Medication Safety: Simple Mistakes That Can Put Your Health at Risk

Most of us use medication at some point.

It may be a short course of antibiotics, medicine for pain, treatment for high blood pressure or diabetes, an inhaler, contraception or medication that needs to be taken every day for many years.

Because medicines are so familiar, it is easy to forget that using them incorrectly can cause real harm.

For World Pharmacists Day on 25 September, we look at some of the most common medication mistakes and the simple habits that can help you use your medicine more safely.

Medicines only work properly when they are used correctly

Medication can prevent complications, control chronic conditions, relieve symptoms and treat illness.

But even a correctly prescribed medicine can cause problems if it is:

• Taken at the wrong dose
• Taken at the wrong time
• Combined with another medicine that interacts with it
• Stopped too early
• Shared with someone else
• Taken despite an allergy
• Used after it has expired or deteriorated
• Stored incorrectly

The World Health Organization identifies unsafe medication practices and medication errors as an important cause of avoidable harm in healthcare.

Medication safety therefore does not only depend on doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

Patients have an important role too.

Mistake 1: Not knowing what your medicine is for

Many people can describe their tablets by colour or shape but do not know what they actually treat.

That can become a problem, particularly if you take several medicines.

Try to know:

• The name of each medicine
• Why you are taking it
• How much you should take
• When you should take it
• Whether it should be taken with food
• How long you need to use it
• Important side effects to watch for

If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist or healthcare professional.

There is nothing wrong with asking someone to explain it again.

Mistake 2: Taking more because you think it will work faster

More medication does not necessarily mean faster relief.

Taking more than the recommended dose can sometimes cause serious harm.

Pain medication is a common example.

A person may take one product for a headache and then another cold or flu medicine without realising that both contain the same active ingredient.

This can accidentally lead to an excessive dose.

Always check the ingredients of over-the-counter products and ask a pharmacist when you are unsure whether two medicines can safely be taken together.

Mistake 3: Stopping medicine as soon as you feel better

Feeling better does not always mean the underlying condition has disappeared.

This is particularly important with medication for chronic conditions such as:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Asthma
• HIV
• Certain mental health conditions

People with high blood pressure, for example, may feel completely well even when their blood pressure is dangerously high.

If treatment lowers the blood pressure, stopping medication because you now feel healthy may allow it to rise again.

Do not stop prescribed medication without discussing it with the healthcare professional managing your treatment.

Mistake 4: Saving antibiotics for later

Someone gets an infection, receives antibiotics and then stops taking them once they feel better.

The leftover tablets are stored in a cupboard.

Months later, they develop a cough or sore throat and start using the remaining antibiotics.

This is not a safe approach.

Antibiotics only treat certain bacterial infections.

They do not treat viral illnesses such as most colds and flu.

The antibiotic, dose and duration also depend on the type of infection being treated.

Using leftover antibiotics may delay the correct diagnosis and contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

Only use antibiotics that have been prescribed or appropriately supplied for your current illness, and follow the directions you were given.

Mistake 5: Sharing prescription medication

Someone in your family has similar symptoms, so giving them a few of your tablets may seem harmless.

But similar symptoms can have very different causes.

Prescription medicines are chosen based on factors such as:

• Age
• Weight
• Medical history
• Allergies
• Other medication
• Kidney and liver function
• Pregnancy
• The condition being treated

A medicine that is appropriate for you may be unsuitable or dangerous for someone else.

Never share prescription medication unless specifically instructed by a qualified healthcare professional.

Mistake 6: Forgetting about herbal remedies and supplements

When a healthcare professional asks what medication you take, it is important to mention everything.

That includes:

• Prescription medication
• Over-the-counter medicine
• Vitamins
• Herbal remedies
• Traditional medicines
• Dietary supplements

Natural does not automatically mean harmless.

Some herbal products and supplements can interact with prescription medicines or affect conditions such as blood pressure, diabetes and blood clotting.

For example, combining several substances that affect blood clotting could increase the risk of bleeding.

Giving your healthcare professional a complete list helps them make safer decisions.

Mistake 7: Using someone else’s sleeping tablets or pain medicine

It may be tempting to borrow medication from a friend or relative when you are struggling with pain, anxiety or sleep.

But you may not know:

• Whether the medicine interacts with something you already take
• Whether it is appropriate for your health conditions
• What dose is safe for you
• Whether it affects driving
• Whether it can cause dependence
• Whether alcohol should be avoided

Some medicines require careful monitoring.

If your symptoms are significant enough that you feel you need prescription medication, speak to a healthcare professional.

Keep an up-to-date medication list

If you use several medicines, create a list containing:

• Medicine name
• Dose
• How often you take it
• Why you take it

Include vitamins, supplements and traditional remedies.

Keep the list on your phone or in your wallet.

