Did you know?

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a serious public health problem. ADE surveillance activities are led by the Medication Safety Program housed in the Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) area of the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). This program translates surveillance data into evidence-based policies and targeted, innovative interventions.

The CDC estimates:

• 82 percent of American adults take at least one medication
• 29 percent take five or more
• 700,000 emergency room visits are due to adverse drug events annually
• 120,000 hospitalizations are due to adverse drug events annually
• $3.5 billion is spent on extra medical costs due to adverse drug events annually
• At least 40 percent of the costs of ambulatory, that is, non-hospital adverse drug events are considered to be preventable

The numbers of adverse drug events will likely grow due to:

• Development of new medications
• Discovery of new uses for older medications
• Aging American population
• Increase in the use of medications for disease prevention
• Increased coverage for prescription medications

The more you know about any medication you use, the better you can be sure you're using it properly. For each medication you take, whether it's a prescription medication or an over-the-counter drug, you can fill in the chart below to be sure you understand what the medication does and how to use it. If you can't find the information on the medication bottle or in the patient information that came with it, or have trouble understanding the information, be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Medication name (both brand and generic)
Size, color and imprint on pill
Dosage
Common side effects
What to do for side effects
When to call your doctor
Other special instructions

Prevent Adverse Drug Events
5 Drug DOs

• DO take each medication exactly as it has been prescribed.
• DO make sure that your doctors know about all your medications.
• DO let your doctors know about any other over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements or herbs that you use.
• DO try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions. The pharmacy can help you keep track of everything you're taking.
• DO keep medications out of the reach of children.

5 Drug DON'Ts

• DON'T change your medication dose or schedule without talking with your doctor.
• DON'T use medication prescribed for someone else.
• DON'T crush or break pills unless your doctor instructs you to do so.
• DON'T use medication that has passed its expiration date.
• DON'T store your medications in locations that are either too hot or too cold. For example, the bathroom cabinet may not be the best place for your medication.

Dispose of Old Medications Properly
When medications have passed their expiration dates, disposing of them will protect you and others in your home. Consuming a medication that has expired may prove ineffective or even worse, toxic. Proper disposal of medications will help protect the environment, as well as pets, children, and anyone who might find medicines in your trash.

While experts used to recommend flushing old medication down the toilet, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now recommends against this because sewage plants may not be able to adequately remove drug ingredients from the water. The FDA recommends flushing only if the drug label or accompanying information has instructions to do so. These are usually medicines that are very dangerous or fatal if they are taken by the wrong person, child or pet.

Before flushing old medicines down the toilet or tossing them in a trash can, check if your city or county has a medicine take-back program. These are programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Check with your pharmacy to see if a take-back program is available in your community.

Other drugs can be disposed of with your household garbage. When throwing away medications in the trash, follow these medication disposal guidelines:

• Remove drugs from their original containers and remove or scratch out identifying information from container labels.
• Crush pills or capsules or dissolve them in water. (Mix liquid medications in water too.)
• Mix crushed or dissolved medications with kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds, or another substance that will absorb them and make them undesirable.
• Put drug mixture into a sealable plastic bag or bottle with a screw-on lid and place in trash.

It’s Medication Awareness Week and the perfect time to ask your pharmacist or doctor about any medications you are currently using. Always be vigilant and knowledgeable about anything you are ingesting—it’s key to staying healthy.