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Ask Questions About Your Medications *ONLINE ONLY*

September 2023

By Gary Calligas

A health literacy expert, Terry C. Davis, PhD, from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport remarked at a medical conference “Medication error is the most common medical mistake. In looking at patients (in a study conducted by Davis and others), we found it common for them to make mistakes when dosing for themselves, their elderly patients, or their children”.

Davis recommended that physicians provide specific instructions to patients about how to take their medicines. Davis remarked “telling a patient to take their medication at 8 am and another at 8 pm each day is better than telling a patient to take one pill every 12 hours, which is confusing to a lot of patients”. “The study shows that patients of all ages would benefit from additional efforts to improve the clarity and comprehensibility of labeling on prescription drugs”, said Davis. “With Americans taking more prescription medications annually, the incidence of patient medication errors is likely to rise.”

The following is a list of questions that a patient should consider asking their physician or pharmacist about any new prescription:

1. What is the name of my medication?

2. Why has this medication been prescribed for me and what is it supposed to do?

3. Are there any the specific instructions - how much, how often, preferred time of day to take this drug, with a meal or on an empty stomach?

4. How long should I take my medication?

5. Are there any refills on this prescription?

6. Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?

7. What are the chances that I will have an allergic reaction?

8. Are there any restrictions on food, drink, dietary supplements, or activities while I am taking this medication?

9. Is this prescription safe to take with my other medications?

10. What should I do if I miss a dose?

11. How soon should I feel the effects of my medication? What should I do if it does not seem to be working?

12. What side effects are possible and what should I do if they happen?

13. Will any medical tests be necessary to monitor the effects of the drug?

14. How should this medication be stored?

15. Is there a generic version of this medication?

Asking questions about medications is vital to prevent medication errors which could cause potential health problems, including allergic reactions, lifelong disability, and even death.