RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

Don’t take a drug unless absolutely necessary. Try a change in diet or exercise instead. Ask your doctor if there’s anything else you can do besides drug therapy for the condition.

Tell your doctor about all the drugs you take. If you have several doctors, make sure they all know what the others are prescribing, and ask one doctor (such as an internist or general practitioner) to coordinate your drugs.

Ask for drugs that treat more than one condition. Blood pressure medicine might also be good for heart disease, for example.

Keep track of side effects. New symptoms may not be from old age but from the drug you’re taking. Try another medication if possible until you find one that works for you.

Learn about your drugs. Find out as much as you can by asking questions and reading the package inserts. Both your doctor and pharmacist should alert you to possible interactions between drugs, how to take any drug properly, and whether there’s a less expensive generic drug available.

Have your doctor review your drugs. If you take a number of drugs, take them all with you on a doctor’s visit.

Ask the doctor, “When can I stop taking this drug?” and, “How do we know this drug is still working?”

Watch your diet. Some drugs are better absorbed with certain foods, and some drugs shouldn’t be taken with certain foods. Ask a pharmacist what foods to take with each drug.

Follow directions. Read the label every time you take the medication to prevent mistakes, and be sure you understand the timing and dosage prescribed.

Don’t forget. Use a memory aid to help you — a calendar, pill box, or your own system. Whatever works for you is best.