Medications and Medical Terminology

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Bobbie
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Medications and Medical Terminology

Postby Bobbie » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:25 pm

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2003 9:50 pm

Be aware whenever you are put on a new medication. Always ask your pharmacist (as well as your doctor) about possible side effects. Ask about taking a new med. with your other meds. Read drug inserts about taking on an upset stomach, "beware of taking with alcohol," "beware of exposure to the sun while on this drug," etc.

Bottom line: Patient/consumer, be aware.

Check, check, and doublecheck. We, on this site, well know what adverse reactions a medication can cause. www.webmed.com contains a good list to bring to your doctor to ask about medications.

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:09 pm

Drug mix-ups kill thousands of people every year.

In November 1999, the Institutes of Medicine released a report that focused public attention on widespread medical errors. Researchers had found that each year some 44,000 Americans die as a result of such errors. Quite often, the mistakes are drug related and are fairly mild and resolve. Some adverse reactions are severe.

Although not every mishap is within your control, there are ways to help keep yourself safe from harm — both in and out of the hospital. The following tips include many from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

What To Do . . . In The Hospital

Bring to the hospital either a complete list of all your medications or put all the medications in a bag. This includes all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as herbal products and other supplements. Although the hospital will use its own supply of medications needed during your stay, at least the staff will know what you've been taking.

Ask the name and purpose of every drug you're given. This keeps you informed — and forces your caregivers to check what they're administering.

Identify a professional who will communicate with you once a day to explain dosages. The best is your admitting primary care physician, but nurses and house staff can all be helpful.

If you get a medicine that looks different from what you're used to taking, speak up immediately. Maybe the brand or dosage was changed —or maybe someone made a mistake.

Competent staff will always check each patient's identification bracelet before administering any medication. Make sure they do.

If a family member helps you at home, have them advocate for you when you're not feeling well. They'll monitor all the drug changes with you.

If you feel unwell after a medicine, notice a rash, or have a stomach upset let your medical team know. A side effect may be appearing.
At discharge, ask questions about your medicines — what each one is for, how to take it, what to do if you miss a dose, what side effects to watch for.

In The Doctor's Office

Each time you see your doctor, do a drug review.

When your doctor writes a new prescription, take notes: what is the brand name, generic name, the purpose, dosage, how to take it and how long to take it. Increasingly, more drug information is becoming available on the Web, or your doctor can provide you with some written information.

At The Pharmacy

Talk to your pharmacist about your medications.

Every prescription dispensed today should come with a patient information sheet describing everything you need to know about the drug. If you don't get one, ask for it. Then read it.

Let the pharmacist know all the medicines you take.

Consider patronizing a single pharmacy. Doing so increases the chances that computer records will flag potentially dangerous drug combinations.
If you get a refill and the packaging or the product looks different than it did the last time, find out why.

At Home

Read the information sheet before taking any drug - and read the label each time you take it.

When you take a med., turn the container upside down to help you remember you took that day's dosage.

Don't take an expired drug, unless you have shown the bottle to your doctor or pharmacist or phoned and asked about it.

Discard drugs you no longer take.

Don't take drugs in darkness, no matter how sure you are that you're grabbing the right bottle.

Store all medicines out of reach of children.

If you are a complex patient (take more than three prescription drugs), note all meds. when you take them. Make a diary if you notice a new symptom after a certain pill.
Last edited by Bobbie on Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:12 am, edited 7 times in total.

Bobbie
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Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:00 pm

Postby Bobbie » Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:32 pm

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 Post subject: Another Recall of Medications


This has been verified at Snopes as a true issue.
http://www.snopes.com/medical/drugs/ppa.asp

Subject: FW: Medicine Recall
All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being recalled. You may want to try calling the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND. Please read this CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone you know.

STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine.

