New patient safety initiative on medicines launched

30th June 2013

A new patient safety initiative focussing on medicines and dehydration has been launched by NHS Highland in a bid to let patients know about the risks dehydration can cause when taking certain medicines.
New patient information cards detailing which medicines should be temporarily stopped are being distributed to pharmacies, GP Practices and Hospitals across Highland. Staff will then give a card to every patient receiving one of the medicines listed and explain the risks to them.

Clare Morrison, Lead Pharmacist for North Highland, explained that the cards have been produced to offer advice to patients about temporarily stopping some medicines when they are ill and at risk of dehydration.

She said: “Becoming ill with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and fever is very likely to cause dehydration. What many people don’t realise is that continuing to take certain types of medicine when you are dehydrated can be quite a significant risk.

“These are medicines that some people take on a daily basis. So we have produced the cards to advise these patients when to temporarily stop taking their medicine and how long to wait before they start to take it again. It is important that people remember to start taking their medicines again once they are well.”

The types of medication included are Diuretics which can cause dehydration or make it more likely in an ill patient, ACE inhibitors which, in a dehydrated patient, could affect kidney function, and Metformin which is used by patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Dr Stewart Lambie, a kidney consultant and Scottish patient safety programme clinical lead, said: "I often see patients whose kidneys have stopped working when they have continued taking their medicines as usual after becoming ill with diarrhoea or vomiting. It would be much better for them if the specific medicines listed on this card could be stopped while they are unwell and started again when they recover.

“I think that this campaign could make a huge difference to how many patients we see coming in to hospital with kidney failure."

Mrs Morrison added: “Cards will be primarily distributed to patients through community pharmacies and dispensing practices. Our staff will also explain to patients what it means and why it is important.

“Our Pharmacists will always be available to talk to any patient who has any queries about this or their medication in general.”