Since completing my medication reconciliation on my patient, I noticed that my biggest concern was with the patient’s lack of knowledge. She did not quite understand the potential complications that could come with taking these medications together. My patient had a difficult time understanding what to do in the case of an emergency and how to see the warning signs before it happens. The patient did understand what amlodipine and loratadine were for and how they could help. She did not know what the gabapentin and the haloperidol were for. It is important for the patient to know the purpose of each medication to be an advocate for their own health. She did not have multiple medications that did the same thing, but she had a few medications that had side effects that were similar to the purpose of her other meds. Amlodipine is to decrease blood pressure and haloperidol has a side effect of hypotension. These together may cause very dangerous outcomes such as the increased risk of falls, stroke, and organ failure. The patient did not know of this potential risk factor and was made aware when we conversed. I believe this conversation really helped my patient feel more comfortable and confident with her medication list.
