MODERN MEDICINES are potent weapons against illness, but for the medicine to work effectively, the patient must be a well-informed responsible individual.
Your pharmacist, as a member of the health care team, can help you become that well informed, responsible patient by providing you with information about your medication.
Things you should know about your medication:
BRAND AND GENERIC NAMES
The brand name of your medication as well as the generic name. The brand name is the name given to a drug by its manufacturer, therefore, there may be several brand names for the same drug, e.g., paracetamol is known as Panadol TM, Tylenol TM and Calpol. The generic name is the name given to the drug and is often related to its chemical structure, e.g., the generic name for Panadol is paracetamol in Europe and Asia, and acetominophen in North America.
THE INDICATION
The illness for which the medication is prescribed. What is the medication used for?
THE DOSE
How much to take at one time (i.e., one or two tablets, one teaspoonful).
THE DOSAGE REGIMEN
How often you should take medication (once per
day, three times per day).
THE DURATION OF THERAPY
How long should you take the medication (until symptoms disappear, until all the medication is finished).
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
When to take it. Before, during or after meals, at bedtime? Food, drink and other medicines to avoid.
Side-effects
Medicine tends to cause effects other than those for which the medication is prescribed. Ask your pharmacist what to do about them? Which can be ignored and which are serious or should be reported to your doctor.
STORAGE
Most medications should be stored in a cool, dry place. Certain medication, e.g., antibiotic liquids, need to be refrigerated. The bathroom is not a good place to store medication because of the amount of moisture in the air, which aids in the deterioration of tablets, in particular.
Medication should always be stored in the container in which it was dispensed. Never place more than one set of medication in a container.
Extract from Your Pharmacist and You: Caring for your Health. Publication of the Barbados Pharmaceutical Society.
