What Medication Will Pull You Out Of Service

Medicines aid u.s. live longer and healthier. Only, taking them the wrong mode or mixing certain drugs tin be dangerous. You need to be conscientious to go along track of your medicines and employ them safely.

What Are Medicines? What Are Drugs?

Medicines, often referred to as drugs, can exist: older woman at a pharmacy with pharmacist behind her

Prescriptions. What y'all can become only with a doc'south lodge (for case, pills to lower your cholesterol or an asthma inhaler)
Over-the-counter pills, liquids, or creams. What you buy without a prescription (for example, pills for headaches or chew tablets for heartburn)
Vitamins, eye drops, or dietary supplements.

Make sure your md knows about ALL the medicines y'all take. This includes those prescribed by other doctors, also as vitamins, supplements, herbal remedies, and over-the-counter drugs y'all use every at present and then.

What You Need to Know Virtually Your Medicines

Talk with your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider before starting a new medicine. Go over your allergies and any bug y'all have had with other medicines, such every bit rashes, trouble breathing, indigestion, dizziness, or mood changes.

You will likewise want to notice out whether you'll need to change or stop taking any of your other prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs while using this new medicine. Mixing some drugs tin can cause unpleasant and sometimes serious problems. For instance, it is dangerous to employ aspirin when taking a claret-thinning medicine.

Because of this, it is important to keep a list of all prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies yous take. Impress and fill out the Tracking Your Medications: Worksheet to aid you go along track of your medications.

When starting a new medication, make certain to write down the proper noun of the drug and why it's being prescribed for you. Too, make note of any special instructions for how to have the medicine.

How Can a Chemist Help?

A pharmacist tin respond many of your questions about prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. Try to have all your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy and so your records are in ane place. This volition help alert the pharmacist if a new drug might crusade a trouble with something else yous are taking. If you're not able to use simply one pharmacy, prove the chemist at each pharmacy your list of medicines and over-the-counter drugs when you drib off your prescription.

When you have a prescription filled:

Tell the pharmacist if you take trouble swallowing pills. There may be liquid medicine bachelor. Do not chew, break, or crush tablets without first finding out if the drug will still work.
Make sure you tin read and empathize the name of the medicine as well as the directions on the container and on the color-coded warning stickers on the bottle. If the label is difficult to read, ask your pharmacist to use larger blazon.
Bank check that y'all can open the container. If not, enquire the pharmacist to put your medicines in bottles that are easier to open.
Enquire well-nigh special instructions on where to store a medicine. For example, should it be kept in the refrigerator or in a dry identify?
Check the characterization on your medicine before leaving the pharmacy. Information technology should have your proper noun on it and the directions given past your doc. If it doesn't, don't take information technology, and talk with the pharmacist.

Bank check the characterization to ensure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. Brand sure your doctor and pharmacist have an upwardly-to-appointment list of your allergies then they don't give y'all a medicine that contains something you lot are allergic to.

Acquire how to read a prescription label in the costless booklet Safe Utilize of Medicines: Accept Your Medicines the Right Way—Each Mean solar day!

Talk with your doctor or chemist if you take questions about the written information that comes with your prescription.

Side Effects

Unwanted or unexpected symptoms or feelings that occur when yous have medicine are chosen side furnishings. Side effects tin can be relatively minor, such as a headache or a dry out oral cavity. They tin can as well be life-threatening, such every bit severe bleeding or irreversible damage to the liver or kidneys. Medications' side effects too tin can affect your driving.

If you experience side effects, write them down then you can study them to your doctor accurately. Phone call your medico right abroad if yous have any issues with your medicines or if you are worried that the medicine might be doing more impairment than adept. He or she may be able to change your medication to another that volition work just too.

Keeping Track of Your Medicines

Here are some tips to help y'all keep runway of all your medicines:

Make a list. Write down all medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements. The list should include the name of each medicine, amount you take, and fourth dimension(southward) you have it. If information technology'south a prescription, also notation the doctor who prescribed it and reason it was prescribed. Testify the listing to all of your healthcare providers, including physical therapists and dentists. Go along one re-create in a safe identify at dwelling and one in your wallet or bag.
Create a file. Save all the written information that comes with your medicines and keep it somewhere you can easily refer to it.
Bank check expiration dates on bottles. If a medicine is past its expiration date, you may be able to dispose of it at your pharmacy, or, check with your medico about how to safely discard it. Your doctor can also tell you if y'all will need a refill.
Keep medicines out of reach of immature children. Avert taking medicines in front of them, as they might endeavour to copy you. Besides, if your medicines are kept in bottles without kid rubber caps because they are hard to open up, exist extra careful well-nigh where you lot store medicines.

Taking Medicines Safely

Here are some tips to help you take your medicines safely:

Follow instructions. Read all medicine labels. Make sure to accept your medicines the right fashion. For instance, don't apply an over-the-counter coughing and cold syrup if you only have a runny nose and no coughing.
Utilise the right amount. Don't have a larger dose of a medicine thinking it volition aid you more. Information technology can exist very dangerous, even deadly. And, don't skip or take half doses of a prescription drug to save money. (Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if yous can't afford the medicine. There may be help. Read Saving Money on Medicines for more than information.)
Accept medicine on fourth dimension. Some people use meals or bedtime as reminders to accept their medicine. Other people use charts, calendars, or weekly pill boxes. You tin can likewise set timers and write reminders to take your medication.
Turn on a light. Don't take medicine in the dark; otherwise, yous might brand a mistake.
Report bug. Call your dr. right away if you have any trouble with your prescription or over-the-counter medicine, or if yous are worried that information technology might be doing more harm than good. There may be something else y'all can take.
Tell your dr. about alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can affect how well your medicines work. Be honest with your md nearly how much yous use.
Check before stopping. Accept prescription medicine until it'south finished or until your doctor says information technology'due south all right to terminate. Notation that some medicines are supposed to be taken but "as needed."
Don't share. Do not take medicines prescribed for some other person or requite yours to someone else.

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For More Information Nearly Using Medicines Safely

This content is provided by the NIH National Constitute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.

Content reviewed: June 26, 2019