Tips for effective prescription drug use

We all have been tempted to stop taking a prescribed drug because the symptoms went away. It is important to understand why you need to finish a prescription if the instructions say to do so to maximize its effectiveness.

Some of the reasons that a person may not take their prescriptions:

• Expense
• Symptoms subside
• Prescription has unpleasant side effects
• Not knowing how the prescription works
• Not understanding why it is needed
• Or the specific instructions and why they are important
• It is difficult to manage multiple medications and follow the instructions that come with them. They may all have different times of the day and different food avoidances.

Not following instructions can cause costly interactions. Talk to your health care team or pharmacist to help you understand why you need to do the things listed above.

Drug interactions

Metabolism, muscle tissue, digestive changes, liver and kidney functions, medications can affect you differently as you age.

? Drug-food interaction can result when drugs react with food or drink then affect either the drugs or nutrients and the way they can be absorbed into the body.

? Drug-alcohol interaction occurs when the medicine reacts with an alcoholic drink which in turn can cause you to feel tired and/or slow your reaction time.

? Drug-condition interactions happen when a medical condition you already have makes certain drugs harmful to you.

? Drug-drug interactions can happen when two or more medicines react with each other and cause the medicine not to work or make a medication stronger than it should be.

Keep medications in plain sight in a cool, dry place like a kitchen counter or desktop. Never keep prescriptions in a bathroom where they can become damaged and less effective from shower steam or moisture.

Set timers and reminders. Program clocks when you are at home and cell phones and watches when you are traveling. Or take advantage of medication tracker software for personal computers. See http://www. consumerreports.org/health/medication-tracker/index.htm.

Avoid having to make last-minute refills. Mark your calendars in advance or look into a mail-order pharmacy, which can also be less expensive.

Keep your medication record and original pill bottles within easy reach. These two tools will include all of your instructions for taking your prescriptions successfully.

In understanding your personal health needs and how your medications work for you, you will be better able to manage your personal health. Stay organized and keep your health care costs lower by faithfully and effectively taking your prescriptions.

Resources:

http://www.n4a.org/files/programs/best-buy-drugs/handouts.pdf

Taking Meds Faithfully

http://www.aapcc.org/DNN/

Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults:

http://consultgerirn.org/uploads/File/trythis/issue16_1.pdf

American Association of Poison control centers: http://www.aapcc.org/DNN/

800.222.1222

Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults:

http://consultgerirn.org/uploads/File/trythis/issue16_1.pdf

Cited: http://www.n4a.org/