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The Importance of Taking Your Medicine
By Kirby Horton of Rx HELP
With the escalating prices of medicines in the market putting a strain on the finances of anyone who is under medication, it is but imperative that you know how to get the most out of the medicines you are taking. By taking medicine as prescribed by your doctor or healthcare provider, you can reduce:
• The effects of your condition
• The chance of being hospitalized for your condition
• Your chances of having side effects and adverse reactions
• Your total healthcare costs by avoiding additional doctor visits, possible hospitalizations, side effects and adverse reactions, and a worsening condition
Now then, how can you utilize your medicine to its fullest? Take note of these suggestions.
Know Your Medicines. Discuss thoroughly with your doctor or healthcare provider what your medications are for, what they do to you, how they affect your condition and what side effects or reactions you can expect from them. You might as well ask him what other medicine, food, activity to avoid, and what other extra precautions to take in order for your medicine to work at its best. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor if you have questions regarding certain medicines; the more you become aware of what you are taking, the more you know the role they play in your condition. After all, who would be the best to get answers about your medications from than the one who prescribed them to you, right?
Keep Track of Your Schedule. Be sure you understand how much of each medicine to take and when to take each one. Ask your doctor if you can simplify your medicine schedule. This may make it easier for you to remember to take your medicines as directed. At home, develop a medical strategy that you find yourself comfortable with, such as re-writing your medicine schedule on your planner or setting alarms for them. Find out, too, what to do in case you miss your dose.
Consider The Costs. Don’t be shy in letting your doctor or healthcare provider know how you feel about the cost of the medicine he prescribes. If you just keep mum about it, yet you know deep inside that you may not be able to take the medication he prescribes because you cannot afford them is tantamount to putting all the precious time and money spent on doctor’s visit. You can also check out other sources of cheap—or even free!—medicine such as Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), shop around for local pharmacies and compare prices, or ask your doctor if a generic or a similar, but cheaper brand will do the same than the one he prescribes.
Do a Lifestyle Check. Reassess your daily routine. Do you drink and smoke? Are you a vegetarian or meat-lover? How many hours do you sleep? What are your stressors? How often and what do you do to relax and unwind? What kind of work do you do? These factors also play an important in the efficacy of your medications. By being aware of how your lifestyle affects your condition you can devise or adapt your daily routine to utilize your medications to its full potential.
Together with a positive outlook in life, knowing the important role medicines play in your health and well-being not only ensures that you are getting your money’s worth, you are also geared towards faster and better recovery!
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The copyright for this content entitled "The Importance of Taking Your Medicine" has been specified by the contributor as:
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0
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This intel was contributed by khorton
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May, 2012
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