Taking medications as prescribed and understanding the right way to administer them can reduce the risks and help properly treat conditions or health issues so they don’t become more serious and expensive down the road.
We take medications to treat or prevent illness. They come in lots of different forms, and we take them in many different ways. You may take a drug yourself, or a healthcare professional may give it to you.
Taking medications as prescribed and understanding the right way to administer them can reduce the risks and help properly treat conditions or health issues so they don’t become more serious and expensive down the road.
However, medication administration errors are a common issue.
This issue of medication administration can become even more challenging as you or family members get older, as they may not be able to physically dose or administer drugs the right way, and memory or cognitive issues can lead to forgotten medication doses.
There are several different ways drugs can be administered.
You’re probably familiar with injections and pills that you swallow, but medications can be given in many other ways as well.
For instance, some drugs are destroyed by stomach acid if they’re taken by mouth. So, they may have to be given by injection instead.
The route used to give a drug depends on three main factors:
- the part of the body being treated
- the way the drug works within the body
- the formula of the drug
Not all medications can be administered at home or by someone without special training. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers are trained to give medication safely.
Administration of medication requires a thorough understanding of the drug, including:
- how it moves through your body
- when it needs to be administered
- possible side effects and dangerous reactions
- proper storage, handling, and disposal
Medication errors happen frequently in the United States, even when drugs are given by professionals.
Research shows that medication administration errors are the
This may include at different points, including:
- prescribing a drug
- entering the drug or dosage information into a computer system
- a drug is being prepared or dispensed
- a drug is taken by or given to someone
It’s important to take only the dosage described in the prescription label or other instructions. Dosage is carefully determined by your doctor and can be affected by your age, weight, kidney and liver health, and other health conditions.
For some medications, dosage must be determined by trial and error. In these cases, your healthcare professional would need to monitor you when you first start treatment.
For example, if your doctor prescribes thyroid medications or blood thinners, you would likely need to have several blood tests over time to show if the dosage is too high or too low. The results from these tests would help your doctor adjust your dosage until they find the one that’s right for you.
Many medications need to reach a certain level in your bloodstream to be effective. They need to be given at specific times, such as every morning, to keep that amount of drug in your system.
Taking a dose too soon could lead to drug levels that are too high, and missing a dose or waiting too long between doses could lower the amount of drug in your body and keep it from working properly.
To help avoid these problems, be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you’re taking or any times you’ve had an allergy to drugs or foods.
A drug with high risk of adverse effects may be administered only by a healthcare professional. In some instances, a doctor or nurse may want you to stay in their facility so they can observe how the drug affects you.
If you take a medication yourself, it’s up to you to watch for problems, such as a rash, swelling, or other side effects. If you notice any problems, be sure to let your doctor know.
Questions to ask your healthcare team
Be sure to take your medications correctly to get the most out them and to
Make sure that you understand everything about taking your medication. If you have any questions, talk to your doctor. Some questions you might ask include:
- I’m not sure how often I should take this medication. Can you explain your instructions more clearly?
- My nurse gives me my medication now. Can I be trained to give it to myself?
- I’m having trouble taking my medication. Can a family member or healthcare provider give it to me instead?
- Are there any side effects I should watch for?
- What time of day should I take this drug? Or does it matter?
- Am I taking any medications that this drug could interact with?
You and your family can take several steps to help ensure medications are taken correctly.
This may include, but is certainly not limited to the following:
- use a pill case or dispenser
- some people keep medications in easy view so they see it each day
- track days and times with pre-programmed reminders
- try using a mobile app with alerts and notifications
- know how to properly store medications and keep an accessible an easy-to-scan checklist on a bulletin board or fridge or nearby medications so that it can be easily found when needed
- make sure at least one family member is aware of the medication regime
- help family or friends understand how to properly dose and administer medications, if you need assistance
Taking medication the proper way, as prescribed by a doctor, is an important aspect of medication administration and staying healthy. This can include knowing how certain medications work, and why some are taken in pill form while others are administered by injection or IV therapy.
You can take steps to help remind you to take medications, and family or friends may also have adequate training to help you get the medications you need.