A Patient’s Guide to Intelligent Pill-Taking

When illness strikes, if you are an active participant in your own care or that of a relative, the therapy is likely to be much more effective. You can monitor the course of the treatment – in this case the taking of pills – and also dispel to some extent the feelings of helplessness that often accompany illness.

• Report any allergic reactions to medicine that you have had in the past. Tell your physician about this before he or she prescribes a drug.

• If taking other medicine, tell your doctor about it, so the interactions between different medicines can be considered.

• Learn the name of the drug and why you are supposed to take it.

• Exactly how and when should you take the medicine? Its effect can depend upon what you eat and drink with it and whether it is taken before, during or after meals.

• Follow the instructions on your medicine exactly. If the prescription says four times a day, ask the doctor what hours would be best.

• Ask about adverse reactions that are possible with the prescribed medicine, and what should you do if you experience any of them.

• Should you abstain from alcohol while you are taking the medicine?

• Will the medicine make you drowsy? Is it safe to drive while using it?

• Try to use the pharmacist for all your prescription medication needs. By doing this he will be able to call your and your physician’s attention any harmful drug interaction.

• How should you store your medicine? Ask your pharmacist. See if it requires refrigeration or needs to be kept out of the sunlight.

• Store all medicine out of reach of children.

• Never pretend to a child that medicines are candy.

• Dispose of medications that are past their expiry date. They will no longer be fully effective and could be dangerous to use.

• Get rid of old medicines by flushing them down the toilet. Do not place them in the garbage bin.

• If you might be pregnant, don’t take any medicine without first checking with your physician.

• Don’t treat yourself with anyone else’s medicine.

• So not stop taking medicine prematurely. If you feel there is a reason to stop taking the medication before you’re supposed to, consult with your physician first.

• When traveling, keep prescriptions in their original containers and in your carry-on luggage. Also, take medications on ‘home’ time until you adjust.