Tips on Self Medication Administration
Self medication administration can be overwhelming and confusing but it is something that needs to be done right for best results. Your Doctor may prescribe a wide range of medications that can treat you from constipation to heart disease. The older we get the more prone for getting sick we become and for this reason a lot of people take a hand-full of pills. Every person develops their own pill-taking strategy effectively but at times we may get frustrated because we may experience side effects, forget to take the darn pills, or just refuse to take them. Anyhow, you need to stick with your treatment plan no matter what if you want to stay healthy. Here are a few things you need to remember about your own medication administrationYou need to know the names of your medications. This is very important especially when you visit your Doctor. If you don’t know their names or are having trouble remembering things, write them on piece of paper and stick it in your wallet or your purse. You need to include the name of the medication, dose, time you take them, and what you take them for. Write the generic name and the brand name. While you are at it write down your allergies.Take your medications as scheduled. Take them at the same time every day and never stop taking them without discussing it with your Doctor. Never change your medications or take someone else's. Do not share your medications with others either. If you stop taking your medications, your condition can get worse or you may have withdrawal symptoms. Certain medications can cause withdrawals.Develop a plan to remember taking your medications. Place them on a spot you are going to see them. Put them in a pill box for the entire week. You may want to fill it at the beginning of the week. Most pill boxes have the days of the week on them. Keep a medicine calendar near by or a note book to keep a medication administration record. This is so you can write the date and time you took your medications. This will help you remember whether you took your pills or not. If your Doctor has prescribed new medications make sure you pay special attention to medication reactions after you take them. Take your medications until they are gone. If you need a refill make sure you do it a few days in advance so you don’t run out.If you are taking antibiotics, you need to take them until they are gone. Do not stop taking them even if you feel better. This is because the organism being treated may develop a resistance to those antibiotics. Take them with food to prevent stomach upset. Some people develop flu like symptoms when taking antibiotics. If you do, discuss it with your Doctor.Never take any over the counter medications without discussing it with your Doctor. Some of the medications may worsen your condition. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it’s too close for your next dose. Never take two doses to “catch up”. Call your Doctor for recommendations. If you have financial problems and do not have enough money to purchase your medications, let your Doctor know.Make sure you take your medications when traveling. Take enough of them so you won’t run out. Always read the instructions on the bottle carefully. For example, a Digoxin prescription is written like this:Digoxin 0.125 one tab every day. Pay special attention to numbers like that. It is not (1.25) If you are going to have a procedure done, any procedure, make sure you tell the health care provider the name of the medications you are taking and your allergies. Write down all the questions regarding your medications so you can ask your Doctor or pharmacistAlways read the instructions about possible medication interactions and side effects. If you experience any side effects to any of your medications, stop taking that medication and report it to your Doctor immediately.Learn how to check your blood pressure and your pulse if you don’t know how. Some medications can lower your heart rate and your blood pressure. If it is too low, do not take the medication that is affecting your heart rate and blood pressure and call your Doctor immediately.Self medication administration is a part of life for those who are experiencing health problems. If you are not taking any medications consider yourself lucky.
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