New Medication or Treatment?
Things to do to optimize your health status and outcomes
When your health care practitioner prescribes a new medication or treatment there is a series of things you need to do to ensure you get the optimum benefit.
Take a current list of medications with you
First, make sure that the person prescribing this medication or treatment for you has a current list of all of the medications you take routinely as well as your OTC meds for such things as a headache, cough, cold, diarrhea or constipation. You should also include all vitamin and mineral supplements that you take. This is important because many drugs are incompatible or could have interaction problems.
You also want to avoid duplications such as similar medications with different names or medications that have the same action. Using one pharmacy will help with this as the pharmacist should review all of the medications you are taking when filling a new prescription.
Make sure you understand all instructions
It is your responsibility to make sure you understand how to take the medication or perform the treatment. You need to know the name of the medication and how to pronounce it correctly. You are responsible for your health status and outcomes.
Repeat back instructions in your own words to ensure that you understand the directions as well as any side effects or other changes you should look for and report. Ask questions if you don't understand something!
Why is this medication or treatment ordered?
You need to understand why you are to take a medication or perform a treatment and how long you will continue to take the medication or treatment. Do you need to refill a prescription when it runs out? Some medications can have many uses, you need to know why you are taking this medication. For instance a medication might be used to treat bipolar disease, migraine headaches and even seizures. It's important for you to understand the purpose the medication has for you.
How long might it take for this medication or treatment to become effective?
If you don't notice an improvement within this time frame what are you expected to do? Do you call the practitioner and stop the medication? Do you notify the practitioner and wait for further instructions? Do you need to taper off of the medication as opposed to stopping it suddenly?
Know about side effects
What side effects should you report and which should you expect to experience and have to wait for them to subside? For instance, some medications may initially cause some drowsiness, but once your body gets used to the medication this should subside.
Keep a diary of your symptoms and reactions.
Some medications work better when taken at night, especially those that can make you drowsy. Record the time of day and any symptoms you experience. If you are given a medication for high blood pressure, you should learn how to take your blood pressure and then keep a diary of frequent blood pressure readings as well as any initial symptoms such as dizziness or feeling tired.
Request samples
Always ask the practitioner for samples of the medications. Drug companies provide many samples to health care practitioners free of charge. If they don't have any ask for a one week or short term prescription and another for the remainder of the medication with refills as appropriate. Medications can be very expensive and if you have an adverse reaction, or the medication doesn't obtain the desired effect, you don't want to spend a lot of money for medications you can't use and the pharmacy won't take back.
What is the expected outcome?
Understand what the practitioner expects this medication or treatment to accomplish. Most medications are prescribed to treat and manage symptoms; not to cure a disease. For example, pain medications, and cough and cold preparations work to control your symptoms or your perception of them. They don't cure the underlying reason for the symptoms.
Blood pressure and diabetic medications control the disease process, but won't ever cure it. You will most likely take some form of medications for these diseases for the rest of your life, whereas antibiotics are taken for a short time to eradicate a bacterial infection.
Again, if you don't understand something, ask questions. Your pharmacist is a good source of information as well as your health care practitioner.
