Whether it's a drug prescribed by a doctor or just a bottle of acetaminophen , medications require some special care.
The United States Food and Drug Administration and the American Pharmaceutical Association provide some tips for safely using and storing medications. And remember, these rules apply to nonprescription drugs, such as ibuprofen and cold medicine, as well as prescription drugs. Even vitamins (especially those containing iron) can be very dangerous if inadvertently taken in excess—most commonly by young children.
If a medication is in your house, know what it is for. Whether the doctor prescribed it or it's just an over-the-counter drug, if you don't know what it's for, find out. Read the label and if you don't understand anything you read, take the bottle to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist.
Here's what you need to know about any drug you take:
Medications can degrade if they get too hot, too moist, or too cold. When a medication degrades it may become less effective, totally ineffective, or possibly even dangerous to take.
Note: The bathroom cabinet is not a cool, dry place.
The bathroom may be a convenient place to keep medications, but it is probably the most moist room in the house, so don't keep your medications there. Try putting them in a kitchen cabinet. And don't leave them in your car where they will be exposed to extreme temperatures.
This is the only way to ensure that you know what medication is in the container. Plus, if you have side effects or a bad reaction to a medication, the medical personnel who try to help you need to know what you have taken.
Check expiration dates and throw away expired medication by flushing it down the toilet. Pour the medicine down the toilet and wash out the container and throw it away in the trash. Do not use any medications after they expire. All medications expire, even aspirin and cold medicine. When a medication expires it may become less effective or totally ineffective, or it may even degrade to a point where it is dangerous to take.
If a medication is not prescribed for you, don't take it. You don't know how the drug will affect you, and you don't know how it will interact with other drugs you take or food and drink you consume.
Sometimes when symptoms clear up and you're feeling better, you're tempted to stop taking a medication. If your doctor prescribes a medication, take all of it as directed. Many medications, such as antibiotics, do much more than relieve symptoms. They are working inside your body, whether you are aware of it or not. Stopping medications early can cause your illness to relapse, or even worse, it can lead to more virulent infections.
If a medication is causing unpleasant side effects or is not working for you, tell your doctor. There may be other medications you could take or medications that can control the side effects. Don't suffer through unpleasant side effects, but don't stop taking the medication either. Talk to your doctor.
RESOURCES:
American Pharmacists Association
http://www.aphanet.org
United States Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Pharmacists Association
www.pharmacists.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
References:
American Pharmacists Association website. Available at: http://www.aphanet.org.
United States Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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