Easy Steps to Keep Medicine Prescriptions Safe

Medicines, meant to help us get well, can do more harm than good. Here are some easy steps that you can take to make sure that every prescription works to your advantage:

Insist of understanding clearly how many units of the medicine you need to take each day, when you need to take it, how to take it and for how long.

Keep the medicine away from children and pets, and remember that another person, even with the same symptoms as you, should not take medicine that has been prescribed for you.

Ask about likely side-effects and potential harmful effects. A doctor may take some risks in your best interests, but you have a right to know, and should be aware of what to expect.

Your own ability to tolerate medicines could change from time to time. Do not use an old prescription.

Call your primary care physician promptly should you feel unwell after taking any medicine.

Do not add to your medicine chest without your doctor’s prior approval. Medicines can react with each other.

Ask you doctor for a prescription if you plan to travel away from home for a few days or for longer, especially if it is away from your own country. Try and keep an emergency medical contact handy for each of the places you plan to visit.

Keep a record of prescriptions in your medical file.

Keep a record on your person that emergency personnel can easily see, about essential medicine that you take on a regular basis, your blood group and RH type and information on known allergies.

Dispose off unused medicines away from public water bodies and soil, and away from the reach of stray animals as well. Your pharmacy can help you with proper and safe disposal.