Understand medications during a Brookhaven stay

Best first step: Tell staff about all medications, supplements, over-the-counter products, allergies, recent side effects, missed doses, and substances used before admission.

• Brookhaven staff may review all home medications, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter products, and substances during admission.
• Patients should not take medications from home unless Brookhaven staff approves them.
• Medication changes may need provider review before they are started, stopped, adjusted, or continued.
• Tell staff right away about side effects, allergic reactions, missed doses, withdrawal concerns, or unsafe thoughts.
• Medication information may be limited by privacy rules, even for visitors or support people.
• Before discharge, ask which medications are new, changed, continued, or stopped.

• Prescription medications.
• Over-the-counter medications.
• Vitamins, supplements, and herbal products.
• Inhalers, injections, creams, patches, drops, or medical supplies.
• Medication allergies or past reactions.
• Recent medication changes, missed doses, or stopped medications.
• Alcohol, cannabis, sedatives, stimulants, or other substance use that could affect care.

Important: Do not take your own medication during a Brookhaven stay unless staff specifically approves it. This includes medications you take every day.

Item type	What may happen
Prescription medication	Reviewed by staff and usually stored if not administered through Brookhaven.
Over-the-counter medication	Reviewed before use because it may interact with other medications or symptoms.
Supplements or herbal products	May be held or reviewed because ingredients, labeling, or interactions may be unclear.
Unlabeled or unknown medication	May be held for safety review and may not be used during the stay.

• Ask what medication is being given and why.
• Ask whether the medication is new, changed, or continued from home.
• Ask about common side effects and warning signs.
• Tell staff if the dose, color, timing, or name seems different than expected.
• Tell staff if you feel too sedated, restless, confused, dizzy, or unwell after a dose.

Change type	Why it may happen
New medication	To address symptoms, safety needs, sleep, mood, anxiety, agitation, or other care goals.
Dose change	To improve response, reduce side effects, or match current clinical needs.
Stopped medication	Because of side effects, interactions, safety concerns, duplicate therapy, or a changed care plan.
Timing change	To reduce daytime sedation, improve sleep, avoid interactions, or fit the inpatient schedule.
Medication hold	Because more review is needed before continuing or restarting it.

Tell staff immediately if you have trouble breathing, swelling, chest pain, fainting, severe confusion, severe dizziness, unsafe thoughts, extreme restlessness, or symptoms that feel sudden or severe.

• Describe what you feel and when it started.
• Tell staff which medication you took, if you know.
• Tell staff whether symptoms started after a dose change.
• Ask whether the provider should review the medication.
• Ask what symptoms should be reported again if they return.

• Tell staff why you are concerned about the medication.
• Ask what the medication is for.
• Ask what may happen if a dose is missed.
• Ask whether the provider should review the medication.
• Tell staff if you vomited after taking medication.
• Tell staff if you think a medication was missed or given at the wrong time.

Important: Being listed as a visitor or emergency contact does not automatically allow someone to receive medication details, see the medication list, or make medication decisions.

1. Ask which medications are new.
2. Ask which medications changed.
3. Ask which medications should be stopped.
4. Ask which pharmacy will receive discharge prescriptions.
5. Ask when to take the next dose after leaving.
6. Ask what side effects should be reported.
7. Ask who manages refills after discharge.
8. Ask what to do if the pharmacy does not have the prescription.

Do not wait for a portal reply, provider review, or scheduled medication time if the concern affects immediate safety, severe symptoms, allergic reaction, suspected overdose, withdrawal concern, severe confusion, missed critical medication, or thoughts of self-harm or harm to others.

• If the patient is on the unit, tell the assigned nurse or nearest staff member immediately.
• If there is trouble breathing, swelling, chest pain, fainting, severe confusion, or suspected overdose, use emergency services.
• If the patient feels unsafe or has thoughts of harm, tell staff immediately.
• If the concern involves a medication that was missed or given incorrectly, tell staff right away.