Senior News February, 2004 Vol. 25. No. 2

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Easter Seals addresses needs of people with early dementia

How the new Medicare changes affect you - Part II

Senior News readers return surveys

Great news for Fortuna seniors

Review: You're not sick, you're thirsty, by F. Batmanghelidj, MD

You and your medications

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Health News
You and your medications
by Patrick J. Dawson, MD

Medicines are an almost inevitable feature of health care. Unfortunately, they are also a fertile source of side effects and interactions, misunderstandings and misadventures. They can cause potentially serious health consequences. Keeping medicines straight and to a minimum is a responsibility you share with your physician.

Be familiar with your medications. Keep a list that includes the drug name, its strength and the dosage schedule. Your physician, your pharmacist or the bottle label can provide this information. Keep the list with you. Have it available for ambulance or the emergency room or anyone else who may need to refer to it. Telling someone that you take "a little blue pill" is not of much help. Better health care can be ensured by having an updated accurate list.

When you visit your physician bring your list and all your medicine bottles and tubes and containers, including drugs you have purchased without a prescription. It is not just prescription drugs which contribute to potential medicine-related problems.

Have your physician review the pills and bottles with you. Discuss the indication and use of each one. Clarify the dosage and the timing. Know why you are taking the medicine. What are potential side effects and interactions?

Your pharmacist can help with some of this. Medicines you have purchased without a prescription require the same scrutiny. Get rid of unnecessary medicines and throw out empty or old bottles. These can be a source of confusion.

Check with your physician about the prescription refill policy. Do you need to be seen each time? Do you call the pharmacist or your physician? If you have a mail order pharmacy it is your responsibility to inform the physician of the guidelines expected by your mail order plan. Your physician may not be aware of these differences. Call for a prescription renewal at least several days before you run out of the medication. Have the bottles and your list in front of you when you speak with the pharmacist or the physician's office.

Physicians may not know exactly what your pills cost. It is general knowledge, though, that they are expensive. Ask about the availability of samples, especially with new medications you are just starting. Use the free samples to see if you can tolerate the new drug. Ask about generics. Not all medicines have generic equivalents yet, or your physician may have a reason for recommending a brand name drug.

Every medication, including ones you purchase without a prescription, should be held to the same expectations - the drug should help control or eliminate the problem and do so without ruining your life with side effects. People react differently, so a particular medicine may not work the same way for you as it does for the friend who recommended it to you. Dosages and strength, and even side effects, vary. Not every side effect you read or hear about will necessarily happen. Some are transient, some do not require stopping the medication. All of this can and should be reviewed with your physician.

You and your physician share a partnership to maintain or improve your health. Medications are an inevitable part of that partnership but must be used with caution by you and your physician.

Dr. Patrick Dawson is an internal medical physician in Eureka. This column is provided through the Humboldt-Del Norte County Medical Society. The opinions reflected in this article are those of the individual physician. Comments can be e-mailed to the Medical Society at www.humboldt1.com/~medsoc.