Toolkit

Medication self-management An individual’s ability to manage the symptoms, side effects, treatment, and physical and social consequences of taking medications. focuses on having the knowledge, confidence, and skills to deal with taking or not taking medications in everyday life. There are three key areas of medication self-management An individual’s ability to manage the symptoms, side effects, treatment, and physical and social consequences of taking medications. : medical, emotional, and role management. 

• Medical management includes tasks like taking medications, managing secondary conditions A mental or physical health condition that occurs because of a primary health condition. , and identifying and dealing with side effects Unwanted or unexpected reactions to a medication or treatment. .  
• Emotional management includes dealing with different emotions or feelings that are associated with taking and managing medications.  
• Role management includes maintaining, changing, or creating new behaviours for managing medications to help ease engagement in day-to-day activities. 

For more information on medication-self management visit Module 1 – Background information about Medication Self-Management.

One way to learn about your medications is by communicating with your healthcare providers. Some information that is important to know and you can learn includes:  

• Medication’s name 
• Purpose (what it is for) 
• Dose and duration of use 
• What it looks like 
• When it should be taken  
• Expected outcome 
• What to watch for (e.g., side effects Unwanted or unexpected reactions to a medication or treatment. )

Visit Module 2 – Being aware of your medications to learn more.

Following SCI/D Spinal cord injury or dysfunction. , medications are common. While everyone’s medication regimen will be different, we have included a list of medications most commonly used by individuals with SCI/D Spinal cord injury or dysfunction. . 

• Antibiotics Class of medications used to treat bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting bacterial growth.   – Learn more in Module 2 – Antibiotic Use and Misuse
• Antidepressants Class of medication used to treat depression and other mood disorders.  
• Benzodiazepines Class of drugs that slow down activity in the brain and nervous system. Can be used to treat anxiety, depression, seizures or sleep disorders.  
• Laxatives A class of medications taken to loosen stool to produce a bowel movement and relieve constipation.  
• Muscle relaxants Class of medications used to help loosen tight muscles in the body. They can be used to treat muscle spasms or certain types of muscle pain.  
• Opioids Class of pain-relieving medication that work by blocking pain signals in the brain. Examples include drugs like morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl. (narcotics analgesics)  – Learn more in Module 7 – Accessing prescribed narcotics

Visit Module 6 to learn about safety considerations of commonly used medications.

People can experience more than one type of pain after spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D Spinal cord injury or dysfunction. ). There are three categories of pain following SCI/D Spinal cord injury or dysfunction. : (1) nociceptive pain A type of pain that is caused by tissue damage or injury like pain from a paper cut or a broken bone. ; (2) neuropathic pain A type of pain caused by nerve damage or dysfunction. It can feel like burning, tingling, or shooting sensations and is often chronic (long-lasting). ; and (3) other pain. 

Management of Nociceptive Pain:  

Nociceptive pain A type of pain that is caused by tissue damage or injury like pain from a paper cut or a broken bone. is often managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cannabinoids, opioids Class of pain-relieving medication that work by blocking pain signals in the brain. Examples include drugs like morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl. , and botulinum toxin (if the pain is associated with spasticity Condition in which muscles become stiff, tight, and difficult to control. ).  

Management of Neuropathic Pain: 

First-line treatments for the management of neuropathic pain A type of pain caused by nerve damage or dysfunction. It can feel like burning, tingling, or shooting sensations and is often chronic (long-lasting). include pregabalin (Lyrica), gabapentin (Neurontin), and amitriptyline (Elavil). After these first-line treatments, there are second, third, and fourth-line treatments that can be used in any order (do not have to go in order from second to fourth).  

Second-line treatments for the management of neuropathic pain A type of pain caused by nerve damage or dysfunction. It can feel like burning, tingling, or shooting sensations and is often chronic (long-lasting). include oxcarbazepine, tramadol, and lamotrigine. 

Third-line treatments for the management of neuropathic pain A type of pain caused by nerve damage or dysfunction. It can feel like burning, tingling, or shooting sensations and is often chronic (long-lasting). include botulinum toxin A, transcranial direct current stimulation, combined visual illusion, and transcranial direct current stimulation. 

Fourth-line treatments for the management of neuropathic pain A type of pain caused by nerve damage or dysfunction. It can feel like burning, tingling, or shooting sensations and is often chronic (long-lasting). include cannabinoids, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, oxycodone, and a dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) procedure. 

For more information, visit Module 2 – Pain and Pain Management.

It is possible for both accidental and emergency situations to occur when taking medications, such as missing a dose, taking an extra dose, or experiencing an overdose Taking a drug (or a mixture of drugs) in quantities that are much greater than are recommended. Symptoms of an overdose can be fatal or life threatening. or withdrawal A set of symptoms that occurs when someone stops using a drug or medication that they’ve become dependent on. Physical symptoms include sweating, nausea and shaking. Emotional symptoms include anxiety and irritability. .

We have outlined a list of steps in Module 6 – Accidental or emergency situations on what to do if you experience any of these situations.

There are many ways to connect with healthcare providers including:  

• In-person appointments 
• Virtually using video-based platforms (e.g. Zoom, Webex, and Microsoft Teams) 
• Telephone 
• Email

If you would like your healthcare provider to share some of your medical information with you, there may be additional options, including online patient portals or printouts.  

When thinking about what type of appointment is best for you, you may want to consider: 

• What you need from the appointment (e.g. questions answered, medication change, medication renewal When you need your medications prescribed again by your doctor to you can keep taking your medications as needed. , etc.) 
• If you have a preferred type of appointment (e.g. in-person, phone, virtual) 
• If the virtual platform is accessible and free for you to use 

Still unsure? Ask your healthcare provider about what type of appointment they would recommend based on your needs. 

For a list of common questions to ask your healthcare provider, visit Module 4 – Common questions to ask healthcare providers.

The content in this toolkit A collection of adaptable documents to inform change and increase the use of evidence-based interventions. is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your medications.