As people get older, many often have to take "maintenance" drugs - these are medicines that are taken every day for long-term health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other common health problems.
Taking your drugs the right way is very important for your health. In fact, you can avoid many doctor or hospital visits by sticking to your medication routine and not making common mistakes when using your daily drugs. Here are some tips to help you take your medicines safely and effectively:
Know the names of each drug you take. First of all, be sure you know the name of every drug you are taking. Keep in mind that many drugs have two names - the brand name and the generic name (also called the "active ingredient" name). You don't need to remember both names - doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers will recognize either one. But it's important to have a written list of each drug you take, and only list each drug once, using either the brand name or the generic name.
Know what each drug is used for. It's also important to know why you're taking a specific drug. This can help you remember to take it every day and remind you to talk about it with your doctor if it doesn't seem to be working well. If you're not totally sure why you're taking a certain drug or how and when you should take it, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take the drug exactly as told. To get the most out of the drug, you should take it exactly as told. This means when and how often you take it, whether or not you can eat food with the drug, and if there are specific foods or drinks you should or shouldn't have at the same time. This info should be on the drug bottle, and you can also ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. To learn more about how to use drugs correctly, visit the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and read their helpful brochure.
Make sure all your doctors know all the drugs you are taking. Many patients see several doctors, including general doctors and different specialists. Each doctor you see needs to know about every drug you're taking - the drug name, dose, and how often you take it. This helps the doctor give the best care and avoid potential problems between different drugs given by different doctors. Whenever you start or stop taking a drug, tell all your doctors the next time you see them.
Always carry a list of all your drugs. If you're taking many drugs, it might be hard to remember all their names and doses. So, it's important to have a written list of all your current drugs, and to carry this list in your wallet or bag to show your healthcare providers. Your list should also include any supplements, like vitamins, that you take - these can interfere with some drugs, so your healthcare provider should know about them too. You can make your own drug list, or ask your pharmacist to print out a list for you. The pharmacist's list can also have instructions for how to correctly use each drug.
Ask the pharmacist. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more tips to avoid drug mistakes, which you can find online here. Remember, if you ever have questions about your drugs, you can always call and ask your IALOP pharmacist for help. We are experts and can also work with your doctors if needed, to always give you the best medical care.