After doing my medication reconciliation with my patient, I did notice a few safety concerns. These were mostly related to adverse reactions that could potentially compromise how effective the medication would be; for example, a migraine medication causing a new headache. The patient did know why he was on each medication; he was able to explain to me why he took each one and how and when each different medication should be taken. Knowing why you are taking a medication is important to ensure it is being taken correctly and safely, and it helps minimize any adverse reactions. This patient was on five medications: two of them were to treat migraines, two others were to treat hypertension, and the fifth one was to treat hypothyroidism.

This patient was on a few medications that were being taken for the same purpose. However, he explained that his migraine medications are to be taken together to minimize symptoms, and that he was prescribed two different antihypertensives to manage his blood pressure. There were a few minor medication interactions, but the patient was aware of them and explained his providers reasoning for prescribing them. Overall the patient was very knowledgable about all of his medications, and had a good organized system for how to take them. It was interesting to me how certain medications are prescribed together even when there is a chance of them interacting in a negative way. By doing this project I became much more aware of the importance of drug-drug interactions, and how important it is for the patient to have a solid understanding of how to use their medication.