It was as if we had eaten it dry. Learn about the risks of popular medication administration methods.

 It was as if we had eaten it dry. Learn about the risks of popular medication administration methods.

Medicines have a defined area inside and outside the refrigerator in every home. It may appear normal, but what you may not realize is that taking drugs alone and without instructions can result in risks and effects that may outweigh the severity of the problem for which the prescription is prescribed.

A number of errors in taking home medicines were noted in a 13-year research, which resulted in health concerns.

Fortunately, the majority of these errors did not result in death, but a third of them required hospitalization.

The first step in preventing these errors is to understand how serious they are, as well as the fact that over-the-counter drugs can also create health concerns.

In this article, you'll learn about some of these mistakes.

1- Taking a high dose of medication: Taking a high dose of certain medications can cause serious liver damage, and taking a very high dose increases the risk of side effects, such as increased sleepiness and lethargy from painkillers, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

According to a Boston University study, 15% of people who use NSAIDs like Advil or Aleve exceed the authorized amount in a week, which can lead to serious side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding and even heart attacks.

It's also crucial to stick to dosing schedules; there are numerous systems for eliminating drugs from the body, most of which are based on the liver or kidneys, or both, so if you have issues with either, your doctor may advise you to take a lesser dose.

2- The medicine is given in a very low dose:

You're putting your health at danger if you don't take adequate medication. Maintaining adequate drug levels in your bloodstream, for example, is one way to avoid deep vein thrombosis, a potentially fatal blood clot in your leg.

Because the body passes drugs at a predictable rate, it's critical to take them on time. To maintain this amount of flow.

It's like a bucket with a little hole in the bottom; if you want to keep a set level of water in it, you must add a specific amount, or a defined dose, at regular intervals; if you don't, the water level will drop dangerously low.

3- Taking the medicine with or without food: The way some medicines are taken from the stomach into the body is affected by food or particular types of food.

Some medications, such as the osteoporosis treatment "Med Fosamax" and the thyroid drug "Synthroid," may be absorbed very slowly when the stomach is full of food, therefore they must be taken on an empty stomach or after a particular period of time has passed since you last ate.

Some medications, such as NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, might irritate the stomach, so talk to your doctor about whether you should take them with or without meals.

Certain meals should be avoided as well. Some antibiotics, for example, should not be used with calcium-containing foods because they will impair how the body absorbs them. So, ask your doctor whether there are any dietary interactions with the medicine that you should avoid.

4- Improper drug mixing: A reaction produced by inappropriate medication mixing might enhance or reduce medication effectiveness, cause unanticipated side effects, or increase the risk of known side effects.

Some medications, such as taking antacids with other medications, should not be taken at the same time, according to the Center for Ambulatory Community Care at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), because absorption may be affected by reducing stomach acid.

5- Not knowing exactly what the drug will do: When you first start taking a drug, you should be informed of what it is. Understanding the illness or sickness that the drug is used to treat can also assist you in comprehending the significance of taking it.

Medication can be used to treat multiple conditions, and knowing the names of the meds you're taking can help you prevent confusion and mistakes.

Patients who know the names of their drugs are more likely to stick to their treatment schedule and are less likely to mix up or take the wrong prescription, according to studies.

6- Mistakingly taking medication: According to the Mayo Clinic, common errors include chewing non-chewable medicines; therefore, knowing how to take your prescription correctly will guarantee that you get the exact dose, which is critical.

You should also be aware of which drugs can be eaten or crushed, as some medicines will be absorbed too rapidly or at a very high dose if crushed or chewed.

7. Stopping Medicine Too Soon: Just because you're feeling better doesn't mean you should stop taking your medication. Ask your doctor when you can stop taking the medication if you feel better.

Sudden withdrawal might have dangerous implications, such as elevated blood pressure or blood sugar levels.

"Although you may feel better after a few days," the Mayo Clinic says of antibiotics, "it is likely that not all bacterial infections that produce symptoms will be removed until therapy is completed." The entire drug dosage.

8- Taking other people's medications: Just because your friend swears he feels better after taking a certain prescription doesn't imply you should take it if you have the same symptoms.

Well-intentioned people may contemplate sharing their prescription pharmaceuticals with others; nevertheless, the medication's influence on the individual's medical conditions will determine how effective it is in treating their symptoms.

It is possible that sharing drugs without a prescription will result in death!

9- Swallow pills without water: Swallowing pills with water is crucial not only for making swallowing easier, but also for preventing esophageal damage.

In the esophagus, medicines are more prone to induce inflammation and discomfort. Due to the lack of nerve pain in areas of the esophagus, this can lead to esophagitis, or even bleeding and perforations, which may not occur immediately.

Pills that become lodged in the esophagus can destroy the sensitive tissues of the esophagus, causing painful bleeding and severe dehydration.

10- Improper medication storage: Some drugs may require a specific temperature, light protection, or moisture protection in order to retain the product's integrity and prevent the drug from losing its potency. Before keeping the drug, read the label on the carton.