MEDICINE CABINET
Prescription Meds, Side Effects, OTC Meds
Whenever a Doctor prescribes a medication for a patient, it is carefully select for the benefit to you and your medical condition. The Doctor expects you to take it to the pharmacy, and to follow the prescription instructions. Read all inserts. Drugs taken incorrectly can either be less effective or even worse. medically harmful. In order for the medicine to be effective, it must be properly prescribed by your Doctor, dispensed by your Pharmacist and ACCURATELY ADMINISERED BY YOU.
It is also important to read labels of all mediciation who take including OTC (over the counter) medicines. Those instructions will give you (1) usual purpose of the medicine (2) correct method of taking (30 Correct time to take (4) common side effects and appropriate precautions (5) drug interactions with food, alcohol, and OTC medicines and (6)special storage requirements. Have all your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy so that the pharmacist can keep a complete record of your medicines.
Do not go without medicines between refills and call for the refill two days before you need it. If you visit more than one Doctor, tell each one what medications you are taking. This should include prescription and nonprescription medicines as both can effect medicines you are taking or a new prescription the Doctor may prescribe for you.
Tell your Doctor if you have not been taking your medicine as directed. Otherwise he may conclude that the medication was not effective. Only by taking medications as prescribed can you derive any benefits from them. Most drugs have minor side effects and are usually not detrimental to your health when taken as directed and when more than one has similar side effects you seperate the times when you take them. Discuss any side effects with your Doctor.
Be careful in treating yourself with any medication you can purchase without a prescription (aspirin, laxatives, vitamins, cough medications). Again always read the directions on the folders and if you do not understand them, consult your Doctor or Pharmacist, Most OTC medications are designed to relieve symptoms and do not cure diseases. If you are taking a drug that has been prescribed by your physician always be careful in self-medicating with drugs you have purchased. Some OTC drugs can interact with rx meds and cause unpleasant reactions. Always carry a card in your wallet and have a list of all illnesses and medications in your wallet, your
purse and your car. This should include any allergies you may have.
Many medications list side effects listed as (1) this medication may cause dizziness or drowiness (2) Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machinery or do jobs that require you to be alert (3) do not take this medicine if you are taking medicines for depression, pain, heart problems, etc (4)do not drink alcohol beverage while taking this medication (5)this medicine may make some people more sensative to sunligh or sunlamp. Most side effects go away or lessen after a few weeks on a medicine but you should always be aware of them, and take care to follow directions on your drug insert. Most medications can be taken safety if you remain alert and follow directions. When more than one medicine has same side effects--spread out and sort your inserts and work out a schedule when you can take the medicine prescribed for you by your Doctor but lessen the change of serious interaction.If you need help in working out that schedule get help from a family member or love one.
It is not possible to discuss specific medicines here but you should discuss any questions with your Doctor or Pharmacist. Visit my resource page for great links to get all the information you need about medical diseases and prescription drugs. They are user friendly and free. You can find information on any disease and any prescription. Visit them and bookmark or save in your favorites so you can visit often.
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