Medication Knowledge Among Family and Friends

Do you know what medications you are taking, its side effects, and when to call your physician? If you answered no, you are not alone. Many Americans taking medications are not fully aware of what they are taking. At times they are not even aware of the generic name nor the side effects that the medication may cause. Do to this I decided to conduct my own survey among family and friends to test their knowledge about their prescribed and over the counter medications.

After conducting my survey I learned that many individuals knew what there medication was for but at times were unable to name the medication by its generic or brand name. Most were unaware of the side effect to their medication unless they had experienced it before. Also many keep their old medication in their medicine cabinet for future us, including antibiotics.

This means that they are not finishing the full treatment of antibiotics and are potentially reusing the medications when ill.  Many of my family members were aware of herbal remedies. Herbal teas are very common among Mexican families and are believed to relieve stomach pain, nausea, and minor complaints. Overall, there was a lack of education among my family members. They were all compliant with their prescribed medications, yet they didn’t know what they were actually taking. This a potentially dangerous situation. They are not aware of when to contact their physician, or if what they are experiencing is a normal side effect.

Educating patients regarding their medications is very important. It is necessary for the patient to at least be able to name their medication and what its used for. Also its important to know any interactions with the medications they are taking which can be as simple as grapefruit. I came to learn that like many Americans my family and friends were not knowledgeable about their medications.  It is the nurses, doctors, and pharmacist responsibility to educate patients about their medications.