Using Medications Safely

These guidelines are taken from the National Institute on Aging's Age Page

The following tips can help you avoid risks and get the best results from your medicines:

1.  DO take medicine in the exact amount and on the same schedule prescribed by your doctor.

2.  DO always ask your doctor about the right way to take any medicine before you start to use it.

3.  DO always tell your doctor about past problems you have had with drugs, such as rashes, indigestion, dizziness, or not feeling hungry.

4.  DO keep a daily record of all the drugs you take. Include prescription and OTC drugs. Note the name of each drug, the doctor who prescribed it, the amount you take, and the times of day you take it. Keep a copy in your medicine cabinet and one in your wallet or pocketbook.

5.  DO review your drug record with the doctor at every visit and whenever your doctor prescribes new medicine. Your doctor often gets new information about drugs that might be important to you.

6.  DO make sure you can read and understand the drug name and the directions on the container. If the label is hard to read, ask your pharmacist to use large type.

7.  DO check the expiration dates on your medicine bottles. Throw the medicine away if it has passed this date.

8.  DO call your doctor right away if you have any problems with your medicines.

There are also some things you should remember not to do:

1.  DO NOT stop taking a prescription drug unless your doctor says it's okay - even if you are feeling better.

2.  DO NOT take more or less than the prescribed amount of any drug.

3.  DO NOT mix alcohol and medicine unless your doctor says it's okay. Some drugs may not work well or may make you sick if taken with alcohol.

4.  DO NOT take drugs prescribed for another person or give yours to someone else.

For more detailed information on how to take medications safely see the government publication Your Medicine: Play It Safe.  This is published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), formerly known as the Agency on Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR).

Disclaimer: The material in this web site is provided for purposes of disseminating information on prescription drugs for public benefit, education and information only. It should not replace or substitute for advice from your physician, pharmacist or other health care professionals. The authors are not responsible for information presented on outside web sites linked to this site.