7 Mistakes You're Making with Your Medications (and How to Fix Them)

Let's be honest, taking medications correctly sounds simple enough. Pop a pill, swallow some water, done. But here's the thing: medication errors are way more common than most people realize. And they can turn a treatment that's supposed to help you into something that doesn't work, or worse, something that harms you.

Whether you're managing a chronic condition, recovering from an illness, or just taking something short-term, getting your medications right matters. A lot.

The good news? Most medication mistakes are totally preventable. You just need to know what to watch out for. Here are seven common medication mistakes and exactly how to fix them.

1. Skipping Doses or Forgetting to Take Your Meds

This is the big one. Life gets busy. You're running out the door, juggling work, kids, appointments, and suddenly you realize you forgot your morning pill. Again.

Skipping doses is one of the most frequent medication mistakes out there. Sometimes it's forgetfulness. Sometimes it's because prescriptions get expensive and people try to stretch them out. Either way, it can seriously reduce how well your treatment works.

For medications that need to stay at consistent levels in your body, like blood pressure meds or antibiotics, missing doses can throw everything off.

How to fix it:

• Set phone alarms or reminders for each dose

• Use a pill organizer labeled by day and time (they're cheap and incredibly helpful)

• Set up automatic refills with your pharmacy so you never run out

• Talk to your Oak Pharmacist about getting your medications blister packaged

2. Doubling Up After a Missed Dose

Picture this: You can't remember if you took your pill this morning. So you figure, "Better safe than sorry," and take another one.

This is actually the opposite of safe. Doubling up can lead to an overdose, and with certain medications, that's seriously dangerous. Blood thinners can cause internal bleeding. Beta blockers can drop your blood pressure too low. Even common painkillers can cause damage if you take too much.

How to fix it:

• When in doubt, call your Oak Pharmacist to ask what to do!

• Mark off each dose as you take it (a simple checklist on the fridge works great)

• Consider apps that track when you've taken your medications

• If you're frequently unsure, a pill organizer or blister packing makes it obvious whether you've taken today's dose
  

3. Taking the Wrong Dosage

Wrong dosages account for about 27% of medication errors. That's a pretty significant chunk. Taking too little means your treatment might not work. Taking too much can cause harmful side effects.

Dosage mix-ups happen for lots of reasons. Maybe the doctor changed your dose and you didn't catch it. Maybe you grabbed the wrong strength from your medicine cabinet. Maybe the instructions weren't clear.

How to fix it:

• Always double-check medication labels against your prescription

• When picking up a refill, confirm the dosage with your pharmacist, especially if the pills look different

• Keep a list of all your medications and their doses in your wallet or phone

• If instructions seem confusing, ask your Oak Pharmacist to explain them in plain language

• Bring old bottles of medication in to the pharmacy for disposal, so you never accidentally grab the wrong bottle to take from.

4. Mixing Up Medications or Taking the Wrong Drug

You'd be surprised how many medications have similar names or look nearly identical. It's easy to grab the wrong bottle, especially if you're taking multiple medications.

How to fix it:

• Read the label every single time, even if you've been taking the same medication for years

• Ask your pharmacist to show you what each of your medications looks like so you can tell them apart

• Store medications that look similar in different locations

• Use a pill organizer and fill it carefully once a week, double-checking each medication as you go (or ask your Oak Pharmacist for blister packaging!)
  

5. Not Recognizing Drug Interactions

Here's something that catches a lot of people off guard: medications can interact with each other. And not in a good way.

Taking two medications that don't play well together can increase your risk of serious side effects or make one (or both) medications less effective. This doesn't just apply to prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, vitamins, and supplements can interact with your prescriptions too.

The tricky part? Your doctor might not know about everything you're taking. If you grab some ibuprofen at the drugstore or take a daily vitamin, that information might not be in your medical file.

How to fix it:

• Tell your doctor AND pharmacist about everything you take, prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, vitamins, herbal supplements, all of it

• Before starting any new medication (even something as simple as an antacid), ask your pharmacist if it's safe with your current meds

• Keep an updated medication list and bring it to every doctor's appointment

• Use one pharmacy for all your prescriptions, this makes it easier to catch potential interactions

6. Unclear Instructions or Misreading Prescriptions

"Take as directed." Okay, but directed how? With food? On an empty stomach? Morning or night? What if you miss a dose?

How to fix it:

• If anything on your prescription is unclear, ask your pharmacist to explain it

• Ask specific questions: "Should I take this with food?" "What time of day is best?" "What should I do if I miss a dose?"

• Write down the instructions in your own words so you remember them
  

7. Taking Medications at the Wrong Time

Timing matters more than you might think. Some medications work best in the morning. Others should be taken at night. Some need to be taken with food to avoid stomach upset, while others should be taken on an empty stomach for proper absorption.

Taking your medication at the wrong time won't always cause harm, but it can reduce how well it works. And for certain medications: like those for diabetes or heart conditions: timing is critical.

How to fix it:

• Ask your pharmacist when the best time to take each medication is

• Find out whether you should take it with food, water, or on an empty stomach

• Create a medication schedule that fits your daily routine

• If you take multiple medications at different times, use a chart or app to keep track

• Ask your Oak Pharmacist for blister packaging to help with the timing of your medications

Your Pharmacist Is Your Best Resource

Here's the bottom line: you don't have to figure this out alone. Your pharmacist is literally trained to help you use medications safely and effectively. That's their whole job.

At Oak Medical Arts, we're always happy to answer questions about your medications: whether you're picking up a prescription, wondering about a potential interaction, or just need someone to explain confusing instructions in plain English.

Don't be shy about asking questions. There's no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to your health.

Quick Recap: The 7 Medication Mistakes to Avoid

1. Skipping doses – Set reminders and use pill organizers

2. Doubling up – When in doubt, wait and ask your pharmacist

3. Wrong dosage – Always verify labels against your prescription

4. Wrong medication – Read labels every time and know what your pills look like

5. Drug interactions – Tell your pharmacist about everything you take

6. Unclear instructions – Ask questions until you understand

7. Wrong timing – Learn when and how to take each medication
   

Taking your medications correctly is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your health. A few small changes to your routine can make a big difference.

Got questions about your medications? Stop by Oak Medical Arts( we're here to help.)