Your Medicine: Be Smart, Be Safe

Have you ever had a problem with your medicines? You are not alone.

There are so many things to keep track of. For example, you may have asked yourself: When exactly should I take my medicine? Is it safe to take vitamins when I take a prescription medicine? Now that I feel better, can I stop taking this medicine?

Medicine is prescribed to help you. But it can hurt if you take too much or mix medicines that don't go together. Many people have problems each year, some serious, because of taking the wrong medicine or not taking the right medicines correctly. You can help yourself get the best results by being a part or your "health care team."

Your health care team includes: The doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or other professionals who prescribe your medicine or are in charge of your care, a nurse who helps you at home, a doctor's office, or a hospital, the pharmacist who fills your prescription and can answer questions about your medicines.

Give Your Health Care Team important information. Be a partner with your health care team.

• Tell them about all the medicines, vitamins, herbals, and dietary supplements you're taking. This includes: Prescription medicines, medicines you can buy without a prescription, such as aspirin, diet pills, antacids, laxatives, allergy medicine, and cough medicine, vitamins, including multivitamins, dietary or herbal supplements such as St. John's wort or gingko biloba.
• Tell them if you have allergies (including medicine-related allergies) or if you have had problems when taking a medicine or about other doctors or health professionals who have prescribed medicine for you or suggested that you take a vitamin or herbal supplement.
• Tell them if you are pregnant, may get pregnant, or are nursing or about any other illness or medical condition you have, like diabetes or high blood pressure.

If cost is a concern, there may be another medicine that costs less and will work the same. These are a few guidelines that will help you maintain independence and quality of life.