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Managing medications critical to overall health care & cost
The more medications a person takes, the greater risk for bad interactions, said Andrew B. Crocker, Extension gerontology specialist. "Being able to safely manage your medications involves understanding a little bit about drugs, in general, and how to talk to your doctor, pharmacist and other health providers who might recommend medications," Crocker said. Medications considered should include doctor-prescribed medicines from a pharmacist; non-prescription pills, liquids or creams; and vitamins, minerals or dietary supplements, he said.Medicines bought without a prescription are called overthe counter medicines, Crocker said. The Food and Drug Administration has deemed these safe to take without a doctor's written order. Tell the doctor or nurse about all medication being taken whenever a new drug is prescribed. Some questions to ask before taking a new medicine are:
The pharmacist is an important part of a healthcare team, Crocker said. He or she can answer many questions about a medication. "For example, a pharmacist can tell you how and when to take your medicine, whether a drug may interact with or affect another medicine you are taking, and any side effects you might have," he said. "Also, the pharmacist can answer questions about overthe counter medications." Having all prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy or chain of pharmacies will keep records in one place.Also, the pharmacist is able to keep track of all the medications and could advise if a new drug might cause problems. Other suggestions when picking up a prescription are:
"By having some additional knowledge about terms and instructions, you can better manage your medications, reducing the risk of medication error," Crocker said. Visit the National Institutes of Health Senior Health site: http://nihseniorhealth.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
