will boost the mood and relax the body. Mimosa tea is non-addictive and is sometimes used as an anti-depressant.

Valerian

Valerian is a sedative that is used to help people who suffer from anxiety, stress, and trouble sleeping. Valerian is a good choice in smoking cessation for those who suffer from anxiety and insomnia.

Slippery Elm

For those who have digestive problems during smoking cessation, Slippery Elm may be the best choice. This herb is nutrient rich and east for the body to digest therefore providing digestive comfort. Slippery Elm works to draw out toxins and wastes in the entire body.

Peppermint

Peppermint helps ease feelings of nausea, tension, headaches, and anxiety. Peppermint tastes great and allows the muscles in the body to relax and stimulates the flow of digestive juices.