SECTION I: Be Involved in Your Healthcare - What Should I know About My Medicines?

 

Help your healthcare professional help you. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about your healthcare.
What Can You Do?

  The following tips help make your care safe and lead to the results you want.  
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What Should I Know About My Medicines?

Going to the Doctor:
- Bring ALL of your medicines, vitamins, herbal remedies and dietary supplements with you to each visit.
- Your doctor should know of all of the medicines you are taking to prevent drug interactions problems.
- If your medication has expired, let your doctor know, and throw out expired medicines.
- Ask
why the doctor is giving you the medicine.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any allergies and reactions you have had to medicines
.

Going to the Pharmacy:
- If possible, get all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy.

- Your pharmacist can check for drug interactions.
- When you pick up your medication make sure it is the right medicine with the right dose.

- If you have any questions on how to take your medicine, be sure to ask your pharmacist.
- If you do not understand the medicine label, have the pharmacist write out how to take the medicine in words you can understand.
- Ask your pharmacist how much liquid to drink or food to eat when taking your medicine (Some medicines should not be taken with food).
- For children, explain to them why they have to take it and do not treat it like candy.
- DON'T share your prescription with family or friends.

Make a List of Your MedicinesDose of Each
-Know what you are taking. Click here for more information.
-
Keep an up-to-date list of all your medicines, including over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin
- Know your dose amounts.
- Know the times that you need to take them.

Storing Your Medicines
- Keep all medicines in one place so they are not lost.
- Store your medicines according to the directions given by your doctor or pharmacist.

Medicine Card - Make sure you are getting the correct medicine and dosage.
- Fill in, print and take with you to the doctor
- Fill in, print and take with you to the pharmacy

Spanish Version -Revise Sus Medicamentos
Ask questions - Asking questions will help you understand your care

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