If your parent or elderly patient is taking a recalled prescription drug, it’s important to respond correctly. Without proper care, your loved one could be at risk for a variety of detrimental side effects. In many cases, it’s up to a caregiver to pay attention to safety alerts so that they can monitor medication recalls.
Is there a recall on your family member’s prescription medication? Know what to do here! Click To Tweet
Protect Your Loved Ones
If a doctor has prescribed a medication to your loved one, that medication is approved by the FDA for consumption. Unfortunately, the manufacturing process can produce defects. While some might produce serious side effects, many drug recalls occur to prevent suspected problems. If your family member’s medication has been recalled, it’s important to take the right precautions nonetheless.
- Don’t let them stop taking prescription
- Contact their doctor or pharmacist
- Follow FDA’s instructions for disposal
1) Don’t let them stop taking prescription
The last thing your family member should do is stop taking their medication, even you’ve heard it has been recalled. In many cases, their rebounding health issues may cause more injury than the recall side effects. According to Harvard, stopping medication abruptly could be life-threatening. In other cases, the lot number of the affected batch may not even pertain to your specific medication. Moreover, unless their physician says otherwise, don’t let your loved ones stop taking their prescriptions.
2) Contact their doctor or pharmacist
When a drug is recalled, the FDA starts an investigation to study the drug and its manufacturing process. If your loved one’s drug is recalled, the recalling lot can be confirmed through their doctor or pharmacist. In the unfortunate case that their medication is apart of the recall, a new prescription will be substituted until their symptoms are under control.
Pro Tip: Memory loss can affect an older adult’s ability to take their medications daily. Make sure you are listed as an emergency contact for their pharmacist in the case of a recall.
3) Follow FDA’s instructions for disposal
The FDA issues drug recalls to protect the public from potentially harmful products. If you have a medication that has been recalled, don’t throw it away in your regular trash. Instead, be sure to dispose of it as instructed. Depending on the hazard, the FDA website may list disposal procedures or the medication firm will send a notice through first-class mail. Whatever the case, it’s important to dispose of any remaining medication correctly to prevent harm or injury.
Daily Living Concerns
As your loved ones age, encouraging them to take their medications and attend to their daily needs can become difficult. If they are able to move independently but still need assistance, moving into an assisted living cottage is a great advantage. With personalized care and live-in assistance, they’ll be able to retire comfortably with help within arm’s reach.
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