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Permalink Reply by Marie on May 3, 2012 at 10:14

My partner's medication is weekly.  I always read up on his medication, the side effects and changes in his behaviour.  It is my responsibilty to collect it from the pharmacy every week. As he is on ten tablets a day I have my own rountine on organising his medication in the appropriate slot, as there is a young carer in the house too everyone is involved with his medication.  Recently there was a typing error on his prescription, which took a week to sort out, the GP had typed the wrong dosage.  This week of our lives was very scary has my partner was not medicated properly.  I was so angry has the surgery did not believe me, as in their eyes GP's never do anything wrong.  Everyday I was in that surgery trying to sort his medication out, the surgery's computer did not hold the correct information either, there was three different dosages for my partner's anti-depressants.  So then after the surgery checked the proper paper work, it was revealed that my partner has been on the wrong drugs for six months.  So I am pleased to say that at least I know what I am doing re. my partner's medication compared to so-called professionals that I have to chase up.

I hope this answers your question Sam.

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Permalink Reply by Sam Cowley on May 3, 2012 at 10:30

Hi Marie,

That sounds like a really horrible week.

Seems that you are pretty experienced in med management though. What tips would you give someone who was just starting to look after the medication of another?

Best wishes,

Sam

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Permalink Reply by Marie on May 3, 2012 at 11:53

I always use the same pharmacy, I thought this would be better if I had to buy non-prescription drugs and the pharmacy could double check if he was allowed them, I also have built up a relationship with this pharmacy and I always ask to look in their medical dictionary for information on my partner's medication. 

My partner's medication is always locked away in a small box so he has no access to them, this is important because of his mental health, everyone who has a key to my house knows where the medication is incase of emergencies.

My daughter is a young carer, so to cut the red tape of age and law, which is arguable, I believe in her experience, so I decided she was confident enough to handle the medication too.

I use an egg cup to prompt my partner's medication rather than a plate or my own hand.

I have tried numerous medication boxes with days, evenings on them, carers will always find the one that is suitable for them as organisation and recognition of the medication is important too.

I always have a list of the meds available in an emergency.

Always read the information in the packaging, sometimes the cared for cannot recognise the side effects, if your not sure read them again.

Make sue the GP has you-the carer on their system for collection of prescriptions, sometimes going in every and now again gives the receptionists a gentle reminder that you do exist.

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Permalink Reply by Jenny Smedley on May 10, 2012 at 16:58

If your loved one has difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules or bites and chews them, always remember when new drugs are prescribed, by a consultant at a hospital for example, to check whether there are soluble or liquid alternatives.

The pharmacy was closed on a recent Sunday visit to A&E.  The High Street pharmacist was at lunch on Monday.  Tuesday I brought mum's new medications home only to find I couldn't get her to take them.  (One wasn't suitable for crushing and concealing in food.)  I made an appointment on Wednesday to see her GP.  He prescribed syrups to start when her next repeat prescription was due to start.  Two weeks later...

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Permalink Reply by eleine mcloughlin on June 22, 2012 at 21:54

I do all of my son's meds ( oral,IV,inhaled etc) I honestly don't know how I manage to keep everything straight ( most days I muddle my phone number up hehehe ) I use a calendar to keep track of ordering refills and supplies. I have found pill sorters that are big enough for all his pills and have three that I marked AM, PM and BED. I fill them for the week and it tends to be easier in the mornings. I also have enzyme bottles everywhere so that if he wants anything to eat there is a bottle to hand. The worst part is remembering the names of all the meds ( instead of stinky blue one or the rat poop ) I keep a list of meds and dosages in my purse, car and by the phone for easy reference.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Harding on September 26, 2012 at 22:38

I control my  daughters Meds, on a Sunday i  do all her meds for the week, i find it  easier  this way then all she has to  do is take them at the right time, i have an alarm on my  phone which goes off and i  then text her to  take her meds if i  am out, it  has taken us nearly two years to  find a way that works,

i tend to  stick to the same chemist as they  know what she is on and it  it will react with any of her other meds, also one of my  daughters meds is unlicensed and has to  be ordered in and takes about  a week to  get to us,

if i didn't control my  daughters meds she would never know when to take them or if she has had them,

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