Please take your medicines properly!

[disneysteve]

Consider this a public service from one of your resident DIS doctors. If any other healthcare professionals can think of anything I missed, please chime in with additions to the list.

1. Never take prescription medication that wasn't prescribed for you.

2. Never share your prescription medication with anyone else, even if they seem to have the same symptoms as you have.

3. Never take your prescription medication in a dosage different from what your doctor ordered - not more, not less. If one is good, two is not better.

4. Never take over the counter (OTC) meds without carefully reading the ingredient list and the indications for the med. If it lists symptoms that you don't have, it isn't the right medicine for you.

5. Never combine 2 or more OTC meds without carefully reviewing the ingredients to be sure you aren't taking 2 versions of the same medicine. For example, NyQuil and Tylenol BOTH contain acetaminophen, a very common cause of accidental overdoses.

6. Never take any natural or herbal medications if you are on prescription meds for any reason unless you check with your doctor first. Just because something is sold OTC or says it is 100% natural, doesn't mean it is safe to take. There can be serious interactions with other medications.

7. If the OTC med label doesn't give dosing for children, it probably means the medicine should not be given to children. Don't just guess or give half the adult dose.

8. Never take old or leftover prescription meds you have in the closet unless you are positive what the med is for and it is not expired. It is always safer to get a fresh prescription.

9. Clean out your medicine chest at least once a year, throwing away anything that is expired or more than 1 year old if it doesn't have an expiration date.

10. If you experience any problems after taking a medication your doctor ordered for you, call the doctor and discuss it. Don't just stop the med and wait until your next office visit to mention the problem.

11. When you are given a prescription, ask how you are to take it and for how long. Just because the supply runs out doesn't mean the doctor meant for you to stop the med at that point. That might just mean you need to call for a refill (example: blood pressure med).

I think that concludes this list for now. Thanks

 

[Lyn5]

9. Clean out your medicine chest at least once a year, throwing away anything that is expired or more than 1 year old if it doesn't have an expiration date.

What is the best way to dispose of old medicine?

 

[Planogirl]

I'm changing doctors soon for some of these reasons. My current doctor has perscribed a combo of drugs for my high blood pressure but I can't function when I take them. I'm way too sleepy and groggy. Unfortunately, she only see drugs as the cure for anything so my problem isn't of too much interest to her.

 

[Lyn5]

I'm changing doctors soon for some of these reasons. My current doctor has perscribed a combo of drugs for my high blood pressure but I can't function when I take them. I'm way too sleepy and groggy. Unfortunately, she only see drugs as the cure for anything so my problem isn't of too much interest to her.

I am glad you are changing doctors I used to only treat the "symptoms" of my asthma in the past and then, about 6-7 years ago I got the doctor I have now and I can prevent the symptoms and hardly use medication for it....not EVERYDAY like in the past. Much happier now Goodluck.

 

[Parkhopper]

I would like to add:

Please take your prescription for the FULL time your doctor recommended. If he says take the antibiotic for 10 days, take it for the full 10 days. Do NOT stop taking it after your symptoms seem to improve and hold the rest "in case" you get it again.

Suzi

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you can't afford to buy the medicine, discuss it with your doctor, don't just stop taking it.

 

[luvwinnie]

Great advice! My sister's friend just spent the day in the ER after taking Excederin SInus (2, but it said ONE) and then had strong coffee. She passed out from arrhythmia.

 

[Sparx]

another READ THE WARNING LABEL!!

I nearly took nyquil and ibprofun (I think) at the same time, and nearly ODed. I get horrible horrible migrane headaches, and I don't tend to think clearly. Sometiems I will take nyquil to get some sleep (dr said this was ok) but I normally take Ibprofun(sp). I had taken Ibprofun and forgot about it, and then I almost took some nyquil. I saw the label and read it, it said "DO NOT MIX WITH .... and Ibprofun" I'm not sure what would've happened if I had, but I really don't want to know. thank goodness I read that lable.

 

[MrsKreamer]

Please tell all of your doctors what other doctors are prescribing you.

 

[wdwmom2]

What is the best way to dispose of old medicine?

