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Questions To Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist

Thursday, May 14, 2015



The range of medications and treatments available to cure what ails us is simply amazing. Your doctor can prescribe something for almost any sickness or virus. In a simple world, your pharmacist then fills your meds and you are on your way to getting healthy. However, there are some things to keep in mind any time you get a new medicine or treatment. It is extremely important that you talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to expect and what to do to make sure you stay as healthy and happy as possible. Just because you trust your medical team doesn’t mean you shouldn’t question them about doses, side effects, and more. In the very least, it can help make your transition easier and even possibly save your life.

Knowing the name and intended use of all of your medicine is a must. You may see a family physician and a specialist regularly. Don’t depend on each of them to automatically know what meds you are taking. Remember that they see several patients regularly and it’s impossible to remember every single one of them. Know what the purpose of your medicine is and what it does for you. When any of your doctors proceed to prescribe an additional item, it is okay to ask them if it will cause any interference with existing prescriptions and their purpose.

Asking about side effects right when your doctor is prescribing can also be very beneficial and save you aggravation later on. Drugs go through vigorous testing so there will be a list of possible side effects readily available. While this is handy, you shouldn’t rely on this list solely. Ask about specifics of your life and how they could interfere. For example, do you operate heavy machinery, smoke, or drink alcohol? These are all things that could be majorly affected by prescription medication. Certain foods can also cause reactions along with various vitamin supplements. While you may not get a complete list of things that can cause issues, you will at least have a better understanding.

Another important question to ask is what you should do if you forget to take a dosage or take it incorrectly. For example, say your med requires a dosage in the morning and one in the evening. Asking your doctor what you should if you forget one of those dosages will ensure you continue to take it properly without causing yourself harm. Also ask how you should store the prescription. You would be surprised at how many medicines become inactive when exposed to sunlight for too long. Many should be stored in a dark cabinet while others may need to be refrigerated. Knowing how to properly store them will also be helpful if you need to travel or take them with you to work every day.

Additional research via apps or the internet never hurt, but these methods definitely can’t tell you as much as your trusted medical team. They know what other meds you are on and what has or hasn’t worked for you in the past by having access to your medical history. Plus, if there is a problem, they will be better suited to help. With so much information floating around on the Internet, self-diagnosis can be easy to get wrong. After speaking with your doctor or pharmacist, you can always do more research on your own but never be afraid to ask them directly if you realize you need more information. Medicines are made to optimize your health and overall quality of life.  By making sure you are fully informed, you are ensuring that they do just that. Also make sure you are saving on your new meds with your FreeRxPlus card! Head over to www.freerxplus.com to print or request yours today and get on the road to health and savings.

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