Categories: Health

Understanding Your Prescription: How To Take Medicine Safely

Following your medication routine (or adhering to your medication regimen) entails taking your prescriptions precisely as prescribed in the given dose, at the scheduled time, in the prescribed manner, and with the prescribed regularity. Failing to take your medication as prescribed by a physician or pharmacist may progress your disease, hospitalization, or even death.

It is very essential to take your medication as prescribed or follow your drug regimen to control chronic illnesses, treat transient ailments, and maintain long-term health and well-being. 

A personal relationship with your physician or pharmacist is critical for medication adherence. However, you perform the most vital role by securely taking all your prescriptions.

What You Should Know About Your Prescription Medicines

Consult your healthcare provider before beginning treatment with a new medication. Discuss if you have allergies and any side effects you’ve experienced from other medicines, such as rashes, difficulty breathing, indigestion, headaches, or mood changes. 

Additionally, you’ll want to determine whether you’ll need to adjust or discontinue any of your existing prescription or over-the-counter medications while using this new medication. Combining some medicines might result in unpleasant and occasionally severe side effects.

As a result, it’s very important to maintain a list of every prescription and over-the-counter medication you take: print and complete the medication tracking worksheet to assist you in keeping track of your medications. 

When beginning a new drug, be sure to record the name of the medication and why it was prescribed for you. Additionally, take note of any additional instructions for safely taking the medicine. Lastly, ask if they accept prescription discount card.

How Can a Pharmacist Help You In Understanding Your Prescription?

A pharmacist can help you understand prescribed medicines. Try to fill all your prescriptions at the same pharmacy to keep track of them. This will warn the pharmacist if a new medicine interacts with anything you’re already taking.

  • Confirm that you can read and comprehend the medication’s name, as well as the guidelines on the container and the bottle’s color-coded warning labels. If the label is difficult to read, request that it be printed in a larger type from your pharmacist.
  • Inform the pharmacist if you are having difficulty swallowing tablets. Liquid medication may be available. Do not break, chew, or crush pills without confirming that the medication is still effective.
  • Inquire about particular storage guidelines for a medication. For instance, should it be refrigerated or stored in a dry place?

Taking Your Medicines Safely

Taking your medication safely and according to your health provider’s prescribed directions ensures that you are getting the most benefit from it. Here are tips to assist you in safely taking your medicines:

Follow The Instructions

Read the labels on all medications. Confirm that you are taking your medicines correctly. For instance, avoid using an OTC cough and cold syrup if you merely have a runny nose and no cough.

Right Dosage

Do not increase the dose of medicine in the mistaken belief that it would benefit you more. It can be extremely harmful, even deadly. Avoid skipping or taking half of the prescription medication to save money. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you cannot afford the medication; there may be an alternative.

Take Your Medication On The Right Schedule.

Certain individuals utilize mealtimes or bedtime as reminders to take their medication. Others make use of charts or calendars. Additionally, you can set timers and create written reminders to take your medication.

Switch On The Light.

Avoid taking a medication in the dark; otherwise, you risk making a dosage error or getting the incorrect bottle or pill. It might seem a small task to do when you are only going to drink your medicine; however, prevention is better than cure, and it is definitely better if you exercise caution.

Report If There Are Issues

Contact your doctor immediately if you have problems with your prescription medication or are concerned that it may be causing more harm than a good result. There may be another option available to you.

Check Before Stopping.

Most of the time, people taking their medication buy the prescribed drug and stop whenever they feel better, or one already feels “cured” from taking medicine. However, you should check before stopping. Continue taking the prescription medication until it runs out or your doctor indicates it is safe to stop. Also, note that some medicines are only to be taken “as needed.”

No To Sharing

Avoid taking any medications prescribed for another person or giving yours to another. The reason for doing so is opening a possibility of experiencing an allergic reaction towards the shared prescription, or worse, some severe side effects.

Better advise the person asking for your medication that they should go to the doctor to examine their overall health properly. Guessing what’s happening to their bodies while asking for the prescribed drug you have is highly not advisable when they think you both got the same symptoms or illness.

Be Extra Prepared

When traveling, ensure that you have enough medication that last the duration of your trip, plus an extra just in case your return is delayed.

Inform Your Physician About Your Alcohol, Tobacco, And Drug Usage.

Alcohol, smoke, and other drugs can all impair the effectiveness of your medications. There are several types of reactions that a patient might experience should they have the following vices while taking a prescribed drug without informing their doctor.

Thus, telling your doctor the truth about your vices and how much you use them is crucial.

Check Before Choosing

Before deciding a mealtime for your routine, check with your physician to see whether your prescription should be taken with an empty or full stomach.

Final Thoughts

It is preferable to have a positive relationship and connections with your healthcare provider, who can aid you in adequately taking prescribed medications. If you are taking your medicines according to the directions on the label, this indicates that you are taking them enough and effectively. If an unpleasant feeling or circumstance persists, visit your doctor.

Ethan

Ethan is the founder, owner, and CEO of EntrepreneursBreak, a leading online resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners. With over a decade of experience in business and entrepreneurship, Ethan is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

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