When your doctor prescribes a new medication, you need to remember to be your own “best advocate.†By this I mean, take the time to learn about the drug, including its side effects as well as how it interacts with other medicines you are taking. Many consumers do not realize that besides having its own side effects, the new drug may combine in a negative way with other medicines.
Think about it. It is very common today to be on several medications at one time. You may suffer from high blood pressure and depression, but did you know that some of the drugs used to treat those conditions may cause dizziness? And what can dizziness do to you? You could fall! As you can see, it is important to talk with both your doctor and your pharmacist about possible interactions between the medicines you are taking.
Other drug interactions have been proven as well. One medication that many Americans take in prescription form is Coumadin. Those that take this medication need to be aware that they should not consume any other medication or substance that will thin the blood (unless under the strict care and observation by a physician). If one unknowingly takes Coumadin with another type of blood thinner, the results could be disastrous.
It is also important to READ the prescribing information included when you fill any new prescription. Sometimes it may seem unnecessary to do so, yet you need to take care of yourself, and reading about the medication helps to give you a clear view of what it can do to your body. If you have trouble understanding any of the materials given to you, do not hesitate to ask for help. Again, you must remember that you are in charge of your own health.
A final way to be your own best advocate is to become familiar with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. This wonderful site will also assist you in understanding your medications. As you can guess, it contains valuable information on medications available to consumers today. And if you have lost the material that came with your prescription, the FDA offers these medication guides in a free, downloadable form. Here’s what they have to say about these guides:
“Medication Guides are paper handouts that come with many prescription medicines. The guides address issues that are specific to particular drugs and drug classes, and they contain FDA-approved information that can help patients avoid serious adverse events.â€
There are approximately three billion prescriptions written each year in the United States. This fact from the FDA proves that millions of Americans rely on medication to live healthy, full lives. Be your own “best advocate,†and vow to learn all about your medications, their side effects, and how they interact with one another.
Questions for Your Doctor
1. Why do I need to take this medication?
2. Can I change the way I eat and/or how much I exercise instead of taking this new medicine?
3. How will this new medicine help me?
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