“Medicines help us live longer and healthier. But, taking them the wrong way or mixing certain drugs can be dangerous. You need to be careful to keep track of your medicines and use them safely.” – National Institute on Aging
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved over 20,000 prescription drugs for marketing.
Add to that number over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies.
We have a huge number of products available to use to heal and make us feel better.
But sometimes it gets confusing. Maybe we have lots of prescription medications to take. Or we wonder if it’s ok to take cough medicine with our blood pressure medication.
Taking medicine WHEN you’re supposed to take it, at the prescribed DOSE, and HOW you’re supposed to take it is the goal. Let’s take a look at drugs and medicines, how to take medicine, and how to keep a medication schedule.
What are Drugs and Medicine?
The terms ‘medicine’ and ‘drug’ mean the same thing.
Each medicine comes with directions from the manufacturer on how to take the medicine including timing and dose. This information is designed to give the best results for the patient.
In fact, if the drug was approved by the FDA, the manufacturer had to provide specific information on how the drug worked, in what dose and conditions, and how long it took to see results. The FDA reviews the clinical testing information provided by the manufacturer and may ask for more information before approving the drug.
Getting FDA approval is an expensive, time-consuming process. Even after years of testing and review, FDA approval is not guaranteed. But once approved, drugs are distributed with specific instructions so you know how to take them for optimal results.
It’s important to understand that medicines (drugs) include more than just prescription medications.
Medicines include:
- Prescriptions
- Over-the-counter pills, liquids, creams
- Vitamins, eye drops, dietary supplements
The US Food and Drug Administration doesn’t test or review most dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness. Just because your co-worker, Bob, told you melatonin is a miracle drug to help you sleep at night doesn’t mean it’s good for you. In fact, drugs and supplements may interact in a way that makes you feel worse or cancels out the benefits of another medication.
Tell your doctor about ALL medicines you take. Include over-the-counter items like Advil or cough medicine. Don’t forget to mention vitamins or dietary supplements you take, even if you think they are ‘harmless’.
Understand How to Take Your Medicine
Medicines are designed to act a certain way based on a particular dosage within a time frame.
Medicines should be taken AS DIRECTED to get the desired result. If instructions state “Take with Food” then the drug either works best this way OR having some food in your stomach helps prevent side effects like irritation of the stomach or diarrhea.
If you have questions about how to take medicine or its effects, ask a medical professional for help:
- Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are always willing to answer questions.
- Be aware of symptoms of allergic reactions such as rash, swelling, or trouble breathing. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have any of these symptoms.
- Ask about drug interactions. Include every medicine, over-the-counter drug, or supplement you are currently taking.
Have your healthcare provider explain how to take your medicines and if you have any questions, ASK!
Take Medication As Directed
“Take medication as directed.”
Seems simple enough. Right?
It’s easy until you actually sit down and figure out how to manage all medications with their instructions. It can be frustrating.
In fact, some people don’t even try because 20 to 30% of new prescriptions are never filled at the pharmacy!
But here’s the deal:
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that non-adherence causes 30 to 50 percent of chronic disease treatment failures and 125,000 deaths per year in this country.”
In others words, if you don’t take your medicine as prescribed, you could have a higher chance of dying.
People don’t take their medicine properly for a variety of reasons. Maybe they forget, or the medicine makes them feel bad. Maybe they think the medicine isn’t working at all.
If you’re still uncertain, call the pharmacist. Pharmacist’s jobs are to help people get and manage their medications. Have a question? Tell the pharmacist what the problem is and they can help make it better. Pharmacists can give you tips on how to take your medicine in a way that helps you remember and to take it properly for the most benefit.
If the problem needs escalated to the doctor, the pharmacist can help make that connection to resolve the problem.
Don’t just give up and suddenly stop taking medications. Always check with your doctor before discontinuing any medications.
Keep Track of Your Medicines
When my mom came home from the hospital last year, we had to add multiple medications to what she was already taking. Instructions for each medication varied – some had to be taken with food, some without. Dosages varied from 3 times a day to as needed. It was CONFUSING!
We finally created a medication log so that no matter who was with her they would know what medication was to be given, when to give it, and how it should be given.
Download the FREE 7 Questions Everyone Should Ask at a Doctor Appointment.
The Medication Log is a done-for-you medication list sheet and medication schedule to help prevent medication mix-ups.
Here are a few more tips to keep track of medicine from the National Institute on Aging:
- Make a list
- Create a file of all written information that comes with medication
- Check expiration dates
- Keep medicines out of reach of young children
Conclusion
Medications can help us heal and feel better, but only if we take them as prescribed.
Get the FREE 7 Questions Everyone Should Ask at a Doctor Appointment to make the most out of every doctor visit.
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