Key tips for getting the most out of your medications
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Loading... - Peter Wamalwa
- 26 Jan 2023
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As we get older, many of us learn that we need to take at least one prescription to treat a long-term health concern. This happens all the time. Even though it becomes second nature after a while, some people struggle to remember to take their prescriptions, open child-resistant bottles, use asthma inhalers, or put eye drops in their eyes.
Medicines may improve your health. However, if drugs are misused, they can make you feel worse or cause health issues. Follow the instructions below for the proper and organized use of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Prepare a List
Make a list of all the medications you use. Include the brand and generic names of any medications you take, as well as the reason you take them and any important dosing instructions.
Even the most basic vitamins, dietary supplements, and OTC medications are not always safe. Some items may alter the effects of your medication, while others may have the opposite effect. Learn everything you can about each medication and be aware of any potential side effects.
Excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs available over the counter, for example, may result in gastrointestinal bleeding, headaches, and ulcers. If you take St. John's wort, your birth control pills may become less effective. Both aspirin and gingko biloba have been shown to have blood-thinning properties; however, combining either of these over-the-counter medications with a prescription-only blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin, may increase the risk of stroke or bleeding.
See Your Doctor Regularly
It is essential to have regular contact with your doctor, ideally a neurologist, to assess the effectiveness of the medication as well as the continuing necessity for certain prescriptions. Because your body metabolizes medications differently as you age, you may no longer need to take a therapy that your doctor prescribed for you many years ago. It might be the source of other problems, such as lightheadedness and accidents. Read More…
