Put Your Medications to Work for You

Doctors prescribe medicine to help you get healthy. Medications won't help, though, if you don’t take them correctly. These tips can help you take your medicine as you should:

• Read the instructions. Many drugs need to be taken in a certain way to work. Some need to be taken with food. Others need to be refrigerated. Read the label closely. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you need help taking the medicine correctly.

• Remember to take the medicine. Make a list of the drugs you take and the times you take them. Post the list where you will see it. For example, put it on your refrigerator or your bathroom mirror.

• Take the correct amount. Taking more or less than prescribed can hurt you.

• Ask your doctor about side effects. Some drugs have side effects. Most side effects fade after a few days or weeks. Unless you have a serious reaction, don’t stop taking a medicine before you talk with your doctor.

• Finish all of your prescription. Many drugs, such as antibiotics, won’t work unless you finish the entire prescription. Even if you feel better before you finish the medicine, take it for as long as your doctor says.

Medication directions can be very confusing. Always call your doctor or your pharmacist if you have any questions.