Medications

While you are in the hospital, it is important that you talk to your care team about your medications. Some medicines combine with each other in your body and produce bad reactions. To protect you, your health care team must know about everything you take.

Tell your care team everything you are taking, including:

• prescription medications

• over-the-counter medications (like aspirin and cough medication)

• medications that a family member or friend gave you

• vitamins

• herbal products

• health food store products

During your stay, all of your prescription and non-prescription drugs (or over-the-counter medications) will be given to you by a nurse through the hospital pharmacy.

To help keep you safe with your medications, let your care team know if you have any allergies to foods or drugs or have ever had a bad reaction to any drug, food or latex product.

Ask your care team about your medications:

• what they are

• what they look like

• what they do

• what times they are taken

• what side effects you should expect or report

Make sure your patient identification is visible and accurate.

Look at all medications before you take them. Medications you take in hospital may look different from what you take at home. Talk to your pharmacist, nurse or doctor if you or your family members have any questions or concerns about your medications.

Do not take medications that you brought to the hospital from home unless your doctor or someone on your care team gives you permission. You should give your personal supply of medications to your nurse until you leave the hospital. You could also give them to your family or friends to take home for you.

Let your care team know if any medications you take produce a bad reaction or make you feel different.

Certain medications may be ordered only “as needed.” This means that you will only get them if you need them. You should ask your care team for these medications when you need them.

Examples of medications that may be given as needed are medications for:

• pain

• constipation

• nausea / vomiting (throwing up)

• sleep

If your pain medications are “as needed”, you may want to take them 30 – 60 minutes before your physiotherapy/occupational therapy appointments. This could help you stay comfortable during your session. Talk to your care team for more information.

Illegal drugs are not allowed on any hospital grounds.