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Control Your Health : Know Your Medications
When used wisely, medications can help people live longer, healthier and more
independent lives. When used inappropriately, medications can have harmful
and even fatal effects. Your doctors and pharmacists work to ensure that the
medications you take are right for you. However, the outcome depends largely
on you. By taking an active role in your own care, you can maximize the
benefits and minimize the risks.
Ask the right questions
You should never hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist questions about
your medications. In fact, most doctors and pharmacists are glad when
patients ask good questions. Our goal is to provide you with some suggested
questions that can greatly improve your understanding of your medications.
It’s a good idea to ask your doctor or pharmacist these questions whenever
a new medication is prescribed. You may want to review your current
medications and see if you can answer the questions for them as well.
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What is the name of this medication?
Knowing the names of your medications will
help you communicate with your health care
professionals.
- Most medications have two names, a brand name and a generic name. For example, Tylenol® is the brand name for the generic called acetaminophen.
- It may help to keep a written list of your medications. The list should contain medication name, directions for use, and the reason it has been prescribed. A complete and current medication list will come in handy during office visits, at the pharmacy, in case of an emergency, or when a new doctor needs to see you.
Why am I taking this medication?
Sometimes it may be obvious why you’re taking a particular medication. For
example, your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic if you have a bacterial
infection. The goal is to treat the infection and get you well as soon as possible.
However, sometimes the reason for taking a medication may be less clear,
especially if you don’t have any symptoms. For example, your doctor may
prescribe a medication for high blood pressure. While it may not make any
difference in how you feel on a day-to-day basis, lowering your blood pressure
could help prevent a stroke or other health problems later in life. Understanding the purpose of all of your medications helps you to know what to
expect from them.
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How and when do I take this medication?
Every medication has specific guidelines for its
use, which your doctor or pharmacist should
explain to you, and will also be printed on the
label of your prescription bottle.
- It’s very important to follow instructions
exactly. For example, certain medications
should be taken at a specific time of day, with
or without food, or only as needed.
- If you take your medication incorrectly, you
may not receive the full benefit of the therapy and could experience harmful
side effects.
- Always check with your doctor before stopping or changing the way you take
any medication.
- Be honest with your doctor if you have concerns about any medication or the
way it was prescribed.
How long will I take this medication?
It’s a good idea to establish this with your doctor whenever you start a new
medication.
- This will prevent you from continuing medications that are no longer needed,
which leads to wasted money and unnecessary risk of side effects.
- On the other hand, to receive the full benefit of some medications, they must
be continued even if the condition they're treating seems to have improved.
For example, people who stop taking an antibiotic too soon may have their
symptoms return later.
- Some medications may be prescribed for a “trial” period, and your doctor will
need to determine whether it’s working before you get any additional refills.
- Be sure you know if you’ll need to refill the prescription, and if so, when you
should do so. To avoid running out of necessary medications, have refill
orders available for the prescriptions you use regularly. Utilizing a mail order
pharmacy is a convenient and economical way to refill prescription drugs.
Besides taking this medication, is there anything else I can do to improve
my condition?
Many chronic conditions can be improved through lifestyle changes as well as
with medication. Sometimes the improvement is so dramatic that a medication
can be safely discontinued. In other cases, lifestyle changes help the medication
work even better. Changes in diet, alcohol use, exercise, and smoking habits
are commonly recommended for people taking prescription medications. For
optimal health, try to implement any lifestyle changes your doctor recommends.
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What are the side effects of this medication, and what should I do if they occur?
Every medication has the potential to produce
unwanted side effects.
- Certain side effects are quite common, while
others are extremely rare.
- Sometimes side effects diminish as you
continue to take the new medication. Other
times they may be very serious and require
immediate medical attention.
- Activities such as driving, exercising in hot weather, or drinking alcohol may
become more dangerous due to the side effects of certain medications.
Will this medication work safely with the other prescription and non-prescription medications I’m taking?
Many older adults are taking multiple medications. In these cases, one
medication may increase or decrease the effects of another. You can help
reduce your risk of harmful interactions by:
- Making sure your doctors and pharmacists know all the medications you take.
This includes both prescription medications as well as non-prescription
or “over the counter” medications and products–including vitamins.
- Keeping a current list of all you medications and dietary/herbal supplements
to share with your doctor and pharmacist.
Is it safe to purchase medications abroad or on the Internet?
There can be safety issues relating to the purchase of drugs in a foreign
country or over the Internet. There are many online pharmacies that provide
legitimate prescription services, such as AARP Pharmacy Services. Others are
questionable sites that make purchasing medications online risky. Learn more
at; www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/DPAdefault.htm.
Will this medication work safely with the dietary/herbal supplements I am taking?
Some people believe that because a product is natural is must be safe. This is
not necessarily true. (Poisonous mushrooms and arsenic are natural too!)
Because dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA as are medications,
there is still much we don’t know about the safety and effectiveness of these
products. For instance, we are learning that some dietary supplements can have
dangerous interactions with prescription medications. If you use dietary
supplements, be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there
are any known interactions with the medications you take.
Will this medication affect any of my other medical or health conditions?
Some medications can adversely affect another medical or health condition you
may have. For example, certain medications can make memory problems worse
for people with Alzheimer's disease, and others can aggravate high blood
pressure. Older adults who have many chronic conditions and take multiple
medications are at greater risk for this type of problem. Your doctor or
pharmacist can determine whether a medication is safe to take given your
other conditions.
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How will I know if this medication is working?
If you are taking a medication to treat
symptoms, it will be clear to you if your
medication is working. However, medications
are also used to prevent problems. In these
cases, your doctor may use tests to ensure the
medication is effective. It’s important that you and
your doctor regularly discuss your treatments.
Never stop taking or change the way you take
your medications without first checking with
your doctor.
When should I expect this medication to begin working?
Some medications produce noticeable effects with the very first dose, while
others take longer to become fully effective. If you don’t have a good understanding of when a medication will work, you may become frustrated.
Are there any tests required with this medication?
Your doctor may use tests to determine whether a medication is working
properly for you. Your doctor may also use a variety of tests to monitor the
safety of your medications. It’s important to keep your follow-up appointments
with your doctor so you receive any required tests.
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Is there a generic version of this medication? If not, is there another less expensive option that may work as well for me?
A generic is identical to a brand name drug in dosage, strength, active
ingredients, how it is taken, quality, performance and intended use.
- Generic manufacturers charge less for their medications because they have
lower development and advertising costs, and because there is greater
competition among generic manufacturers.
- Nearly half of all prescriptions are filled with generic medications.
- If there is a generic version of your medication, your pharmacist can generally
dispense it for you without checking with your doctor (unless your doctor
prescribed the branded product and wrote “dispense as written” on your
prescription).
- Even if the medication you are taking does not have a generic version, a very
similar medication may be available as a generic. In those cases, your doctor
will need to determine whether this other medication is appropriate for you
and write a new prescription to authorize the change.
- If you’re concerned about the cost of your medications, be sure to let your
doctor and pharmacist know.
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If you use multiple medications, you and your primary doctor should review
each of them at your annual physical exam. This is an excellent opportunity
for you and your doctor to re-evaluate your treatment plan based on your
changing needs.
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