There are many reasons this can happen.
You may not know your medications and guess at them or leave some out or not make it clear that a medication was discontinued. You may be too sick and disoriented to notice that a medication is or is not being given. You may assume a medication is not being given due to a doctor's order.
Your doctor might not have renewed your meds or wrote the order for them so sloppily that they were misinterpreted by the secretary or nurse or pharmacist. The pharmacist or nurse is supposed to call and clarify medications with the doctor but it's not always so simple. Some medications have very similar names but very different uses. That is why JCAHO has implemented guidelines to follow including repeat backs of verbal or over-the-phone orders in just the past year. While it would be ideal for all doctors to enter medication orders in a computer system that is not always possible. But I think that is the wave of the future. We will see.
You should visualise your medications and ask what they are. If they are unfamiliar to you due to such things as formulary switches (to be explained elsewhere) ask to see the overwraps that the medications come in. Actually, packaging should not be removed from medications in most cases until they are in your room.
If the medications don't sound familiar or you are unsure why you are receiving a different dose or medication than you were at home don't be afraid to ask. It is certainly possible that a mistake has been made and it never hurts to ask. It is also possible that your doctor is trying you out on different medication while you are in the hospital and it is important to know that.
Make sure your nurse checks your arm band before giving you medications and don't be surprised if she asks you your name at the same time. It isn't a bad idea at all.
Are you allergic to any kinds of medications or topicals? Make sure you get an allergy band and when trying new medications make sure to repeat the allergies in case there is a cross-sensitivity possible.
I want you to take an active role in your health care. If you don't care, why should anyone else?
