|
IN THIS ISSUE
Photos from 30 Rock
New Facebook Page
Tips for Taking Medicines
|
|
What's New at
Guardian Nurses
Some Photos From Our Trip To 30 Rock and the
Dr. Oz Show
Thanks to the generosity of the Dr. Oz Show's production team, three of the Guardian Nurses team got to accompany Betty Long to the taping of the Dr. Oz show in New York. Here are some photos from that adventure:
 | | Judy and Joanne in the audience pre-show |
 | | Betty on stage with Dr. Oz (click photo for video segment) |
 | | The GN Entourage at The Plaza after the taping. |
A good time was had by all, for sure. It was an exciting, fun-filled adventure. Thanks to all of you who called, sent emails, texted, and sent your words of support and encouragement.
And more thanks to those of you who sent your feedback about the segment to the Dr. Oz Show team!
More photos are available on the Guardian Nurses Facebook page. |
|
Join Us on Facebook
Lest we be the last in our office complex - Guardian Nurses has a Facebook page and we invite you to "follow" us. Our page is updated 2--3 times a week with pertinent information for patients and other general healthcare news.
Click here to join us on Facebook!
|
|
|
Just this week I noticed on a box of generic medication (CVS brand) that I've been taking is "manufactured in India." It got me thinking about reading labels, checking over-the-counter (OTC) medications more carefully. Just for kicks, I called the 1-888 # on the box for "Questions" and got a tape recording for Dr. Reddy's Labs. Not sure of the connection with CVS but I do know that they only have business hours from 9AM to 5PM.
When you get prescription medications, safeguards are built in. Access to the drug is limited to those with a prescription, a pharmacist dispenses the drug and checks for interactions, and there is a limit on the amount of medication you get. When it comes to OTC medicines, safeguards are YOUR responsibility. So, in this month's issue of the Flame, we wanted to share some suggestions about taking medications safely.
 16 Days 'til Phillies Opening Day!!!
Betty Long
Betty Long, RN, MHA, President
Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates
|
|
A Dozen Tips About Taking Medicines
- Read all labels carefully. Of patients with liver damage related to acetaminophen, 25% had taken combination drugs, not realizing how much acetaminophen they were taking.
- Never, ever take medicine in the dark. You could grab the wrong bottle and take the wrong medicine in the wrong dose.
- Clarify any instructions about taking medicines with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Don't assume when your health and safety are at stake!
- Do not keep bottles of pills that can change your alertness or judgment next to your bed. You could easily overdose because you can forget how much you've taken.
- Don't buy OTC medicine if the package is damaged; that's the purpose of tamper-evident packaging. Bring it to the pharmacist so it's taken off the shelves.
- Remember that there is no such thing as a 'childproof cap' or packaging.
- Never use silverware to measure a teaspoon of liquid medicine. There is no standard size for silverware teaspoons. Ask your favorite nurse to show you how to measure liquid medicine using a syringe.
- Make sure every healthcare professional prescribing for you knows all the medicines you take---including OTC, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements. If you have had no clinical improvement on the medications you're taking, better to have a talk with your primary care provider about why you're not taking the medicine than have him/her wonder why the medicine is not working.
- Keep all medicines in their original container, particularly if you are traveling. You never want to wonder what pill you're taking. If in doubt, throw it out.
- When you choose a new OTC medicine, you are essentially prescribing the medicine for yourself so YOU are responsible for checking possible interactions with food or other medicines you're taking.
- Compile a list of your medicines (prescription, OTC and herbal) and then compare them on a web site to see if there are interactions among any of the remedies in the group. Three websites to try are drugdigest.org, drugs.com, or drugstore.com.
- And finally, ask if there are any blood tests you need while taking a prescription drug, either to measure the level of the drug in your blood or to measure the drug's effect on your body. If you need blood tests, do not skip them. They are critical to make sure your dose isn't too high or too low.
 | | Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! |
|
|
|
