Playing It Safe with Meds

(HealthScoutNews) -- If you sometimes have questions about the safe use of prescription and over-the-counter medications, there's a new brochure to help you.

Think It Through: A Guide to Managing the Benefits and Risks of Medicines is now available from the U.S. Pharmacopeia's Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety.

The eight-page brochure provides consumer information on five critical steps in making informed decisions and safely using medications. Those steps are: talk, know, read, avoid, monitor.

No medicine is entirely risk-free and these five steps help consumers lower the risks and get full benefit from medications.

Here's what the brochure says:

• Talk with your doctor, pharmacist or other health-care professional about medications. Keep an up-to-date list of medicines and dietary supplements that you use. Always ask questions about any concerns you may have.

• Know your prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Be informed about when, how and how long to use them, what to do if you miss a dose, and about possible side effects.

• Always read the label and follow directions. Doublecheck that you have the correct medicine. Never combine medicines in the same bottle. Be certain you understand the directions. If you have any questions or concerns, ask a health-care professional.

• Avoid interactions. Before you start using any new medicine or dietary supplement, find out about any potential interactions with products you're already using. If possible, get all your medications from the same pharmacy.

• Monitor the effects your medicines have on you. Pay attention to how you're feeling. Write down any changes to help you remember them when talking with your doctor or pharmacist.

More information

Here's where you can get a free copy of the brochure.

Reference Source 101

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