Let’s face it, medicines cost a lot and often people look for short cuts to save money on medicines. Often it costs the same to buy a supply of medicine that comes in 40 mg as one that comes in 20 mg. People will then cut the pills as a way to save money.
Here is a tip from the Institute of Safe Medicine Practices (ISMP). Avoid pill splitting.
Many medicines are not safe to take after they have been split. Some are coated to be long-acting or to protect the stomach. Always talk with the person’s doctor or pharmacist before splitting medicines. If the doctor decides a pill can be safely split, have the doctor write the prescription to reflect that, "Take 1/2 tab daily." Also ask the pharmacist to split the pills for you. They have the tools to correctly split medicines.
A side effect is a predictable, often unwanted effect of a medicine. A side effect is either harmless or it can cause injury.
Side effects vary by the type of medicine. For example:
When side effects occur, the doctor will decide whether to stop the medicine or prescribe a different one. In some cases, the medicine prescribed is the only one for a person’s condition, so the doctor may ask the person to keep taking the medicine. There is a danger of a person not wanting to take a medicine any longer because of side effects.
A doctor will adjust the dosage or prescribe a new medicine when side effects are severe. Lifestyle or dietary changes may help to lessen side effects. Never let the person stop taking a medicine because of side effects without calling the doctor.
Drug Allergies
Allergies are unpredictable responses to medicine. A person may be allergic to a specific medicine (e.g. penicillin) or a class of medicines (such as antibiotics). A person allergic to one drug in a class is more likely to be allergic to other drugs in the class. Allergies can happen with the first dose of a drug but also after a person has taken a medicine for a long time or in the past. Always check to be sure the doctor has not ordered a medicine that the person is allergic to.
Allergy symptoms will vary.
Skin rash
Giving oxygen is a relatively easy skill if you understand why the person you care for needs oxygen and how to act when an oxygen delivery system does not function properly. This lesson will prepare you to safely administer oxygen.
Severe allergic reactions include
Severe allergic reactions include