National Check Your Meds Day, celebrated annually on October 21, is a vital reminder of the importance of reviewing your medications to ensure they are safe, effective, and up to date. Launched in 2017 by Consumer Reports in collaboration with pharmacists across the United States, this day encourages individuals to schedule a review of their prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements with a healthcare provider, typically a pharmacist.
In a world where people often juggle multiple medications, sometimes from different healthcare providers, the potential for confusion or adverse effects increases. National Check Your Meds Day aims to reduce these risks by empowering people to be proactive about their health and medications. In this article, we’ll explore the significance of this day, the role pharmacists play in medication safety, the dangers of unreviewed medications, and practical steps you can take to ensure your medications are working effectively for you.
The Purpose of National Check Your Meds Day
The primary purpose of National Check Your Meds Day is to promote a comprehensive review of all medications that individuals are taking. This day serves several key functions:
- Reducing medication errors: The misuse of medication, including incorrect dosing, expired prescriptions, and harmful drug interactions, can lead to severe health consequences. National Check Your Meds Day encourages patients to collaborate with pharmacists to identify and rectify these issues.
- Raising awareness of polypharmacy: Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications by a patient, often more than clinically necessary. This is common among older adults and those with chronic health conditions. National Check Your Meds Day helps people assess whether they need to take all their current medications and whether there are opportunities to simplify or adjust their treatment plans.
- Empowering patients: Often, people rely solely on their doctors for medication management without considering the crucial role pharmacists play in ensuring medication safety. This day encourages patients to take ownership of their medication management by working closely with their pharmacists.
- Promoting regular medication review: Medications should not be treated as a “set it and forget it” component of healthcare. National Check Your Meds Day reminds us that regular reviews can catch potential problems early, ensuring treatments remain effective and side effects are minimized.
The Role of Pharmacists in Medication Safety
Pharmacists are medication experts, uniquely positioned to offer advice and guidance on how medications interact, how they should be taken, and what side effects to monitor. They often serve as a bridge between patients and their doctors, ensuring a second layer of oversight on the use of prescription drugs. On National Check Your Meds Day, pharmacists typically provide services like:
- Comprehensive medication reviews (CMR): Pharmacists can help patients understand the purpose of each drug, identify potential interactions, and clarify dosing instructions.
- Evaluating over-the-counter medications and supplements: Many people take over-the-counter drugs and supplements without fully considering their interactions with prescription medications. Pharmacists can highlight any risks or contraindications.
- Deprescribing: In some cases, patients are prescribed medications that are no longer necessary. Pharmacists can help doctors and patients make informed decisions about safely stopping or reducing the use of certain drugs.
- Education: Pharmacists can educate patients about proper storage, expiration dates, and disposal of medications, reducing the likelihood of taking ineffective or potentially harmful drugs.
Common Medication-Related Issues
The complexity of medication management can lead to a host of issues that National Check Your Meds Day seeks to address. These include:
- Drug interactions: Many medications, including common over-the-counter drugs and supplements, can interact negatively with prescription drugs. These interactions can reduce the efficacy of a drug or increase the risk of harmful side effects.
- Incorrect dosing: Whether due to misunderstandings or changes in health status, incorrect dosing is a significant risk. Taking too much or too little of a medication can either exacerbate side effects or render the treatment ineffective.
- Expired medications: Using expired medications is risky because the drug’s potency may decrease, or the medication may break down into harmful compounds over time.
- Side effects: Even medications that have been used for a long time can start to produce new or more severe side effects, especially if health conditions change. Regular check-ups with a pharmacist can identify and address these side effects.
- Duplicate medications: People seeing multiple healthcare providers may sometimes be prescribed the same type of medication by different doctors, leading to unintentional duplication and increased risk of overdose.
Polypharmacy: A Growing Concern
Polypharmacy is a growing issue, particularly among the elderly, who often take several medications to manage multiple health conditions. According to the National Institute on Aging, more than 80% of adults aged 65 and older take at least one prescription drug, and about half of this population takes five or more. This can lead to:
- Increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs): The more medications someone takes, the higher the likelihood of harmful drug interactions.
- Non-adherence: The complexity of managing several medications can lead to poor adherence, with patients either forgetting doses or taking incorrect amounts.
- Higher healthcare costs: Unnecessary medications add to healthcare costs, and the complications arising from medication-related issues often lead to more frequent doctor visits or hospitalizations.
Pharmacists can help manage polypharmacy by reviewing all medications, ensuring each one is necessary, and working with doctors to adjust or reduce the number of drugs where possible.
How to Participate in National Check Your Meds Day
Taking part in National Check Your Meds Day is simple, but it requires proactive engagement with your healthcare team. Here’s how to get started:
1. Schedule a Medication Review
Contact your local pharmacy and schedule a medication review. Many pharmacies offer this service for free or at a low cost, especially on National Check Your Meds Day. Bring a complete list of all medications you take, including:
- Prescription drugs
- Over-the-counter medications
- Supplements and vitamins
- Herbal remedies
It’s important to include every substance you take regularly, even if it seems harmless, as some supplements can interact with medications.
2. Prepare Questions
Before your review, write down any questions you have about your medications. Common questions include:
- What is each medication for, and how does it work?
- Are there any potential interactions between the medications I’m taking?
- Are there any side effects I should watch out for?
- How should I store my medications?
- Do any of my medications need to be adjusted or stopped?
3. Keep a Medication Journal
Maintain a log of your medications, including the names, dosages, and any side effects you notice. This journal can be a helpful tool during your medication review, allowing you to track how well your treatments are working and report any concerns to your pharmacist.
4. Dispose of Expired or Unused Medications Safely
Part of a comprehensive medication review involves identifying and disposing of expired or unused medications. Many pharmacies offer take-back programs where you can safely dispose of these medications, preventing them from being used incorrectly or falling into the wrong hands.
5. Follow Up Regularly
National Check Your Meds Day is an excellent starting point, but medication reviews should be part of your regular healthcare routine. Make it a habit to review your medications with your pharmacist or doctor annually, or whenever there are changes in your health status or new medications are prescribed.
The Long-Term Benefits of Regular Medication Reviews
While National Check Your Meds Day is a one-day event, its impact can be long-lasting if patients integrate medication reviews into their healthcare routine. Some of the long-term benefits include:
- Improved health outcomes: Regular reviews ensure that medications are working effectively, minimizing the risk of complications or worsening conditions.
- Fewer side effects: By identifying unnecessary or harmful medications, patients can reduce the likelihood of experiencing adverse effects.
- Better medication adherence: Simplifying medication regimens and educating patients on proper use improves adherence, leading to more consistent treatment and better overall health.
- Reduced healthcare costs: Deprescribing and eliminating unnecessary medications can lower costs, both in terms of drug expenses and related medical visits or hospitalizations.
Conclusion
National Check Your Meds Day serves as a crucial reminder that medication management is not a passive process but requires active involvement from patients, pharmacists, and healthcare providers. By reviewing medications regularly, individuals can reduce the risk of harmful drug interactions, side effects, and complications, ultimately leading to better health outcomes. So, take the opportunity on October 21 to check your meds, schedule a review with your pharmacist, and make sure your medications are safe, effective, and necessary. Your health will thank you for it!