Brown Bagging It

 A brown paper bag may hold the key to medication safety, according to health experts.

 "A 'brown bag checkup' is the best thing patients can do to avoid medication mistakes and cut down on unnecessary medications," says Douglas Paauw, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington.

 The checkup involves putting all of your medications in a brown paper bag and bringing them to your doctor or pharmacist. The bag should include over-the-counter and prescription drugs, herbs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and topical treatments such as ointments and creams. "This kind of checkup is good for anyone who takes medication, but particularly for older adults who are more likely to be taking several medications," Paauw says.

Edie Hurley, nurse manager with Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services, supports the idea of the brown bag checkup. "At least make a list and bring that in," she says.

 Your doctor or pharmacist should check for appropriate dosing, problems caused by interactions between drugs and whether each drug is being given for the right reason.  They should also check for duplication.  It is common for more than one drug to contain the same ingredient.  For instance, taking two products that contain acetaminophen raises the risk of liver damage. Other common problems include expired medications and medications that are no longer needed.

 In one case, an older patient mistakenly thought her diabetes medication was for headaches. "So she took her diabetes medication only when she had a headache, when she should have been taking it every day," according to Hurley.

After you and your doctor settle on what you should be taking, the next thing is to know the names of all of your medications and what they are for. Your list of medications should be updated and reviewed with your doctor each time you change a medication or add a new one.

Experts suggest that you keep a list of medications in your wallet and let a family member know that you have it. Be ready to take that list out at the dentist's office, at appointments with specialists, or in an emergency.

 Another good place to record them is the Vial of Life method. The Vial of Life consolidates basic health information such as medical history, allergies, medications, etc. in one place. It is designed to hang by a red magnet on your refrigerator door in case emergency personnel need to treat you. You can request a free Vial of Life by calling our office.

 Modern medicine has made our lives better in many ways. People taking many different prescriptions need to be aware of potential dangers and take steps to avoid them.