Flush them down the toilet!!!!

 

[HaleyB]

If you take alot of medication or have an invisable health problem please put all the information on dosage and what you take and what health problems you have on a card or something and stick it behind your DL.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Especially with all the generics out there, mark the brand name on your prescription bottle so you know what it is at a glance. I had two generics. Both peach in color, one light one dark. Both the same size and oval shape. I took the wrong one and went to the ER with both bottles to show them! I HATE generics! I wrote the brand names on the bottles so I know what they are and never had a problem again.

Also have to chime in to FINISH ALL of your antibiotics!! Don't stop because you feel better. I believe in the past I heard that doing something like this is what can start a super bug.

 

[binny]

Just dont flush heart medicine!!

After my dad died we had all his heart medicine on hand and thankfully my mom called about disposing of it, they had us take it to the doctors office because you cant flush some of it (Nitro I think especially)

 

[C.Ann]

If you take alot of medication or have an invisable health problem please put all the information on dosage and what you take and what health problems you have on a card or something and stick it behind your DL.

----------------------------------------------

Also stick a LARGE note on the refrigerator in case you collapse, the paramedics are called and other family memebers are too rattled to provide the correct info!!

 

[wdwmom2]

Just dont flush heart medicine!!

Whoa, didn't know that. Mental note, do not flush nitroglycerin .

 

[KristaTX]

ASTHMA MEDICATIONS-

If your child has asthma and ever uses an albuterol/Proventil inhaler at home, even if it is only rarely, make sure they have an extra inhaler at their school. You will probably need a permission form signed by you and by their doctor.

If you never have before, read the step-by-step instructions for asthma inhalers, and teach your child the proper way to use it. In fact, if they can read, have them read the instructions to you. I'm a school nurse, and I would estimate that 85% of students with inhalers at school do not use the inhaler correctly and end up not getting the full benefit of the medication. Once they learn how, they typically will do it correctly from then on.

ANTIBIOTICS-

Don't expect the doctor to automatically give you (or your child) antibiotics. They only work against bacterial infections - not viral (e.g. colds, flus).

As the previous poster added, as long as you are not experiencing some sort of adverse reaction (e.g. developing a rash all over), take ALL of the antibiotics.

Other people's medications in general were covered above, but never ever take the remainder of a partially used bottle of someone else's leftover antibiotics. I've seen many, many people do that.

OTHER-

One non-medication bit of advice I would like to add. When going to visit your doctor for whatever reason, make yourself a brief list ahead of time of things you want to be sure to ask about, and take it with you to the appointment. Otherwise, you may forget to ask or may feel too intimidated to ask questions. And if you don't understand something (e.g. the diagnosis, the medications) tell the doctor and ask her to re-explain it.

 

[mannasn]

When you go to the ER/doctor's office/hospital, please bring all your medicines with you!

Don't act surprised when you say, "I take that little white pill" that I don't know what it is, exactly!

 

[CajunDixie]

Our medics love when a patient has not only a list of their medications but actually list in columns their schedule and the dosage amount. I've even seen a few that have a printout of their medical history. It lists the year, doctor, illness/procedure, and allergies. It's a good idea to keep a copy of this in your purse/wallet too. There's no guarantee you'll be home when a medical emergency occurs.

For people that can't afford their medications check with the local hospital or welfare office to see if there is a medication assistance office in or near your town.

For outdated meds, don't flush them! Contact your doctor, hospital or recycling center for advice. Our service tries to offer once a year a drop off week for expired meds.

 

[maps]

one thing about taking lists to your doctor.

Please let them know when you are making the appointment that you have a list of issues to discuss. There's nothing worse than walking into a patient's room who was double booked onto your schedule for something quick (ie, cold) only to find out they want to discuss things dating back to 1965 becuause they "never come to the doctors" and want to get their money's worth from this one appointment!

If you tell them you have more than one issue to discuss, you'll be allotted more time for your appointment in order to discuss them.

 

[KristaTX]

That's why I said "brief", but I knew I should have been more specific. As I wrote my previous post I even pictured someone taking in a Santa-Claus length list .