4 Easy Ways To Minimize Adverse Drug Interactions

If you are being treated for a rheumatic condition, you know well the difficulties of managing medications for the disease, pain, and side effects. Patients with rheumatic conditions, specifically rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are treated on average with five medications in addition to their biologic therapy and up to 25. Seven percent of patients were prescribed more than 10 medications, though only two or three of those therapeutics directly treat RA. 

Polypharmacy, or the simultaneous use of multiple medications by a patient, is becoming more and more common in patients with rheumatic conditions, particularly as disease onset most likely occurs in older patients who are more likely being treated for other conditions. While polypharmacy isn’t related to RA activity or functional disability, managing multiple prescriptions and complex dosage schedules introduces the risk that RA medications are not being taken as directed and - worse, that patients may experience adverse drug reactions that arise from the use of multiple medications at once.

Shockingly, adverse drug reactions are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. There is a 58% chance a patient that is taking 5 or more drugs will experience an adverse drug event, but there are several steps you can take to reduce - if not eliminate - the risk of taking multiple medications for multiple conditions simultaneously. 

Review your medications annually with your primary care physician.

Ask your PCP to take responsibility for reviewing and coordinating your medications across your specialty providers so one person is dedicated to regularly reviewing your medication list to identify potential drug interactions and unnecessary medications. Be sure to include any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. 

Maintain an updated medication list and fill your prescriptions at one pharmacy. 

Make a medication list to keep in your wallet and select one pharmacy to fill them. This will not only make prescription refills easier and keep your medications in one place, the pharmacist will be able to evaluate your risk of experiencing any side effects and work with your PCP to avoid potential problems. Make sure the pharmacist is also aware of any infusion therapies and medications you receive from compound or specialty pharmacies. 

Understand - and verify - what you are taking. 

Confirm the exact dose and timing of each medication with your pharmacist. Ask your pharmacist and your provider to give you thorough information about each drug you are being prescribed, including its purpose, dosage, and potential side effects. Keep medication information on hand and verify your information with your pharmacist each time you fill or start a new prescription to keep you on track.

Make a medication calendar and use timers and pill organizers to stay on track. 

Place your daily medication routine on a calendar or chart and update your schedule each time your medicine changes. By keeping the chart - and a weekly or daily pill organizer in an obvious place - you will be more likely to stay on schedule. Use a timer on your phone, watch, or set an alarm to alert you when it’s time to take the next medication.