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Preventing Accidental Poisoning

By Melody L. Berg PharmD, BCPS, MPH

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 17, 2025.

Seniors and multiple medications

Older patients who take multiple medications are at increased risk for accidental poisonings. They have complex medication regimens, often involving multiple medications prescribed by several physicians, that make them vulnerable to accidental poisonings.

Older patients and their caregivers should:

Multiple medications and children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 9 of 10 accidental poisonings occur in the home. Sixty percent of accidental poisonings are children younger than age six, and close to half of poisonings in children of this age group involve misuse of medications.

Below are safety tips that every parent, caregiver, and grandparent should use to prevent accidental poisonings:

See also:

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AHFS® Patient Medication Information is used with permission. ©2025, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. (ASHP). The ASHP Data is a part of the AHFS Drug Information®️; ASHP is not responsible for the accuracy of transpositions from the original context.