It probably does happen frequently, and is likely the reason the "weekly pill holder" boxes were invented!
There are too many variables to provide a definitive answer, as many individuals take more than one medication at a time, and can have several health conditions. There can be side effects and consequences from not taking the medication (withdrawal symptoms), as well as taking too much of the medication (over-dose).
The best answer is to review the information provided with your specific prescription (patient information leaflet), and/or call your pharmacist (assuming s/he has a list of all the current medications you are taking).
Drugs have different "half-lives", which basically explains how long they stay in your system. Depending on the drug, if you miss a dose (or even just take it late), the drugs with the shortest "half life" can be eliminated from the body quickly, even within hours of the missed dose. When this occurs, withdrawal symptoms can be likely (especially with certain anti-anxiety medications).
As a general precaution: if you miss a dose, do not take a double dose to make it up. Read the patient information leaflet instead, search for it online (tell us the name of the drug, and we can help you find it), or call your local pharmacist or doctor's office instead.
Remember that it is important to keep one copy of the patient information leaflet (or, you can search for it online), as most of these informational leaflets contain instructions on "missing a dose".
And...be sure to invest (and use) a weekly pill holder container!
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It probably does happen frequently, and is likely the reason the "weekly pill holder" boxes were invented!
There are too many variables to provide a definitive answer, as many individuals take more than one medication at a time, and can have several health conditions. There can be side effects and consequences from not taking the medication (withdrawal symptoms), as well as taking too much of the medication (over-dose).
The best answer is to review the information provided with your specific prescription (patient information leaflet), and/or call your pharmacist (assuming s/he has a list of all the current medications you are taking).
Drugs have different "half-lives", which basically explains how long they stay in your system. Depending on the drug, if you miss a dose (or even just take it late), the drugs with the shortest "half life" can be eliminated from the body quickly, even within hours of the missed dose. When this occurs, withdrawal symptoms can be likely (especially with certain anti-anxiety medications).
As a general precaution: if you miss a dose, do not take a double dose to make it up. Read the patient information leaflet instead, search for it online (tell us the name of the drug, and we can help you find it), or call your local pharmacist or doctor's office instead.
Remember that it is important to keep one copy of the patient information leaflet (or, you can search for it online), as most of these informational leaflets contain instructions on "missing a dose".
And...be sure to invest (and use) a weekly pill holder container!
June 21, 2009 - 2:26pmThis Comment
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