Take charge of medications before errors take charge of your health

Take charge of medications before errors take charge of your health: "Often, confused patients might not even realize they've made a mistake with their medication.

'A lot of patients load their daily-reminder pill boxes,' says Jim Kloster, a pharmacist and long-term care services manager at the Medications Management Center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. 'But if they happen to miss putting their medication in the box, they can go a whole week without taking their medicine and not really know it.'

This can wreak havoc with the patient's health, he says. Untreated diabetes can lead to kidney and eye problems. People with hypertension are at particular risk because they might not perceive a difference in their health but are at increased risk of stroke if they don't take their medication. "