Using your medication safely is a team effort between you, your healthcare provider, and your pharmacy. Two out of three doctor visits end with a prescription being written. It’s important that medicines be taken correctly.
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT NEW MEDICATIONS. GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK ARE:
• What is this medicine supposed to do and is this a BRAND or GENERIC?
• How and when do I take this medication? • What are possible side effects and what do I do if they occur?
• When should I expect the medicine to begin to work?
Make sure you have a list, or that your provider knows, all of the other prescriptions and over- the-counter medications you are taking. Ask to make sure that the medicine prescribed is safe to take without any dangerous drug interactions. Finally, check that the medicine the pharmacy gives you is the medicine that your doctor prescribed!