Have you ever tried to pronounce the name of the medications you take? With such names as Ezetimide, Irbesartan, and Acetaminophen. Who among us is so skilled in linguistics that we can pronounce these foreign-sounding names? Yet, these are all very common medications which are taken for cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetic problems. So how can we remember, when we can’t pronounce? In a recent study, 50% of outpatients could not remember their medications. When a lower literacy level was reviewed, the number jumped to 65%. No doubt, a problematic situation exists.
Each time you make a visit to your doctor’s office, or the hospital, they expect you to not only pronounce them, but spell them accurately too. Add to that, the dosages are equally important. So what exactly is 10 ug? Ah, gotcha again. One thing most of us can do, however, is to say how many times per day we take the medication; that at least, is plain English (although, if we were honest, most of us skip doses on a regular basis, and may not remember how many times per day we are actually suppose to take a drug).
With the most significant part of practicing medicine being prescribing medications, we have almost singlehandedly placed insurmountable obstacles of language as barriers to receiving the correct medication, at the correct dose, at the correct time. Some doctors have started to ask their patients to bring in all the medications they take at each doctor’s visit, including herbs or over the counter medications. The nurse who takes your blood pressure, then goes through your bag and makes a list of all the medications you are taking. This is a time consuming plan, and some offices do not have sufficient staff to perform this function.
Some doctor’s arrogantly think that because they have electronic records in place, all they need to do is review the pharmaceuticals taken by the patient. How naïve! We have already remarked that patient’s skip doses. Additionally, patients don’t stop taking medications that the doctor has replaced with another medication; instead taking both. No wonder, adverse effects of medications are prevalent in our land. Also, herbs and over the counter medications present their own interactions, and adverse effects. When was the last time your doctor inquired as to whether you took any?
We don’t realize what a big problem this is in America, or how much it impacts on the person’s over-all health status. Potential solutions are scarce. Perhaps generic drug makers could start with identifying drugs by names which are easily pronounceable and memorable?
One third of the nation's 1.5 million adverse drug events occur in out-patient settings, resulting in a cost of $1 billion annually. This knowledge gap could be one of the reasons. Until solutions are reached, researchers advocate that each time you make a doctor’s visit, or go to the Hospital, collect all your drugs and ‘bag them’. Perhaps some one will have the time to peruse your medicine bag. Perhaps you are taking the medications as prescribed, or if not, you are honest. Perhaps, changes are needed in the way we do business.
Sources
Persell, Stephen, et al. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 2004
http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/ajhp/abstract.00043627-200412010-00012.htm;jsessionid=HQhZrC3h6xGr8qplBhjvy2Hr2LHmGXb2qmm91MCpjfdL2vLcLpRH!1071114923!181195629!8091!-1
Patients can't recall their medications to tell doctors
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/nu-pcr101107.php
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