08/17/2026
💊 ACCIDENTAL DOESN’T MEAN HARMLESS. Medication safety starts at home.
Accidental medication overdoses can happen more easily than many people realize. They may occur when someone forgets whether they already took a dose, combines medications containing the same active ingredient, mixes up similar-looking prescriptions, takes more medication than directed, or when a child accidentally gets into medication.
The good news is that many medication-related accidents are preventable with education, organization, and a few simple safety habits.
⚠️ NEVER TAKE MORE MEDICATION THAN PRESCRIBED.
If you feel like your medication isn’t working, your symptoms are getting worse, or you are struggling and feel like you need to take more than prescribed, do not increase your dose on your own. Contact your healthcare provider.
Taking an extra tablet, taking doses closer together, or increasing the amount of medication without medical guidance can be dangerous. Your provider can evaluate what you’re experiencing and determine whether your medication, dosage, or treatment plan needs to be adjusted.
💜 If you can’t remember whether you took your medication:
Don’t automatically take another dose. Check your medication instructions and contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider for medication-specific guidance.
💚 Pay attention to active ingredients.
Different over-the-counter cold, flu, allergy, pain, and sleep medications can contain the same active ingredient. Taking multiple products without realizing this can result in unintentionally taking too much. Always read medication labels carefully.
🧡 Keep medications secure around children.
Store prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements securely and out of children’s sight and reach. Remember that purses, nightstands, countertops, backpacks, and easily accessible pill organizers may not be safe storage locations.
🏠 Think beyond your own home.
Grandparents, relatives, babysitters, and other caregivers should also practice medication safety. A home without young children living in it may not routinely be childproofed, making safe medication storage especially important when children visit.
👵 Help older adults prevent medication mix-ups.
Multiple prescriptions, changing dosages, similar-looking bottles, and medications from different providers can become confusing. Pill organizers, an updated medication list, and regular medication reviews with healthcare professionals can help.
🚫 Never share prescription medications.
A medication prescribed for one person may be inappropriate or dangerous for someone else—even when their symptoms seem similar.
📝 Keep an updated medication list.
Include prescription medications, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements. Bring the list to healthcare appointments and make sure caregivers know where to find it.
🚨 If you suspect an accidental overdose or medication ingestion, don’t wait for symptoms to appear before seeking guidance.
☎️ Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
🚑 For severe or life-threatening symptoms—including difficulty breathing, seizures, severe confusion, or loss of consciousness—call 911 immediately.
If possible, keep the medication bottle or packaging nearby so you can provide the medication name, strength, and other important information.
At Resource Management Services, we want our community to remember:
💊 More medication does NOT mean more relief.
✅ Take medications only as prescribed.
💜 If you’re struggling, talk to your provider—not your medicine cabinet.
If you or someone you know would like safe medication management or is in need of mental health treatment, contact Resource Management Services today!
📞 Lake Charles: 337-437-4014
📞 Lafayette: 337-261-8781
💚💜 Safe medications. Stronger communities.
Together, we can help prevent accidental medication overdoses.
🌐 www.rmslouisiana.com
