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* What is
name of medication? * What is medicine supposed to do? * What is dosage? When should I take it? For how long? * Are there any side effects, and if so, what should I do if they occur? * Is there anything in medication that may cause an allergic reaction? * Should I avoid any foods while taking this medication (i.e, aged cheese, dairy products)or substances containing caffeine, alcohol or tobacco? * Should I avoid any particular activities, such as sports or driving? * What happens if I miss a dose? * How might this drug interact with other medications I am taking? * Does medication need to be stored in any special way? * Will I require any follow up tests to monitor this medication? * Is additional information available about this medication?
Take a list of your medications (including non-prescription or over-the-counter medication) to all your doctor appointments. This list is especially important if you are seeing more than one physician. Your physicians need to know specifically what medications you are taking, as well as reason for taking them.
To provide an additional layer of safety, share your medication list with your pharmacist. It is estimated that pharmacists may prevent more than 100,000 deaths from misuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications and save billions of dollars if they cold review prescriptions and offer counseling to patients. As an active medical consumer, insist on up-to-date information from your physician and pharmacist to ensure your well being and safety.
Finally, be sure to tell you friends and family that you love them at least "QD" (Latin for once a day).
Brent Aleshire, from Hartland, Wisconsin, is a dynamic speaker with more than 20 years experience in the health care industry. Brent engages his audiences with interesting case stories and valuable information presented in a relaxed style. Brent has developed several powerful tools for helping people take control of their health care, including two audio tapes, "A Guide to Your Personal Health Care Journal" and "Hospitals:Understanding the Maze
