When it comes to medications, don’t
be afraid to ask your doctor or pharmacist
questions. You can’t afford
not to ask! According to the Institute
for Safe Medication Practices,
approximately two million hospitalizations
occur every year due to prescription
drugs. Understanding how
your medication works and the
potential effects it can have on your
health are vitally important.
A 1999 Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) commissioned study
involving community pharmacies in
eight states revealed that 87 percent
of all patients received written
information with prescriptions.
However, only 35 percent of pharmacists
made any reference to a
written leaflet, and only 8 percent
actually reviewed it with their
patients.
To help you gain a better understanding
of the medications you
take, the National Council on
Patient Information and Education
developed “Questions to Ask
When You Get a New Prescription
Medicine.” They advise getting
answers to the following before
you take any medication:
- What is the name of the medicine and what is it supposed to do?
- Is this the brand or generic name? (Is a generic version available?)
- When do I take the medicine and for how long?
- Should I take this medicine on an empty stomach or with food?
- What foods, drinks, medicines, dietary supplements or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?
- What are the possible side effects, and what do I do if they occur?
- When should I expect the medicine to begin to work, and how will I know if it is working?
- Will this new prescription work safely with the other prescription and non-prescription medicines I am taking?
- How should I store this medicine at home?
The FDA further recommends that patients ask their doctors:
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
- Is it advisable to crush or split the tablet I have been prescribed?
The 3 Rs for safe medicine use
You can help protect yourself from
unwanted medical effects when
taking both prescription and overthe-
counter drugs by remembering
the 3 Rs:
Risk
Recognize that all medications have
risks as well as benefits; you need to
weigh each carefully for every medicine
you take.
Respect
Respect the power of your medicine
and the value of medicines properly
used.
Responsibility
Take responsibility for learning
about how to take each medication
safely. When in doubt, ask first.
Your health care professional can
help you get the facts you need
to use medicines correctly.
www.talkaboutrx.org/questions_new_prescrip2005.jsp
