Prescriptions play a vital role in health management. They are the medications or treatments required to follow a comprehensive treatment pathway, and as such, your doctor will consider the correct dosage to use, help find a medical aid that works best for you, and will make sure simultaneous prescriptions are balanced in the interest of complete health.
Prescriptions are given to validate access to medications that may be scheduled for medicinal purposes only. Your doctor will monitor your progress while using the medication while making adjustments to it where necessary.
It's always imperative to manage prescriptions appropriately and understand how to properly follow them on a day-to-day basis.
How To Safely Manage Prescriptions
When given a prescription for a particular medication, it’s important to manage its use correctly. Here are some key steps to follow:
Learn as much as you can about the medication.
Don’t be afraid of asking questions, even if they seem silly. Your doctor will be happy to answer them. Your inquiries might be around dosages, when to take the medicine, what side effects there could be, and of course, how it will positively impact your medical condition.
Always read the pamphlet provided with your medication. It will help you learn everything about the medication you’ve been prescribed and gain additional answers to any lingering questions you might have. The pamphlet should also indicate what to do in the effect of an adverse reaction. Do not throw this informational sheet away.
Understand why the medication was prescribed.
If medication has side effects, you may question its utility as a treatment. It’s important to remember that it’s been prescribed for a reason, such as for reducing inflammation or helping with blood pressure. Understanding your medication’s purpose will help inspire you to complete the course.
Follow all instructions given by your healthcare provider.
This will help you contextualize the medicine as part of your treatment plan, and you will be encouraged to share updates about its effects on you. It’s also important to keep a list of your prescriptions to make sure you avoid negative interactions with other drugs (if you ever end up needing emergency treatment and other medications are administered). Keep in contact with your caregivers, providers, and pharmacist alike.
What To Do When Your Prescription Needs To Be Refilled
Depending on the parameters of your prescription, you may need to refill after your current allotment has been used.
In this case, you may need to have your doctor sign off on another prescription, or if it’s a repeating subscription until your treatment is concluded, you may be able to simply return to your pharmacy to purchase your next refill.
Pharmacies are often private, and depending on your insurance coverage or public health subsidies, you may be able to cut the cost of your medication.
In some cases, pharmacies also offer scheduled deliveries to make sure you always have a new set of medication before your current stock runs out. With that said, it’s beneficial to visit your pharmacy in-person to become familiar with your pharmacists.
Why It’s Important To Use Medications Only As Prescribed
Medications should only ever be used as instructed, or as recommended by the pamphlet within the medication. Always follow your doctor’s advice no matter what. Some of the risks of failing to adhere to this include:
- Addiction issues - Remember that addiction is easy to fall into with some medications, which is why they might be controlled. For example, strong painkillers can be abused and lead to damaging results. Only ever use the correct dosage prescribed to you.
- Harmful combinations - Some medications are not suitable for dual consumption. It’s essential to make sure your prescriptions do not interact in a harmful manner. Your doctor will be able to help you with identifying compatible medications.
- Overdosing - Overdoses can lead to pronounced health effects, unwanted symptoms, or in certain instances, even death. Make sure you only take the amount of pills as directed.
A good method of keeping up with your prescription as directed is to set alarms for taking medication, and split up capsules into pill trays that outline the days of the week. This way, you can help avoid accidental overdosages.
Remember to seek medical treatment if you believe you’ve taken more than your stated dose, even if you feel fine.
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At Community Healthcare Partners, we’re invested in the well-being of all patients. We can help individuals practice safe management and administering of their prescriptions.
Contact us through our online form or call one of our locations today!