Tips on Taking Medicine
Your doctor and pharmacist will give you important information about your medicine. Be careful to follow their recommendations.
Think about all the questions you have in advance, and take them with you to your doctor visit. Make sure you have paper and a pen. Then ask your questions and write down the answers—or ask your doctor or pharmacist to give you instructions in writing. Here are some tips for getting information from your doctor or pharmacist to get you started and to help make sure the medicines you're taking are the right ones, in the right dosage, for your needs.
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If you think you won't be comfortable or might forget something if you’re on your own, ask a friend or relative to accompany you to your appointment with your doctor or to the pharmacy
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Keep a list of all the prescription medicines you are taking, along with their dosages. This information can be important to your doctor or pharmacist. It's also something that’s good to have with you in case of emergency
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Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any nonprescription medicines, and find out if there are any you should avoid taking in the future
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Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you are having any problems with, or side effects from, any of the medicines you are taking
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Keep with you at all times a list of any allergies you have to any medications
Helpful Reminders
If you have trouble remembering to take medicine as directed, here are some ideas that might help.
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Ask a friend or relative to help you remember to take your medicine as directed
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Keep your medicine in a place that reminds you to take it. For example, if you take medicine at bedtime, you could keep it on your nightstand. Just make sure to keep it out of the reach of children
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Set an alarm clock as a reminder to take your medicine
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Ask someone to call you to remind you to order a refill several days before you run out of your medicine
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Ask your pharmacist if there are any special containers that could help you
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If you're having trouble taking your medicines at their various prescribed times, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there's a way to simplify the schedule