KP Wellness
12:03 PM - Public
Misprescribing and Overprescribing of Drugs
http://www.worstpills.org/public/page.cfm?op_id=3#
What follows is a summary of the seven all-too-often-deadly sins of prescribing.
First: The “disease” for which a drug is prescribed is actually an adverse reaction to another drug, masquerading as a disease
Second: A drug is used to treat a problem that, although in some cases susceptible to a pharmaceutical solution, should first be treated with commonsense lifestyle changes.
Third: The medical problem is both self-limited and completely unresponsive to treatments such as antibiotics or does not merit treatment with certain drugs.
Fourth: A drug is the preferred treatment for the medical problem, but instead of the safest, most effective—and often least expensive—treatment, the physician prescribes one of the Do Not Use drugs listed on this web site or another, much less preferable alternative.
Fifth: Two drugs interact. Each on its own may be safe and effective, but together they can cause serious injury or death.
Sixth: Two or more drugs in the same therapeutic category are used, the additional one(s) not adding to the effectiveness of the first but clearly increasing the risk to the patient.
Seventh: The right drug is prescribed, but the dose is dangerously high.
http://www.worstpills.org/public/page.cfm?op_id=3#
What follows is a summary of the seven all-too-often-deadly sins of prescribing.
First: The “disease” for which a drug is prescribed is actually an adverse reaction to another drug, masquerading as a disease
Second: A drug is used to treat a problem that, although in some cases susceptible to a pharmaceutical solution, should first be treated with commonsense lifestyle changes.
Third: The medical problem is both self-limited and completely unresponsive to treatments such as antibiotics or does not merit treatment with certain drugs.
Fourth: A drug is the preferred treatment for the medical problem, but instead of the safest, most effective—and often least expensive—treatment, the physician prescribes one of the Do Not Use drugs listed on this web site or another, much less preferable alternative.
Fifth: Two drugs interact. Each on its own may be safe and effective, but together they can cause serious injury or death.
Sixth: Two or more drugs in the same therapeutic category are used, the additional one(s) not adding to the effectiveness of the first but clearly increasing the risk to the patient.
Seventh: The right drug is prescribed, but the dose is dangerously high.
KP Wellness
11:57 AM - Public
Ten Rules for Safer Drug Use
http://www.worstpills.org/public/page.cfm?op_id=48#
Rule 1: Have “Brown Bag Sessions” with Your Primary Doctor; Fill Out a Drug Worksheet.
Explanation of Items on Drug Worksheet
a. Name of drug, of doctor who wrote the prescription, and date drug was started or the dosage changed:
b. Purpose of the drug:
c. Dose, frequency of use, and duration of use:
d. When the drug should be stopped or the need for its use reevaluated:
e. Important possible adverse effects of the drug:
f. Important possible drug and food interactions, especially with over-the-counter drugs, and diet recommendations:
g. How you are actually taking the drug:
h. New problems or complaints noticed by the patient, friends, or family since any of the drugs listed on the worksheet have been started:
i. In the judgment of you, your family, and your doctor, is the drug working?
Rule 2: Make Sure Drug Therapy Is Really Needed.
Rule 3: If Drug Therapy Is Indicated, in Most Cases, Especially in Older Adults, It Is Safer to Start with a Dose That Is Lower Than the Usual Adult Dose.
Rule 4: When Adding a New Drug, See If It Is Possible to Discontinue Another Drug.
Rule 5: Stopping a Drug Is as Important as Starting It.
Rule 6: Find Out If You Are Having Any Adverse Drug Reactions.
• mental adverse drug reactions: depression, hallucinations, confusion, delirium, memory loss, impaired thinking, and insomnia
• nervous system adverse drug reactions: parkinsonism, involuntary movements of the face, arms, and legs (tardive dyskinesia), dizziness on standing, falls (which can sometimes result in hip fractures), automobile accidents that result in injury because of sedation, and sexual dysfunction
• gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding, constipation, and diarrhea
• urinary tract adverse drug reactions: difficulty urinating or loss of bladder control (incontinence)
Rule 7: Assume That Any New Symptom You Develop After Starting a New Drug May Be Caused by the Drug.
Rule 8: Before Leaving Your Doctor’s Office or Pharmacy, Make Sure the Instructions for Taking Your Medicine Are Clear to You and a Family Member or Friend.
Rule 9: Discard All Old Drugs Carefully.
Rule 10: Ask Your Primary Doctor to Coordinate Your Care and Drug Use.
http://www.worstpills.org/public/page.cfm?op_id=48#
Rule 1: Have “Brown Bag Sessions” with Your Primary Doctor; Fill Out a Drug Worksheet.
Explanation of Items on Drug Worksheet
a. Name of drug, of doctor who wrote the prescription, and date drug was started or the dosage changed:
b. Purpose of the drug:
c. Dose, frequency of use, and duration of use:
d. When the drug should be stopped or the need for its use reevaluated:
e. Important possible adverse effects of the drug:
f. Important possible drug and food interactions, especially with over-the-counter drugs, and diet recommendations:
g. How you are actually taking the drug:
h. New problems or complaints noticed by the patient, friends, or family since any of the drugs listed on the worksheet have been started:
i. In the judgment of you, your family, and your doctor, is the drug working?
Rule 2: Make Sure Drug Therapy Is Really Needed.
Rule 3: If Drug Therapy Is Indicated, in Most Cases, Especially in Older Adults, It Is Safer to Start with a Dose That Is Lower Than the Usual Adult Dose.
Rule 4: When Adding a New Drug, See If It Is Possible to Discontinue Another Drug.
Rule 5: Stopping a Drug Is as Important as Starting It.
Rule 6: Find Out If You Are Having Any Adverse Drug Reactions.
• mental adverse drug reactions: depression, hallucinations, confusion, delirium, memory loss, impaired thinking, and insomnia
• nervous system adverse drug reactions: parkinsonism, involuntary movements of the face, arms, and legs (tardive dyskinesia), dizziness on standing, falls (which can sometimes result in hip fractures), automobile accidents that result in injury because of sedation, and sexual dysfunction
• gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding, constipation, and diarrhea
• urinary tract adverse drug reactions: difficulty urinating or loss of bladder control (incontinence)
Rule 7: Assume That Any New Symptom You Develop After Starting a New Drug May Be Caused by the Drug.
Rule 8: Before Leaving Your Doctor’s Office or Pharmacy, Make Sure the Instructions for Taking Your Medicine Are Clear to You and a Family Member or Friend.
Rule 9: Discard All Old Drugs Carefully.
Rule 10: Ask Your Primary Doctor to Coordinate Your Care and Drug Use.
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