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Y2K and your Prescriptions

© Michelle Struik

I don't subscribe to the belief that when it turns midnight this upcoming New Years Eve the world as we know it is going to end, nor are the people going to rise up and create havoc and mayhem. However, I do see an area of our lives that could possibly be affected by the all too well known Y2K bug.

Many of us rely on medications that if we ran out at an awkward time, it could have some serious repercussions. Such medications could be insulin, anti-rejection drugs, high blood pressure medications, painkillers. The reality is that the majority of drug manufacturers rely heavily on robot operations that are controlled by computers. Many of these companies I'm sure have checked to see if they are ready for the year 2000 - after all, their livelihood depends on it. But it can still be possible that their manufacturing lines could be disrupted briefly if they ran into any unforeseen Y2K situations.

Many hospitals and drug stores are planning for such a possibility by stockpiling an extra few months of medications in their cupboards. Now is the time to check with your local druggist to see if they are making similar plans. If they don't have the financial or storage room available to make these accommodations then maybe you should be taking steps yourself to stockpile an extra month of your prescriptions. Better safe than sorry.

Another area of concern to those of us who require daily medications for specific medical concerns would be the possibility that the computers at your favorite drug store might decide to take a Y2K vacation at the beginning of next January. Once again most pharmacies are doing everything they can to ensure that their computer systems will work next January 1st but if there are glitches it may not be possible for you to get a prescription filled.

It's time to get prepared for any of these possibilities. Speak to your doctor and your druggist about additional medications for a one-month backup supply. Then if there are Y2K problems when the next millennium hits you'll have the time for the system to work them out. You don't want to end up at emergency department with all those other patients who didn't prepare, and the hospital may also have a few computer glitches of their own!

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