Special patient groups

The following groups of people may need to be particularly careful when taking medicines:

Children

It is very important that children are given a medicine which is right for them and that they receive a dose recommended for their age. Some medicines are not recommended for use in children and adult doses of medicines could be very dangerous if given to a child, as they may be much higher than the child needs. If a child has an allergy (eg. to penicillin) be sure to remind the doctor.

Children often have several different caregivers in a single day (eg parents, teachers, babysitter and grandparents). It is important that each caregiver understands how to give the child his or her medicine safely. A diary may be helpful to keep track of what medicine has been given and what time it was given at, as younger children will not always be able to tell if they have already received their medicine.

Elderly people

As we get older, our livers and kidneys become less efficient at breaking down and getting rid of medicines and this can result in medicines building up in the body. Because of this, elderly people may require lower doses of the medicine than the normal adult dosages.Elderly people are also more likely to be taking a number of medicines at the same time and therefore care must be taken in order to avoid potentially harmful interactions with other medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to advise on the importance of any potential interactions.

Elderly people may also be more likely to forget whether they have taken their medicines and take a double dose. It is best to seek advice if this is a possibility.

There are several products available which may help to remind elderly people to take their medicines on time and keep track of what medicines they have taken. These include calendars which can be checked off, containers with sections for daily doses and bottle caps that beep when it is time to take a tablet. When people are taking several medicines, a medicine tray can be useful to help organise the medicines.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women

Expectant mothers rightly are concerned about the effects of any medicines they take can have on theirs and their baby’s well-being. While many medicines are safe to use during pregnancy, others are known to have harmful effects on the health of the baby or the mother. Medicines taken by a pregnant woman can cross the placenta and enter the baby’s bloodstream and may affect the baby’s development.

Mixing medicines

Medicines can interact with each other and cause problems so if you are taking medicines you should always mention this to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any extra medicines.

However, you can and should continue to take your prescribed medicine under the guidance of your doctor. Medicines may also have different effects at earlier and later stages of the pregnancy and your doctor may need to change your regular medicines during the course of your pregnancy. When purchasing medicines “over-the-counter” make sure that you seek the advice of your pharmacist about whether the medicine is right for you.

If you are (or think you may be) pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding, you should consult your doctor before taking any medicines, even medicines available without a prescription.