Five Tips For Keeping Your Medications Safe

Chronic pain brings many challenges to life.  One of the modalities we use to help keep our pain at bay, are medications.

Many times, the medications prescribed for chronic pain are controlled.  Having this type of medication in your home calls for some security measures, to keep your medications safe, and to keep the people around your home safe also.
   
1. Keep your medications in a safe, private, and preferably locked area.
This can be an actual safe, a locked drawer, or a room with a locked door.  This method will keep both your meds and others safe.  **Especially small children who may mistake your prescription medications for candy. 


2. Do not assume others will not look for your meds, so keep your medication spot to yourself.
It is very disheartening to realize that even 'friends' can be interested in your medications to catch a buzz, and when any addiction is guiding a person, loyalty is out the door.  They don't care if that will make you short, and therefore face days without the pills that they stole.  Addiction has a mind of its own!  


3. Stay aware of the amounts in each bottle.
It is easy for others to take just a few here and there, especially from a new prescription, and this is hard to notice in a full, freshly picked up bottle.  Counting your meds can be tedious and boring, but it will not only alert you to the fact someone is taking them behind your back, but also counting your meds allows you to stay on track and be aware where you stand as far as refills go.    

4. Always be aware of talking about the medications you take.
When in public, especially at the Pharmacy, keep your private information just that--Private!
You wouldn't stand at the pharmacy counter and talk loudly for people to overhear about your latest yeast infection, for instance, right?  Your medications are your private medical business, they need to stay that way.  There have been attacks and robberies targeted on patients picking up their controlled medications.  One person stays near the pharmacy counter and listens for people to talk about, or confirm a medication with the Pharmacist, then passes that information on to a person on the outside, who waits for the patient to come outside with the meds in a bag, and subsequently robs them. 

5.  Keep a copy of all pharmacy receipts with you in your car; and while traveling. This is the medication information sheet that accompany the medications when you pick them up.  They have all the prescribing information on them, i.e.: Medication name, dosage, directions, and quantity.  If you keep this in your car, and are pulled over for any reason, you have the proof that the medications you have with you, truly belong to you.  Keep these sheets with your important car information, like your registration, and this way you have them easily at hand.  You do not need to offer these just because you are pulled over, unless there is a question of if any medications with you are yours or not.

Your medications are a personal and private part of your health care!  They are not for everyone to know about.  If you follow these simple tips, your medications and others around you will be much safer.

Gentle Hugs.......

Shauna 


*I am aware that this list can go on and on, and there has been a lot of discussion and interest in the subject of the legality of carrying medications with you in the original bottles, or, in a daily pill reminder/carrier.  I wrote a post on this subject years ago, and will be re-posting this along with some updated information on the legal ramifications of not carrying meds in their original bottles.

KEEP YOU AND YOUR MEDICATIONS SAFE!!