Medication advice for those preparing for a hospital admission who are living with Parkinson’s

If you live with Parkinson’s, any hospital admission can be complicated by your medication regime. Wondering whether you will get your medicines on time, or not, can add to the stress. This information will help you to prepare in advance.

A range of resources and ideas, from written information to practical items to help you get your medicines on time, are available from Parkinson’s UK and elsewhere.

Things you can do in advance

Obtain a ‘Message in a Bottle’. Details of your medical history and medications are stored in a bottle in the fridge, a sticker placed on the front door will alert paramedics to look there for your info.
Use a Medic alert wristband
Obtain an IceCard: ‘In Case of Emergency’ medical and contact info stored on a card for wallet or purse, includes stickers and key fobs
Set up a smart phone app to record ID and health info for emergency workers – can be accessed without unlocking the phone, for example: Medical ID:ICE
Obtain ‘Going to Hospital when you have Parkinson’s’ which has lots of useful information
Compile medication lists, on a computer or by hand – always keep up to date, both Parkinson’s & non-Parkinson’s medicines, any medicines you can’t have together, what happens if you miss them, any issues around timings of meals
Take photos of your meds and/or prescription and store on your phone
Have 48 hrs worth of medication set aside and ready to take in – must be in original packaging (do you always take extra tablets with you when out and about in case you are delayed getting home?)
If on Apomorphine or Duodopa, collect up everything you need, including Apo-go nurse contact details
Compile Contact lists – everyone you can think of who might help if you have a problem getting medicines, including Parkinson’s Nurses, Neurologist, Neurology Dept, GP, Parkinson’s UK Help Line, Apo-go nurse.
If you live alone, or don’t have a care partner, identify someone who could bring your medicines in, if necessary. A care partner may need to stay with you to give you your medicines.
Obtain ‘Caring for your Patient with Parkinson’s’ to show to the nurses on your ward
If admission is planned, inform your Parkinson’s nurse.

Practical items to obtain to alert hospital staff that you have Parkinson’s and the time your meds are due

medication card
‘I have Parkinson’s’ badges
yellow ‘Get It On Time’ stickers to give to the nurses

These are available from Parkinson’s.org.uk

In hospital

give the doctors and nurses a list of your meds
show your medicines to your nurse so that they can check them and they will show you where they need to be stored so that they are safe and secure. Medicines must be in their original packaging and labelled correctly.
talk to the nurse in charge of the shift, or your named/key nurse about your Parkinson’s medicines and timings of your doses, especially in relation to mealtimes.
ask the nurses if they are aware of the yellow stickers, the booklet ‘Caring for your Patient with Parkinson’s’ etc
you may need to adjust your tablet times to ward routine, eg if normally take at 9am but in hospital they wake you at 7am and physio comes at 9am, you won’t be ready

What to do if you’re not getting meds on time

talk with the nurse in charge of the ward
talk with the ward pharmacist
contact your Parkinson’s nurse, or the Parkinson’s nurse for the hospital you are in
arrange for your care partner to bring in your medicines
ask to see the neurologist
contact PALS – the Trust Patient Advice & Liaison Service