It can be extremely useful if you:

• See a new doctor
• Visit a hospital
• Need emergency treatment
• Collect medicine from a different pharmacy
• Develop an unexpected reaction

WHO highlights polypharmacy — the use of multiple medicines — as an important medication-safety area, particularly because the risk of interactions and errors may increase as the number of medicines grows.

Older adults may need extra care

Medication safety can become more complicated with age.

An older adult may be taking treatment for several conditions at the same time.

They may also experience:

• Changes in kidney or liver function
• Difficulty reading labels
• Memory problems
• Difficulty opening packaging
• Confusion between similar tablets

WHO identifies older people, particularly those using multiple medicines, as a group at increased risk of medication-related harm.

Families can help by organising medicines carefully, maintaining an updated medication list and checking whether the person is taking them as prescribed.

A pill organiser may be useful for some people, although medicines should only be transferred from their original packaging when it is appropriate to do so.

Be careful with medicines for children

Children are not simply smaller adults.

The correct dose of many medicines depends on age or body weight.

Never estimate a child’s dose based on what an adult takes.

When giving liquid medicine:

• Use the measuring syringe, cup or spoon provided
• Check the dose carefully
• Confirm whether the measurement is in millilitres
• Follow the recommended interval between doses

A household teaspoon is not a reliable measuring tool.

If you are uncertain about the correct dose, ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional before giving the medicine.

Store medication safely

Medicine should usually be kept:

• Out of reach of children
• Away from excessive heat
• Away from moisture
• In its original packaging
• According to the storage instructions on the label

A bathroom cabinet may seem convenient, but bathrooms can become warm and humid.

Some medicines require refrigeration while others should never be frozen.

Check the instructions if you are uncertain.

Also avoid transferring tablets into unlabelled bottles where they can easily be confused with something else.

Check expiry dates

Medicines should not simply remain in a cupboard indefinitely.

Check expiry dates periodically and remove products that are no longer suitable for use.

Do not throw unused medication somewhere where children, animals or other people could access it.

Ask a pharmacy about the safest way to dispose of unwanted or expired medicine locally.

What should you do if you miss a dose?

This depends on the medicine.

For some treatments, you may be advised to take the missed dose when you remember.

For others, you may need to skip it if the next dose is close.

What you should not automatically do is double the next dose.

Check the medication information or ask a healthcare professional or pharmacist for advice.

If you regularly forget medication, try:

• Phone alarms
• Linking medication to a daily routine
• A medication organiser
• Keeping a written schedule
• Asking a family member for support

Watch for side effects and allergic reactions

Many medications can cause side effects.

Some are mild and temporary, while others require medical attention.

Speak to a healthcare professional if you develop a new or persistent symptom after starting medication.

Seek urgent medical care if you develop symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
• Severe wheezing
• Collapse or fainting
• Rapidly worsening widespread swelling or rash

Do not take another dose of a medicine that appears to have caused a serious allergic reaction unless you have received appropriate medical advice.

Before starting a new medicine, ask questions

A pharmacist or healthcare professional can help you understand how to use medication safely.

Useful questions include:

• What is this medicine for?
• How and when should I take it?
• Should I take it with food?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• Are there medicines or supplements I should avoid?
• Can I drink alcohol while using it?
• Will it affect driving?
• Which side effects should I expect?
• Which symptoms would require urgent medical attention?
• How should I store it?

You are allowed to ask questions until you understand.

Pharmacists are an important part of your healthcare team

World Pharmacists Day recognises that pharmacists do much more than hand over medication.

They help ensure that medicines are used safely and appropriately.

Depending on the healthcare setting, pharmacists may:

• Check prescriptions
• Identify possible medicine interactions
• Explain how medication should be taken
• Help patients manage chronic medicines
• Advise on over-the-counter products
• Answer questions about side effects
• Support vaccination and prevention services

The 2026 World Pharmacists Day theme, “Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures,” highlights the contribution pharmacists make to prevention, access to care and safer healthcare systems.

Medication safety is a shared responsibility

The person prescribing your treatment needs accurate information.

The pharmacist needs to know what else you take.

And you need to understand how the medicine should be used.

Simple habits can prevent many unnecessary problems:

• Keep a medication list
• Follow dosing instructions
• Do not share prescription medicine
• Check before combining products
• Tell healthcare professionals about supplements and traditional remedies
• Do not stop chronic treatment without medical advice
• Ask when something is unclear

Medicines are valuable tools — but they need to be used correctly.

Speak to a TruMD Eswatini healthcare professional

If you have questions about medication, side effects, possible interactions or how to take your treatment correctly, TruMD Eswatini gives you convenient access to qualified healthcare professionals.

You can review your symptoms, current medicines and medical history and receive guidance on the appropriate next step.

If you experience a severe reaction, accidental overdose, significant breathing difficulty or another medical emergency, seek urgent in-person medical care.

When it comes to medication, asking one extra question is always better than making an unsafe assumption.