Helping you stay on your medication

It is helpful to combine taking your pills with another daily routine such as eating lunch

What you should know:
• Calendars and pill organizers are helpful reminders
•Always take all medication as directed
•Look into generic brand-name equivalents for lower cost options

Related Videos:
•Drug Interactions, http://www.youtube.com/user/CVSPharmacyVideos#grid/user/8167C0AFFB889C79

Related Health Articles:
•Drug Interactions
Remember those high school chemistry experiments in which you mixed two harmless chemicals and got a bizarre reaction? You may be performing a similar experiment on yourself every time you take two medications at the same time. Certain drugs react strongly when taken with others, often causing serious side effects. In rare cases, drug interactions can even be deadly...Read More: http://bit.ly/aCcQ8k
•Drug-Herb Interactions
Herbal supplements are popular these days, but very few people have given up on mainstream medicine. Most of us still pop aspirin, see our physicians regularly, and pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy. Mixing herbs with traditional medicines can be the best of two worlds -- as long as you mix wisely... Read More: http://bit.ly/dhQK26

Transcript
Hi, I'm Melvin Smith and I'm a CVS pharmacist.

Prescription medications can be crucial to maintaining health, but staying on them is a major issue. There are many reasons why patients stop taking their medicines as directed, but there are a few that happen more often. Many people forget to fill their medications, that's why calendars and pill organizers can be helpful tools to help you remember. Another reason for non-adherence is that some medications don't make you feel any different. Crucial medications such as blood pressure and cholesterol controlling drugs may not make you feel any different, so some people may feel like they don't have to take their medications regularly.

No matter what the prescription is for, it's important to take all the medication as directed. Bad side effects such as nausea, dizziness or fatigue can deter people from taking the medication they need to stay healthy. Talk to your doctor or CVS pharmacist. They may be able to suggest tips on how these effects can be managed. Cost issues also stop people from filling prescriptions or taking them properly. Fortunately, most brand-name medications have generic equivalents that offer the same benefits at a lower cost. Always take the medication you need and take it properly.

If you're having difficulty taking your prescribed medication for any reason, talk your CVS pharmacist. We're here to help.

Source: CVS Caremark Health Resources

Category:

Education

Tags:

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