6 Ways to Reduce Prescription Drug Risk

When it comes to medication safety, the focus is frequently on whether patients are taking drugs as directed and -- perhaps to a lesser extent -- reducing prescription mistakes. And clinicians say many health catastrophes could be prevented if patients would consistently take medications as prescribed.

Still, another danger persists even for dutiful patients who take their medications in accordance with doctors' recommendations. Upwards of about 7 in 10 Americans take at least one medication, and tens of millions suffer side effects. Adverse drug reactions can lead to hospitalization and even death.

It's important to carefully assess the potential for harm before taking any medication, experts say, and take steps to reduce your risk from taking prescribed medications.

[See: These Medicines May Cause Bone Loss.]

Follow the seven-year drug rule. Within the first seven years after a drug is approved, it's common for safety warnings -- including the Food and Drug Administration's strongest, the "black box" warning -- to come to light, and for drugs to be withdrawn from the market because of serious safety concerns, says Dr. Michael Carome, director of the Health Research Group at consumer watchdog Public Citizen. "We advise people not to take the drug for seven years" after approval, he says, with exceptions only for actual breakthrough drugs -- or those that offer a unique breakthrough treatment compared to what's already on the market. For example, some newly approved medications treat so-called "orphan diseases," rare conditions for which limited or no treatment options exist. But even in those instances, because of the limited safety information available, Carome recommends proceeding with caution.

Consider the "number needed to treat." This statistic is essentially the number of people who take a drug before one person sees a therapeutic benefit. The website thennt.com incorporates that computation in a rating system developed by a group of physicians and quantifies the potential for benefits versus harms for certain treatments, including drug therapies, based on the latest evidence.

[See: How to Help Aging Parents Manage Medications.]

Comparison shop for safety. Pills, like cars, can be lemons. So don't assume a brand-name drug is better than a less expensive generic or a recommended drug is the better option for you in particular drug class. Bone up on the drug's safety record first. Start by going to the FDA's website to read the drug label and see reported adverse events. Check out independent analysis on drug harms; older adults should consider the American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria, which identifies medications seniors should avoid or use with caution. Last updated in 2012, experts say this remains a very useful and important list for seniors to keep in mind today when weighing drug benefits against harms. Incorporate risk comparisons in discussing drug choices and alternatives with your doctor.

If you experience a new symptom, suspect the medication first. It may seem counterintuitive -- and many doctors may be loathe to blame the drug they prescribed for how lousy you feel -- but Helen Haskell, president of the nonprofit patient safety organization Mothers Against Medical Error, says this is exactly the rule of thumb she advises following when taking a new drug. Make sure to report such symptoms, which could be side effects, right away to your doctor. If the drug is suspected for a symptom you're experiencing, ask about alternative medications.

Get a second opinion from your pharmacist. While your doctor is trained to practice medicine, pharmacists have in-depth medication knowledge that, experts say, should be tapped to get the full picture, including in regards to risks, for any medication you're prescribed.

[See: 8 Questions to Ask Your Pharmacist.]

Reduce your exposure. Particularly if you're prescribed medications by multiple specialists, talk with your primary care provider about whether it's possible to safely reduce medications you take. Carefully discuss any newly recommended medication, its necessity and alternatives (drug and non-drug) before agreeing to take it. Should you proceed, ask to be put on the lowest possible dose that's effective for treatment to reduce the risk of adverse drug reactions.

Michael Schroeder is a health editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at mschroeder@usnews.com.