Medicine Reminders
Remind your physician about any allergies or previous reactions you’ve
had to medications.
Make sure your prescription is legible.
Do not take medications in the dark.
Keep your medications in their original containers.
Dispose of outdated medications.
Important Link
Strong Health Pharmacy |
Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Drug Treatment
- Why do I need this medicine?
- What are its generic and brand names?
- What is the medicine supposed to do?
- Are there any non-drug alternatives that are as effective?
- What is the exact dose of the medication?
- Is this the lowest possible dose of the medication I can take?
- What would happen with a lower or higher dose?
- Who should not take this medicine? Pay particular attention if
you fall into one of the following categories:
- You have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, kidney
or liver disease, vertigo, serious stomach problems
- You are prone to allergic reactions
- You may be pregnant or want to conceive
- You are a new mothers and are breast feeding
- What does this medication cost?
- Are there other less expensive alternatives, such as the generic
form of the medicine? If so, is the less expensive alternative as
effective?
- What does it look like?
- How large is the tablet or capsule?
- If you have trouble taking tablets: Is it available in liquid
or chewable form?
- If a liquid: What is the best way to measure it?
- How and when do I take it?
- x times a day or exactly every x hours?
- If more than one medication is prescribed: In what order should
each be taken and how far apart?
- Are there circumstances when I should increase or decrease the
total daily dose?
- Especially for children:
- Are there any tricks for administering this medicine?
- Do I need to make arrangements to give my child afternoon medications
during school?
- How will I know if the medication is working?
- What benefits will I notice
- How soon will results become apparent?
- How many days should I wait before reporting that the medicine
is not working?
- How long will I have to take this medicine?
- If I feel better, can I stop taking the medicine?
- If I feel no effects or feel worse, can I stop taking the medicine?
- What side-effects might I experience?
- When are they likely to happen?
- What can I do to relieve them?
- Should I stop taking the medicine if I have side-effects?
- Are there any side effects I should report immediately?
- Can you prescribe a small amount of the drug for me to test
before I fill an entire prescription?
- Is there any possibility I will need to take time off from
work?
- What should I do if I forget to take a dose?
- What should I do if I vomit up a dose?
- For long-term and/or multiple medications:
- If I miss doses could I develop resistance to the drug or cross-resistance
to related drugs?
- Are there ways to help me organize my medications?
- Is there any way I can combine or decrease the number of medications
I’m taking?
- What if I mistakenly take two doses within a short time?
- Will this drug interact with other drugs I take (prescription drugs,
over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and herbs)?
- Do I need to take it on an empty or full stomach?
- Are there any foods or drinks I should avoid while taking this
medicine?
- Can I drink alcohol while taking it?
- Is there any activity I should avoid while I'm taking this medication
(i.e. driving a car, air travel or exercise)?
- Are there special storage instructions?
- Is it sensitive to light, heat, moisture or cold?
- Does it need to be kept in the refrigerator or out of direct
sunlight?
- Does it need to be kept in a special container?
- Can it be kept in a box with other pills?
- Is this prescription refillable?
- How many refills?
- What do I do it I need more?
- How long can this drug be taken?
- If I don't use all the medicine, can I save it for the future?
- Over what period of time will the medicine lose its potency?
- Does the medicine become dangerous to use after a certain period
of time?
- Is there information in writing on this medication?
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