The following medications contain
Phenylpropanolamine:

> > > Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
> > > Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
> > > Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
> > > Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine
> > > Effervescent
> > > Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or
> > > orange)
> > > Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
> > > Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine
> > > Effervescent
> > > Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine
> > > Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
> > > Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
> > > BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
> > > BC Sinus Cold Powder
> > > Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief
> > > Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
> > > Contac 12 Hour Caplets
> > > Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
> > > Dexatrim Caffeine Free
> > > Dexatrim Extended Duration
> > > Dexatrim Gelcaps
> > > Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
> > > Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
> > > Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
> > > Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
> > > Dimetapp Elixir
> > > Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
> > > Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
> > > Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
> > > Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
> > > Permathene Mega-16
> > > Robitussin CF
> > > Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal
> > > Congestion
> > > Triaminic DM Cough Rel! ief
> > > Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
> > > Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy
> > > Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough .....

One person called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and was informed they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children:

> > > Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)
> > > 3D Cold & Cough Berry
> > > 3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant

They are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on the box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and they will also issue you a refund. If you know of anyone else with small children, PLEASE PASS THIS ON. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!

To confirm these findings please take time to check the following:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN IN CASE THEY GIVE IT TO THEIR CHILDREN OR TO FRIENDS WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

JAMES D PALMER
REGIONAL MARKETING DIRECTOR
5864 AVENIDA LA BARRANCA NW
ALBUQUREQUE, NEW MEXICO 87114
PHONE (505)899-5775
Local cell 315-2917
http://www.capitalchoice.com/rep/JDPalmer

Check this out for yourself on the above E-mail address or with your own pharmacist.
Last edited by Bobbie on Wed Aug 06, 2014 12:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: updating

Bobbie
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Posts: 12688
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:00 pm

Postby Bobbie » Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:56 am

To those of you who have problems getting Vanco., Millie posted this hyperlink about drug shortages. Thx., Millie.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:30 am Post subject:

Here is an FDA page on drug shortages, but I see nothing there about the Vanco at this time
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/shortages/default.htm#More. Here is another source that only shows shortages of the injectable form http://www.ashp.org/shortage/vancomycin ... en=7625561. , maybe 3 here, 5 there...I hope this gets straightened out quickly.

Bobbie
Administrator
Posts: 12688
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:00 pm

Postby Bobbie » Wed May 23, 2007 1:25 pm

Medications are necessary & have saved many lives. However, remember:

Be open-minded, but not so open-minded that your brains fall out.

If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein

We never know as much as we think we know. - John C. Bailar III, MD, PhD

A poison in a small dose is a medicine, and a medicine in a large dose is a poison. -- Alfred Swaine Taylor, 19th century toxicologist

Bobbie
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Posts: 12688
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:00 pm

Medical Terminology

Postby Bobbie » Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:16 am

Jan 05, 2006 Post subject: Medical Terms - Abbreviations/ Explanations/ Merck Manual

Understanding the Meaning of Abbreviations Used in Prescription Drugs

We've all heard about errors made in filling prescriptions because of the difficulty pharmacists have in reading a physician's handwriting, or because certain drugs have similar names. (This is partially alleviated now because many docs. send their scripts by computer.)

All of us should check and understand the common medical abbreviations.

Ask your physician and pharmacist about questions/concerns about new meds. and their reactions with old meds. (including OTC's -- over the counter meds. such as vitamins, minerals, and supplements.)

Here is a table of common medical terms and their meanings.

Term
Abbreviation
Meaning

ante cibum
ac
before meals

bis in die
bid
twice a day

gutta
gt
drop

hora somni
hs
at bedtime

oculus dexter
od
right eye

oculus sinister
os
left eye

per os
po
by mouth

post cibum
pc
after meals

pro re nata
prn
as needed

quaque 3 hora
q3h
every 3 hours

quaque die
qd
every day

quater in die
qid
4 times a day

ter in die
tid
3 times a day

c
with

milligrams
mg

milliliters
ml

People over 65 years of age use about one-third of all prescription drugs and almost half of the over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

Know about your medications.

Nov 07, 2006 Lorraine contributed this.

When I was in nursing school we used the Merck manual because it is loaded with information. This is geared toward the professional rather than the patient. However, there are patient sections.

Of interest is the section on diagnosis because it clearly indicates that a tissue culture is the best way to diagnosis it rather than doing the kit tests.

http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/ ... 29/29a.jsp
Last edited by Bobbie on Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: updating


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