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Is THIS Dangerous Supplement In Your Medicine Cabinet?
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The New Danger In Your Medicine Cabinet
When your doctor takes you off a medication, she probably lets you know. But did she remember to tell your pharmacist? Not necessarily, according to new research that suggests the communication gap between docs and pharmacists is creating a health risk for some patients.
In a study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, investigators reviewed more than 80,000 electronic requests, submitted by doctors, for prescription discontinuations—meant to end the distribution of a certain medication to a patient.
After comparing doctor’s orders to pharmacy records, the team found that roughly 1.5 percent of all discontinued prescriptions—or more than 1,200 scrips—were still being filled. The researchers also discovered that at least 50 people, or 12 percent of those receiving discontinued medications, had experienced some adverse outcome as a result of the faulty Rx. Those outcomes ranged from mild side effects to life-threatening allergic reactions, the study explains.
A communication breakdown seems to be the culprit: Many medical offices fail to notify pharmacies when a physician discontinues a patient’s meds. Surprisingly, electronic medical records—which are increasingly replacing hand-written prescriptions—fail to solve the problem, despite offering a more reliable means of correspondence between doctors and pharmacies. (Keep your own medical records organized with our step-by-step guide.)
It doesn’t matter what kind of prescriptions you’re taking, says study author Thomas Sequist, MD, a physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Vanguard. But patients using several drugs are at greater risk: Those taking between 11 and 15 meds were 60 percent more likely to get a discontinued prescription from their pharmacist.
To protect yourself, Dr. Sequist recommends carefully reviewing all of your medications with your doctor during every visit. If your doc makes any adjustments, ask her to contact the pharmacy. And don’t stop there: Do your own follow-up to ensure that the pharmacist is aware of the change.
photo: iStockPhoto/Thinkstock
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Sounds like a cruel joke: A pain treatment that can actually cause you more pain. According to the FDA, OTC pain-relieving skin creams such as IcyHot, Bengay, Capzasin, Flexall, and Mentholatum can cause chemical burns.
While rare, the FDA issued a recent warning that the risk is real. “In many cases, burns where the product was applied occurred after just one application, with severe burning or blistering occurring within 24 hours,” the agency wrote in a press release.
But there’s no need to panic at any sign of redness. Because your typical pain cream uses counterirritants like capsaicin (an extract of cayenne pepper), a little redness and skin irritation is common because that’s how they work, says Alex Moroz, MD, an associate professor of rehabilitation medicine at New York University Langone’s Center for Musculoskeletal Care. “The creams irritate the skin, and that’s how they reduce the pain. Now, of course, if the cream is used improperly or too much, you can get burns,” he says.
If you have chronic pain, it’s usually fine to use the creams regularly, says Dr. Moroz, as part of your overall treatment plan. (For all-natural remedies to ask your doctor about, see our 8 Surprising—and Natural—Ways to Beat Pain.)
If you’re using a pain cream, here are some key tips experts recommend:
- Don’t apply the creams on damaged or irritated skin.
- Don’t cover the area with a bandage after applying the cream.
- Do use exactly as indicated in the directions—more is not better.
- Don’t use a heating pad or hot water bottle in conjunction with a pain cream.
- Do expect a warming or cooling sensation where you’ve applied the cream. Those sensations are normal; actual pain is not.
Finally, says Dr. Moroz, use common sense and listen to your body. “If something is very uncomfortable, it’s probably not good.”
photo: Photodisc/Thinkstock
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