läkemedelsjournal

Läkemedelsjournal is a term used to describe a record that documents an individual’s medication history. It typically includes current and past medicines, dosages, forms, routes of administration, and treatment duration, as well as indications, allergies, adverse drug reactions, and potential drug–drug interactions. The journal may be maintained by healthcare providers, pharmacies, or patients themselves, and is intended to support safe prescribing, treatment decisions, and coordination across care settings.

The journal is populated from multiple data sources, including prescriber orders, dispensing records from pharmacies, hospital discharge summaries, and patient-reported information. It enables medication reconciliation during transitions of care, helps clinicians avoid duplications and contraindications, and supports ongoing monitoring of therapy. Access and use are guided by professional standards and privacy regulations to protect patient information.

In Sweden and other health systems, the concept of a läkemedelsjournal is linked to broader digital health infrastructures, such as electronic health records, national medication lists, and e-prescription networks. These systems aim to present a consolidated medication history to clinicians and, in some cases, to patients via secure portals. The goal is to improve patient safety, reduce adverse drug events, and enhance treatment adherence by providing comprehensive, up-to-date information about all prescribed and dispensed medicines.

Challenges include incomplete data due to fragmented sources, inconsistencies in terminology and data quality, and interoperability gaps between different electronic systems. Ongoing policy and technical efforts seek to standardize data formats and expand coverage to strengthen medication safety and continuity of care.