As a dietitian and diabetes educator I am surprised at the number of patients that do not know what their medications are and what they are for. Even my best friend is guilty of this.
Why is it important you ask? Doesn’t my doctor know what I’m taking? The problem is you may be seeing more than one health care provider, go to more than one pharmacy or may not be taking the medicine the way it was prescribed.
Your health care provider team works to keep a correct and up-to-date list and tries to make sure other people caring for you also know. But, if we don’t know everything that you take, something could be missed – like medication that is important to your health or one medication interacting with another. Keep an up-to-date list in your wallet. You never know when you may be in an accident and we forget when stressed, hurt or unconscious.
Medications often have more than one use and different side effects. There are a number of questions to ask when you are given medication.
Why do I need this medication? Knowing improves your understanding about the drug and the condition for which it is prescribed. This promotes compliance with treatment. It is a good idea to write down why each medication was prescribed to share this information with other health care professionals or caregivers.
How am I supposed to take the medication? The dose and timing of when you take your medication has been determined by scientific studies. Medications provide their greatest benefit when taken as prescribed. Deviating from the dose and timing can make medication less effective or not effective at all. It could even lead to side effects.
What should I do if I miss a dose? Despite the best of efforts, eventually everyone misses one or more doses of a medication. The remedy depends on the medication. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist for directions on what to do; otherwise you could experience dangerous side effects.
What are the medication’s side effects? Since drugs provide a benefit by modifying processes in the body, it is not surprising that they also have side effects. Successful drug therapy produces the desired effect without unbearable side effects. Therefore, it is important to know what a drug’s side effects are so that they can be recognized, prevented, and acted upon appropriately when they occur.
What substances interact with the medication? Interactions with drugs are common and they can cause side effects or reduce the beneficial effect of the medication. Sometimes, the interaction may promote a beneficial effect or prevent it. Knowing which interacting agents to avoid while taking a medication for example, food and herbal drugs is important.
What should you expect the drug to do? Some drugs cure the condition for which they are prescribed while other medications provide only relief from symptoms. Some drugs provide an immediate benefit while others require more time to be effective. To determine whether the medication is working as intended, it is important to know the expected result and how long it will take to see the result.
How should the drug be stored? Most medications are stored at room temperature. However, some medications require special storage conditions in order to avoid premature deterioration. Look at the expiration dates written on the container and use the medications before the expiration date.
So, be in charge of your health – know your medications!
For more information about any of the free services offered by the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, visit the website at www.mmfht.ca or call our Drayton office at 519-638-2110 or Clifford office at 519-327-4777. Like the team on Facebook (Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team) and follow them on Twitter (@MintoMapleton) for healthy living tips and information on upcoming programs and events in the area.
