When changing the form of a medication, what procedure must you follow?

When changing the form of a medication, the correct procedure involves discontinuing the current medication and placing a new order. This is crucial because different forms of medication may have varying pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics—essentially, how the body metabolizes and responds to the medication can change based on its formulation (e.g., switching from a tablet to a liquid form).

Discontinuing the existing medication ensures that the patient is not inadvertently given two forms of the same drug simultaneously, which could lead to overdosing or inconsistencies in therapeutic effects. Placing a new order allows for the prescribing of the new medication form with the correct dosage and administration route, ensuring safe and effective treatment.

While informing the patient about the change and adjusting the dosage are important components of medication management, the critical procedural step is to formally discontinue the old medication and implement a new prescription to maintain clarity and safety in the patient's treatment regimen. Refreshing the patient's records is essential as well but is part of the larger process following the formal orders.