Check your pill bottles BEFORE you leave the pharmacy counter.īefore you leave the pharmacy, open your pill bottle and see if it looks the same. In the above study, some patients stopped their heart medications, which can be life-threatening or even fatal. It is important you DO NOT STOP taking your pills without a doctor’s okay. Why? Because many medications only last in your system for a short while, and stopping the medications abruptly may worsen your medical condition or cause serious side effects. You should NOT stop your medication without advice from your healthcare provider. Although the study cannot prove that the pill changes led to noncompliance, the association seems to be strong.Ģ.The experts reported that when a heart medication changed in color, patients were 34 percent more likely to stop their medication if the pill shape changed, the odds of stopping it skyrocketed to 66 percent.During the study, 29 percent of patients saw a change in pill color or shape, and those who saw a change were more likely to skip their meds than those who had no change.1 All participants received a generic version of at least one heart medication such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II-receptor blockers or statins. In a study published in the respected medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine researchers looked at the medical records of over 11,500 Americans hospitalized for a heart attack. To save you money, the pharmacist might automatically switch your medicine to a generic when it becomes available. When a drug becomes available as a generic option, the manufacturer can change the color, shape or imprints from the original pill or capsule. Generic medication shapes and colors change frequently. What are the top 5 things you need to know to be sure you are getting the right medication? 1. Pharmacists and doctors are meticulous in prescribing and dispensing the correct medication, but mistakes can happen. Last month’s round, white pills embossed with “3972V” are now pink, round, and display imprint “Lupin 10”.Įven though most of us realize that the pharmacy has replaced last month’s generic pill with this month’s generic pill (probably due to a cheaper wholesale price), it still leaves us concerned. Last updated on Nov 24, 2023.Ĭhange is good, but not necessarily at the pharmacy.Įvery month millions of Americans pick up their prescription at the pharmacy, only to discover that their pill looks different than the month before. Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD.
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