Find out the name of your medication. Rather than simply letting your doctor write/fax a prescription and send you on your way, be sure to ask the name of the medication. This way you'll notice if the pharmacy gives you something different, than what you were expecting. Every time you receive a refill, look at the medication when you receive it to make sure it looks the same as what you had before. Is it the same color, size, shape, and texture? Is the packaging the same? If anything about the medication seems different, ask the pharmacist about it.
Ask questions about how to use the medication. What should I do if I forget a dose? Should I take this medication before, during, or after meals? What should the timing be between each dose? What side effects might I have? When should I contact my doctor or pharmacist if I have certain side effects? Are there any other medications, food, or activities that I should avoid while using this medication? Take notes or ask your doctor/pharmacist to write down instructions or other information that is important to know about your medication or condition to help you remember.
Know what your medication is for. It's important to understand your medication because you are more likely to use it correctly, more likely to know what to expect from the medication, and better able to report what you are using and problems to your doctors and pharmacist.
Read medicine labels and follow directions. Before you use any medication, you should know when to use it, how much to use, and how long to use it. Be sure to read the medication label every time. In the middle of the night, you could accidentally put drops for your ears into your eyes or give your older child's medicine to the baby if you're not careful about checking the label.
Keep the list of your medications with you at all times and let a loved one know. Keep a list of your medications and dietary supplements with you at all times, such as in your wallet or purse, and keep a copy in your home. Share a copy of the medication list with a family member or friend, or let them know where you keep the list. In an emergency, that person will be able to inform your doctors of the medications and dietary supplements you use. Make it a habit of showing your list of medications to all your health care professionals at every visit to the doctor, the pharmacy, and the hospital. Keeping all of your health care professionals informed about everything that you use will help ensure that you do not use two medicines with the same active ingredient or use anything that will interact with something else you are using.
Dispose of medications safely. The best way to dispose of most types of unused or expired medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately.
If you cannot get to a drug take back location promptly, or there is none near you, and your medicine is:
On the FDA flush list, your next best option is to immediately flush this potentially dangerous medicine down the toilet.
Not on the flush list, you should follow these instructions to discard the medicine in your trash at home.
You can also check with your pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer mail-back programs and other ways to help you safely dispose your unused or expired medicines.
