Medication Safety During Natural Disasters

With hurricane season beginning in June, tornado season extending through June in parts of the country, and the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe, it is more important than ever to be prepared for natural disasters. Nurses can help patients who rely on medications to be prepared for weathering such disasters by heeding the following advice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Prior to a disaster, patients should have an up-to-date list of current medications, including doses and the intended use of each drug. They should keep this information in a safe, convenient location where it can be accessed easily in case of evacuation. If there is a chance of flooding, it should be kept in a plastic ziplock bag or waterproof container. If severe weather is forecast, patients should have enough medication to last several days to two weeks. If their supply is low, they should seek an early refill; remember that the pharmacy's supply chain may be disrupted. If the medication requires refrigeration and there is a risk of losing power, patients should have ice on hand. If the medication requires reconstitution, patients should have a supply of purified or bottled water.

After a disaster, patients may need to replace any drugs that were exposed to extreme conditions-such as to high heat in a fire or impure flood or contaminated water. Some medications can become less effective if exposed to extreme heat or cold.

For more information, go to http://www.fda.gov/drugs/emergency-preparedness-drugs.

The State of the Science in Pharmacogenetics

The FDA now offers an online resource that provides the agency's view of the current science on genetic variations that may affect drug therapy. The resource includes drugs with notations in their labeling regarding gene-drug interactions as well as drugs noted in the literature to have such interactions. Data will be added as more gene-drug interactions are documented. This information is designed to help prescribers determine if it's appropriate to order a pharmacogenetic diagnostic laboratory test prior to use of a medication. Information is provided about therapeutic management recommendations, the potential impact on safety or response of the drug, and the drug's effect on pharmacokinetic properties. For more information, go to http://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/precision-medicine/table-pharmacogenetic-asso.