The power of modern medications is incredible. From curing illnesses to reducing pain to solving nutritional deficiencies — it can seem as if there is very little that a pill can’t fix. At the same time, it is important to understand that many medications can pose danger if they are mismanaged. And the more medications you are taking, the easier it becomes to make a mistake. Understanding the basics of medication safety can help you optimize your results while minimizing side effects and other risks. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Take an Active Approach to Understanding Your Condition and Treatment.
Until just a few decades ago, many doctors subscribed to the notion that their patients should only be given medical information on a need-to-know basis. In recent years, however, the medical community has come to a consensus that people fare best when they become active participants in their healthcare. In order for this to happen, however, you must take initiative. Asking questions whenever in doubt, finding trusted resources to learn more about your condition, and always reading the full labels of your medications carefully are a few good ways of getting started.
2. Don’t Stop or Start a Medication Without Consulting Your Doctor.
This is one of the most common — and one of the most harmful — medication mistakes. It often occurs when people become frustrated by side effects or fear that their medications are not working effectively. If you have doubts about either of these issues, however, contacting your healthcare provider is the first step you should take before making any changes. Similarly, if you feel that an old health condition is flaring up, you should make an appointment before taking those old medications you have stored away.
3. Get Organized.
There are no right or wrong ways of organizing your medication schedule. Everyone is different, and the important thing is that your strategy works for you. All the same, a few common tricks that you may wish to try out include:
- Using a daily pill organizer
- Setting alarms on your phone
- Asking a family member or friend for a reminder.
- Writing or printing a schedule and displaying it prominently.
- Creating a medication journal and making a log each time you take a medication.
4. Have open and honest conversations with your doctors and pharmacist.
It is important that your doctors and pharmacists know about all your health conditions, all your medication use, your diet, and any drug/alcohol use. Without this information, the treatment choices they make could put you in danger.
5. Take proper storage seriously.
Pills that have been exposed to extreme temperature, high humidity, direct sunlight, and other adverse conditions can become ineffective — or, worse, dangerous. So pay attention to the storage directions listed with your meds, and be sure to follow these instructions to the tee.
6. Understand that medications have their limits.
Generally speaking, for example, virtually all medications work best when supplemented with a healthy diet and lifestyle. This is especially true of medications that are subscribed to help manage pain. If you are looking for natural ways of making your pain medications more effective, then we encourage you to visit Last Stop 4 Pain online
