Exciting holidays or friend and family fun provides a welcome distraction from the hustle and bustle over the holiday period, but it is important to keep you health in mind.
It can be easy to neglect or forget to adhere to regular medicines, but it is crucial to be prepared for your prescriptions.
Managing Director of Webstercare and inventor of the Webster-pak Gerard Stevens AM said it is one routine that is important to stick to.
“Most routines fly out the window at the end of the year, which is really important in order to relax and have a good time. However, every year millions of Australians suffer adverse medicine events as a result of not taking medications as prescribed. So it is really important to stick to your medication schedule. However, routine changes and cost pressures during the holiday period can put people at risk,” said Mr Stevens.
“This is because holidays can be a time when it is easy to lose track of normal daily schedules. There are a lot of disruptions to regular routines, and it can be hard to remember if medication has been taken. Everyone wants to relax and have a good time, but things don’t always go according to plan, especially when daily medication routines are interrupted,” explains Mr Stevens
Here are some simple steps to stay medication safe ”
Ask your pharmacist for a Webster-pak® or other pill organiser for the duration of your holiday period
A Webster-pak or pill organiser will ensure all medications prescribed are available for the duration of the trip and act as a reminder to take the recommended doses.
“With a Webster-pak system, the pharmacy will supply a week’s worth of medication packed into individual dosage times, so you know exactly what needs to be taken at the right time. Your pharmacy may even deliver it for you!” said Mr Stevens.
Carry a medicine list in a wallet or purse
People can find it difficult to remember and explain exactly what medications and doses they take, especially with multiple medications. Pharmacists can print a person’s entire medication profile, including images of medications into a list, and neatly folds down to the size of a credit card, so it’s easy to keep in your purse or wallet. Whenever a medication changes, your pharmacist can issued an updated list. They can also contain the person’s home pharmacy and phone number, enabling a pharmacist at a holiday destination to simply ring the home pharmacy to confirm the medications that were prescribed, before issuing emergency replacements to last the remainder of the holiday.
“Around one-in-five people aged 70 or older are on four or more medications, which they truly need. It can be difficult to remember all of the names and correct dosages,” warned Mr Stevens.
“So having an up-to-date list can be very useful. ”
Speak to your pharmacist before going away
“It is a good practice to check in with your pharmacist before going away, they are a wealth of knowledge and information,” said Mr Stevens.
“It is also an opportunity to speak to them about the Pharmacist Shared Medicines List, (PSML) a consolidated list of medicines prepared by a pharmacist and uploaded to a patient’s My Health Record. It can help to reduce medication-related problems, specifically those experienced by older Australians.”
