Do you take medication on a regular basis? Whether it’s prescription medication or over-the-counter medication, it’s important that you manage your meds properly. Below are a few common mistakes that people make when it comes to medication.
Overpaying for medication
A lot of people make the mistake of overpaying for medication. Common ways in which people overpay include not comparing brands, not taking advantage of discounts and not using insurance/HSAs to pay for medication.
When it comes to not comparing brands, a popular way in which people overspend is by buying well-known brands of OTC medication instead of generic brands which typically do the same thing. Some brands of anti-diarrheal medication or antihistamines will charge a few dollars extra just for the name when the generic store version does exactly the same thing.
Not taking advantage of discounts is something many people do because they simply aren’t aware that such discounts exist. Companies like RxGo offer cards that can get you discounts from 10% to 87% on some prescription medications. Taking advantage of these discount cards could result in huge savings over time.
Meanwhile, many people with health insurance do not realise that certain medication may be covered by their provider. Whenever you take out prescription medication, it is worth checking with your insurer to see if you are covered. An alternative option is to use a HSA (health savings account) – this is a tax-free savings account that can be spent on all kinds of prescription medication from OTC medication to hearing aids.
Storing medication incorrectly
Where do you store your medication? Medication typically needs to be stored at a certain temperature. If medication gets too hot or too cold it can affect the potency and even change the effects of medication in some cases. For this reason, you should avoid storing medication near heaters or on windowsills exposed to direct sunlight. Medication that needs to be refrigerated should be kept in the fridge at all times (and if there are no instructions regarding refrigeration, avoid putting this medication in the fridge).
On top of making sure that medication is not stored at the wrong temperature, you should make sure that it cannot be easily accessed by kids or pets. Most medication comes with a child-proof cap, but this is not always the case and not always effective (a dog can still bite open a plastic bottle). Store medication out of reach or lock it away somewhere. Go Time Prepper compares a few medication lock boxes that could be worth looking into.
Taking expired medication
Most medications have an expiry date. Meds that are past their use by date could be ineffective or dangerous to consume – so it’s always important to check the expiry date on the bottle.
Taking expired medication tends to be more of a problem with seldomly used meds. Drugs like ibuprofen for example need to be used within four or five years after opening – if you rarely take pain relief medication, it could be worth checking those old packets of ibuprofen before you consume one.
Not planning for vacations
When going away on vacation or travelling for another purpose, it’s important to remember to pack your medication. If you’re going away for a long period of time, consider whether you have enough medication to take away with you or whether you need to order more before you go. It could be worth packing a copy of your prescription just in case you lose your meds while abroad.
Don’t assume that you will be able to easily access more medication at your destination. If you’re going abroad, it’s worth noting that different countries may have bans on certain drugs or may not sell certain brands. Do your research ahead.
Taking medication at the wrong times/skipping medication
Some types of medication have to be taken at a certain time every day in order to stay effective. It’s important that you don’t take this medication at the wrong time or forget to take it entirely – as there could be negative consequences.
Setting alarms on your phone is a great way to remind yourself when to take medication. You can also use pill reminder apps to use a pill dispenser that automatically dispenses the right pill at the right time (these are popular for those with memory loss – you can compare pill dispensers here at Healthline.
Getting the dosage wrong
This is an obvious mistake, but still some people repeatedly make it. With many forms of medication, you need to stick to strict dosage limits. An overdose can be fatal with some types of medication. In other cases, you may simply experience unwanted side effects like nausea, fatigue or constipation. It’s also important not to underdose on certain prescription medication.
Always read dosage instructions before taking medication. If you have to wait a certain period of time between doses, make sure that you don’t take your next dose too early. Alarms, reminders and pill dispensers could help in this situation too.
Continuing to take medication when you no longer need it
When it comes to medication like painkillers, many people can continue to take such medication long after they need it. Some people get into a routine of taking pills and do not realize that the problem has since cured itself. In other cases, people can become addicted to medication. This is when you experience withdrawal symptoms after no longer taking medication – most people end up continuing to take the medication to treat these withdrawal symptoms.
With the likes of opioid medication, it is often worth talking to a doctor to help you determine when to stop taking the medication. If you’ve been taking these painkillers regularly for some time, your doctor may advise slowly weaning you off to help you manage withdrawal symptoms. Be honest with your doctor and be honest with yourself about whether you really need pain relief anymore – some people become so addicted that they tell their doctor that they’re still in pain when in fact they are no longer in pain.