Poison Prevention: Medicine Safety

Prescription medication is medicine that can only be prescribed by licensed health care providers such as:

• Doctors
• Nurse practitioners
• Physician assistants
• Dentists

Nonprescription medication is medicine that can be bought without a prescription in supermarkets and pharmacies.

Before taking non-prescription medicine, ask your pharmacist or health care provider if it is right for you or your child.

Always read the label to find out how often to take the medicine, when to take it, and if it is for adults only.

Generic medicine is the same as the brand name version. Generics have the same active ingredients, work the same way, and meet the same safety requirements as brand name medicines.

Generics must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be sold in the United States. The only difference between generics and brand names is cost.

Herbals are products that have active ingredients from plants, such as peppermint and ginseng.

Vitamins and minerals are substances that are needed for our bodies to function, grow, and develop, such as vitamin C and calcium.

Herbals, vitamins, and minerals can affect how medicine works in your body. These can either increase or decrease the effect of the medicine and may result in side effects or the medicine may not work properly.

Always tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking herbals, vitamins, or minerals. To do this, keep a list of all the medicines that you take, such as:

• Prescription medication
• Nonprescription medication
• Herbals
• Vitamins

Although it is required for all ingredients to be labelled on most packaged food products, herbals, vitamins, and minerals are not regulated by the FDA and are not approved in the same way that medicines are. The company that makes the product is responsible for their product safety.

If you have questions about herbals, vitamins, and minerals products, call the NYC Poison Center at 212-POISONS (212-764-7667).

• Turn on the lights and wear glasses when taking or giving medicine to be sure there are no confusions.
• Take only what is prescribed. Do not cut pills or take more than your provider instructed. You also should not share medicine or use medicine that was prescribed to someone else.
• Do not take two medicines with the same active ingredient.
• Call your provider right away if there is a reaction to a medicine.
• Use a pill box to divide medicines into daily and weekly doses.
• Use a calendar to write down when a medicine was started and when refills are needed.
• Throw out expired and unused medicine safely.
• Know the side effects. Be aware that some medications, on their own or paired with others, can cause dizziness or drowsiness. These medications can make unintentional poisonings or falls more likely.

• Only give children medicines that are intended for them. Children react differently to medicines than adults.
• Give the right dose. Use the dropper, syringe, or cup that comes with the medicine to ensure they get the right dose. Never use a kitchen spoon to measure medicine. For nonprescription medicines, check the label to find the right dose to give your child based on their weight.
• Do not call medicine “candy”. Children need to know the difference.
• Keep medicines in a locked cabinet. Never keep vitamins and medicines on the kitchen table.
• Use child-resistant containers. Be sure the bottle is closed properly.
• Teach children not to take medicine they receive from anyone who is not a trusted adult.
• For older children and teens, talk to them about medicine safety and proper storage.

For more information about medicine risks and side effects, or in case of a poisoning, call the NYC Poison Center at 212-POISONS (212-764-7667).