National Check Your Meds Day - October 21

Medication interactions are serious business. You could take two medications that counteract each other, which could make you sick enough to end up in the emergency room, or even die. National Check Your Meds Day, observed every October 21 and sponsored by the National Community Pharmacists Association.

Making sure that you’re safely consuming the right combination of medications is important for everyone who takes them. This is true for any condition, but especially so for those who suffer from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder. On National Check Your Meds Day, you can take your medications–including prescription drugs, supplements, and over-the-counter medicines–into a pharmacy for a review. You can then ask a pharmacist for advice on medication combinations, and adverse reactions of side effects.

History of National Check Your Meds Day

There has always been a distinction between those who directly work with ill patients and those who create pharmaceutical remedies. Pharmacists originally went by the title apothecaries, and are even found in Greek Mythology where Asclepius, who was the god of healing, gave Hygieia the duty to compound his remedies. In ancient Egypt, the medical profession was split into two classes: the ones who visited the sick and the ones who prepared antidotes. In 1683, the city council of Bruges made it illegal for physicians to both visit and prepare medications for their patients. Later on, in the new country of America, Benjamin Franklin assigned an apothecary to the Pennsylvania Hospital, furthering the distinction between the two specializations.

The events of World War II led to big pharmaceutical discoveries, such as new and highly effective medications. The role of the pharmacist also changed due to post-World War II events, making it so pharmacists were no longer the makers of remedies, but were still knowledgeable in all medicines prescribed to patients. They went from making medicines behind the scenes to consulting patients directly, offering advice, medical directions, and correct dosage instructions. Now pharmacists have a more hands-on role than they did traditionally, and though they no longer make antidotes in-house, it doesn’t make them any less knowledgable in their craft.

Officially established in 2017 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Check Your Meds Day is a day for patients to gain a clearer understanding of exactly what their prescribed medication does, how it affects them if they’re taking them correctly, and if there’s a more cost-effective alternative to what they’re being prescribed.

Why National Check Your Meds Day is Important

Safety first

National Check Your Meds Day ensures that consumers are safely taking the right doses and the right prescriptions. By participating, consumers can be reassured that their meds are in good hands and that they're doing the right things to maintain good health.

Questions answered

Consumers should be curious about their meds, be as educated as possible about the effects the meds are intended to have, and what warning signs to look for. By participating in National Check Your Meds Day, consumers can maintain a good relationship with their pharmacist and get answers to important questions.

Good outreach for pharmacists

By participating in National Check Your Meds Day, pharmacists send the message that they want to look out for the best interests of patients and be proactive in helping to maintain consumer health. 

How Will Checking My Meds Help Me?

The purpose of this review is to check whether your medications are interacting properly. If your psychiatrist and rheumatologist both prescribe medications for you and don’t talk to each other, then you may end up with two different drugs that don’t interact safely. In addition, prescribing drugs in the mental health field is incredibly patchwork and subjective; two psychiatrists looking at the same patient might prescribe a completely different cocktail of medications. And people on your mental health team often don’t talk to each other either, unless you insist.

A Consumer Reports study found that, in 2014 alone, nearly 1.3 million people visited an emergency room due to prescription drug interactions or overdose issues, which cost over $200 billion to the people visiting the ER. The steep cost of ER visits is in addition to any costs incurred due to missed work and health insurance changes. The price of medication interactions is substantial.

There is also a human cost. In January of 2000, the Institute of Medicine reported that up to 98,000 deaths occurred from medical errors on a yearly basis. Up to 7,000 of those deaths were due to adverse drug interactions. That doesn’t seem like much, but to put this in perspective, keep in mind that 6,000 Americans die annually from workplace injuries.

This problem is easy to mitigate. Any experienced pharmacist will be able to inform you about the side effects are of your medicines, especially if you’re taking two or more medications that might contradict each other.

Other Services the Pharmacist Can Offer You

Other services the pharmacist can offer when examining your medications include:

• Sometimes, doctors prescribe drugs to manage your side effects when a lifestyle change will control those better or just as well. The pharmacist can suggest ways for you to talk to your doctor about reducing your reliance on prescription drugs.
• Check if your dosages are potentially too high or too low. This advice will not replace a qualified doctor’s but can give you a starting point to talk to your doctor about lowering or raising a dose, or stopping a medication.
• Encourage you to talk to your doctor about refills lasting 30 to 90 days.

Observing National Check Your Meds Day

Get them checked

Individuals who take prescription drugs should take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time with their local pharmacist and get their meds checked. Don't miss the opportunity to develop a closer relationship with your pharmacist and become better educated about the drugs you're taking.

Round up friends and family

Especially for those with elderly friends and family members who rely on prescription medications, encourage them to participate in National Check Your Meds Day and visit their local pharmacist. They will be reassured about their prescriptions (often a source of anxiety) and be more confident when taking their meds.

Promote participation

Hey pharmacists, do everything you can to participate in National Check Your Meds Day and to promote it through an event or other type of marketing effort. Put a banner up outside the pharmacy and set up a table in the parking lot to let patients know you're fully participating in the day.

Getting your meds reviewed by a pharmacist on Check Your Meds Day is a good idea. If you have medications that don’t work with each other, addressing that will safeguard your physical and mental health, and save on costs. Your pharmacist can even advise you on whether you’re taking the right prescription drugs and give you ways to talk to your doctors if you want to change your meds. Your pharmacist is there to help you. Call your local pharmacy to see if the business is participating in National Check Your Meds Day

Sources:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-check-your-meds-day/

https://ibpf.org/october-21st-national-check-your-meds-day/