Have You Received a Prescription? A Few Tips
Your doctor may prescribe medication for you as part of your treatment. Your first step to safe and effective treatment is to ask your doctor questions, such as what the medication is for, how it is supposed to be taken, if it is safe to take with other medication and whether there are any side effects.
General Advice
· Keep a record of all your current medicines.
· Ask the doctor or pharmacist for advice before crushing or splitting tablets; some should only be swallowed whole.
· Contact the doctor or pharmacist if new or unexpected symptoms or other problems appear.
· Never stop taking medicine the doctor has told you to finish just because symptoms disappear.
· Discard outdated medicine.
· Store medicine in the original container, where the label identifies it and gives directions.
· Never take someone else’s medicine.
· Tell your health professional if you are:
--breast-feeding or may be pregnant
--are allergic to any drugs or foods
--have diabetes or kidney or liver disease
--follow a special diet or take dietary supplements.
Checklist for Whenever Your Doctor Prescribes Medication
1. What is the name of the medicine?
2. Can I take a generic version of this medicine?
3. What is the medicine for?
4. How am I supposed to take it?
5. When should I take my medicine?
6. How long do I need to take the medicine?
7. When will the medicine start working?
8. Can I get a refill?
9. Are there any side effects?
10. When should I tell someone about a side effect?
11. Do I need to avoid any food, drinks or activities?
12. Does this new prescription mean I should stop taking any other medicines I’m taking now?
13. Can I take vitamins with my prescription?
14. What should I do if I forget to take my medicine?
15. What should I do if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose?
Safe Disposal Options of Old Prescriptions
Some counties are offering a Drug Take-Back program, which is a way to curtail the contamination of our waterways. At various sites, you can bring all your old medications, and the County will properly dispose of them. Westchester County offers a well-organized program where you don’t even have to leave your car as you drive through the event. Go to the Web to check your community’s listings and instructions. (For Westchester, go to www.westchestergov.com/recycling)
Another safe way to dispose of medications is to:
1. Take your prescription drugs out of their original containers.
2. Mix drugs with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds.
3. Put the mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty margarine tub, or into a sealable bag.
4. Conceal or remove any personal information, including the Rx number, on the empty containers by covering it with black permanent marker or duct tape or by scratching it off.
5. Place the sealed container with the mixture and the empty drug containers in the trash.