Identifying medications is important for two reasons: the first is to be able to track medications and take them on time, and the second is to make sure you don’t accidentally overdose. Fortunately, you can use a number of tools and apps to help you do just that. Some of them even have built-in medication identifiers.
Prevalence of medication identification by name
Prevalence of medication identification by name may be an indicator of blood pressure control and health outcomes. When patients fail to identify their medications, they are at risk for adverse drug events and hospitalization.
Researchers analyzed the association between patients’ self-reported regimen adherence and their ability to identify medications. They found that individuals who could not recognize their medicines were more likely to report poorer adherence than those who could.
Participants were recruited from NorTex, a network of primary care clinics in North Texas. The average age of the participants was 60 years old. Sixty-eight percent of participants were female. Of those participants, 26% had three or more chronic conditions. Approximately 15% were unable to recognize their medications by any means.
Participants were asked to identify the medication bottle by name and visual characteristics. Their answers were documented and used to refine medication label symbols.
Participants were reimbursed $30 for their time. The study was conducted in two phases. First, patients were approached in the waiting room of the family medicine clinic. Second, a pre-post test was conducted.
Patients were grouped into three categories based on their antihypertensive regimen. In each group, participants were asked to name all medications. Afterward, they were asked to determine whether each bottle matched the prescribed indication. This procedure was repeated from two feet away. During this period, 98 participants correctly identified counterfeit medications.
Results showed that patients’ ability to accurately identify counterfeit drugs was better in older adults. It was also higher in Asian participants. Furthermore, participants who reported counterfeit drugs to authorities had a higher counterfeit medication identification rate.
These findings suggest that small improvements in medication identification can help reduce adverse drug events and improve medical outcomes. Therefore, a strong emphasis on improving medication understanding and comprehension should be implemented.
Relationship between self-reported regimen recognition and inability to identify medications
A recent study investigated the relationship between self-reported regimen recognition and inability to identify medications. The authors found that people who did not understand their medication regimens were more likely to report poor adherence. These findings are not surprising given that many patients struggle to correctly dose prescribed medicines.
To test whether the connection between inability to identify medications and regimen recognition was more than coincidental, researchers collected information from 417 African American men and women 65 and older. They were asked to name a variety of drugs, including those prescribed for hypertension. More than half of the sample were taking zero to four prescriptions. Participants were then assigned to one of three classes based on their familiarity with their antihypertensive medications. In addition, the authors examined factors correlated with adherence to medication regimens, including polypharmacy and co-payments.
While the study was small, it did find that participants tended to have a more complex regimen. In fact, the average participant took 5.7 prescriptions. Some of the reasons for this include generic prescriptions, which can have more than a dozen names.
Another factor is memory deficits. Eight percent of the sample reported forgetting at least one of their medications within the past three days. This is not an ideal scenario, since patients who forget to take their medications are at risk for experiencing negative outcomes such as uncontrolled blood pressure.
Although this study was small, it did show that people who understand their medication regimens are at a lower risk for hospitalization. It also revealed that the best way to improve adherence is to engage in intensive efforts to improve the patient’s comprehension of their medication regimens.
Relationship between self-reported regimen recognition and blood pressure control
When it comes to self-reported medication regimen recognition and blood pressure control, it’s not as cut and dry as one might think. For example, studies that utilized objective measures of medication adherence reported higher nonadherence rates. However, studies relying on self-report found lower nonadherence rates.
The SPRINT trial compared the relationship between a few important variables, including medication adherence, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and the number of medications taken concurrently. Results were measured at baseline and at the end of the trial. Among the most interesting findings were a decrease in the disparity in hypertension control between Black and White patients. This may be related to the fact that better adherence and blood pressure control were associated with a reduced risk of CVD-related events.
A randomized controlled trial involving 48 612 patients with ICD-9 codes for hypertension and coronary artery disease examined the relationship between adherence and the number of drugs taken concurrently. Compared with patients without hypertension, participants taking the most medication had better SBP control, although not by much. In addition, participants with a heart attack had better BP control than those with no history of such an event.
Using the same method of analysis, the authors found that the most important factor in controlling high blood pressure was not necessarily adherence, but rather lifestyle modifications. Among the participants, high blood pressure control was more common among men, those with more education, and those with better adherence. Moreover, the highest adherence rates were in those who had the most blood pressure lowering medications.
Overall, this was a small study that found no real effect of adherence on the most important factor in controlling hypertension: systolic blood pressure. Still, adherence was a notable contributor to the number of medical expenditures associated with CVD.
Problems with pill identifiers
Pill identifiers can come in handy if you happen to be in the unfortunate position of having to take a pill that you cannot identify. Unfortunately, there is a plethora of counterfeit drugs out there. These products are often indistinguishable from the real deal. For example, fentanyl pills are popping up all over the US. It’s important to remember that a prescription medication should never be tampered with. If you’re in doubt, seek the advice of a professional.
Pill identifiers of all shapes and sizes are not all created equal. A classic round or oblong pill is the gold standard, but there are variations on the pill theme. Luckily, there are sites that will do the heavy lifting for you. Some require just a photo of your pill, while others will require a picture of your prescription. The results will be delivered via a slick online interface. You can even try your luck and ask your pharmacist to do the same for you. As with any online transaction, be prepared to pay for your services.
There are many more complicated identifiers out there, but the pill identifier is the most common and effective. Using a service like this can save you time and headaches in the long run. And the best part is that you won’t have to be an expert in the field. Most of the aforementioned systems use state-of-the-art, AI algorithms to perform the task. This makes it easy to test the best possible candidates for your specific requirements. In the end, it’s all about knowing what you’re looking for. Fortunately, most of the sites are approved by the FDA, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.
Apps to identify medications
Apps to identify medications are useful for those who take multiple medicines or those who are elderly. While they may not be able to tell you if a pill is counterfeit, they can at least tell you whether it is the correct dose.
There are 25 different apps available to help you identify medicines. These include those which can detect the color, shape and imprint of pills. Depending on the app, you can also use it to identify the dosage, side effects and drug interactions. However, you should consult your doctor before making any medical decisions.
A good app should also be easy to use. Some apps make you do a lot of work, while others require minimal input. It may be worthwhile to try several before you find one that works for you.
Luckily, many apps are customizable. You can set them up to send you reminders at certain times of the day. This allows you to choose when you’re most likely to remember to take your medicine. Other apps are designed to do more than just send you reminders.
Most of these apps are designed to assist people with a specific problem. For example, the Prescription Pill Identifier can identify most prescriptions correctly.
However, it has a clunky layout. In addition, the app requires users to repeat the process for each medication. If you’re taking medications for a large family, you might want to consider a premium version.
Another app, TruMedicines, combines image recognition and speech. Using cloud-based image recognition, the app identifies and displays the details of a pill in 52 languages. Patients can read the information aloud, or have it read back to them.
