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Taking your medicines the proper way

As simple as it sounds, most patients are still not taking their medicines properly. Reasons could be due to uncertainties, lack of clear instructions, self- presumed recovery or trying to save money by stretching out the medicines.

Such practise may not only delay recovery, but may potentially exacerbate the conditions. Here are some ways to ensure that you get better by taking your medicines appropriately.

1. Communicate with your doctor and pharmacist.

Always declare any known allergies or problems you’ve had with a particular medication in the past. Describe what happens when you take the drug.
List the drugs that you are currently taking (prescription or over-the-counter)
List any herbal products or supplements that you are taking. While they may not be legally sanctioned, some herbal products are known to cause drug interactions and other undesirable effects.
Explain any lifestyle habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption which can affect the way some drugs work.

2. Note all instructions when receiving your medicines.

Take note of the correct way of taking the various medicines. Should they be taken orally, applied topically, inhaled nasally or injected.
Find out when is the best time to take the medicines. Some drugs like statins (for cholesterol lowering) are most effective when taken in the evening when cholesterol production is at its highest.
Check if food will interact with the absorption of the drug. Some medicines are better taken before food while others like NSAIDs, require the protection of a full stomach.
Always find out the appropriate dosage that is necessary per application and use only the dosing device that has been dispensed along with your medicine. Using a kitchen teaspoon is highly inaccurate and may lead to over or under dosing, especially in young children, whose tolerance range is narrower.
Ask what should be done if you’ve forgotten a dose. Do you skip it? Double up on the next dose? Find out the safety range of the dose that you are administering
Do not increase the dosage of the drug beyond its recommended dose for your condition.
And always enquire about the duration that you are required to take the medicines for. Some drugs that alleviate symptoms such as anti-histamines or cough medicines are safe to stop once symptoms resolve while others drugs like antibiotics require you to finish the entire course despite symptom resolution.

3. Check all drug labels

During consultation, note both the brand and generic names of the medicines your doctor is going to prescribe and clarify their indications (reasons for prescribing the drug)
When filling your prescription, check the labels and clarify any discrepancies with the pharmacist. S/he may have substituted a generic (non-original manufacturers) for a brand name drug.

4. Understand any side effects

Your doctor or pharmacist should be able to advice you on any potential side effects that you may encounter with a specific drug.
Discuss any side effects that you may be comfortable about, eg. Weight gain or insomnia, etc and if there are any alternative medicines without these side effects.
Find out if you should avoid certain foods or activities while you are on the medication. Grapefruit juice is known to interact with antibiotics and can potentiate the effects and strengths of some hypertensive and cholesterol lowering medicines.

5. Do not self-medicate or take someone else’s prescription.

Having similar symptoms to someone else does not mean the medicines will work the same way. Antibiotics work across a different spectrum of bacterial infections.
Drugs are prescribed based on your age, weight, existing medical conditions, current drug regime and allergies.
Self-medication is a dangerous practise and you should never attempt to do that. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist first.

6. Organizing your medicines.

If you have are on a variety of medicines, organizing them with a pill sorter is a good way to ensure that you take your medicines regularly.
Use symbols (sun for day, moon for night) or colours (red for before food, green for after food) to help you remember how and when to take your medicines.
You may even set an alarm or note on a calendar to remind you.