There are many medical conditions that may be helped by taking a prescribed medication. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that $457 billion was spent on drugs in 2015. This is one way to either help control your ailment or work to cure it entirely. However, you probably don’t think of the medicines you have in your home on a regular basis. Here are some things you should keep in mind if you regularly take any type of prescription medication.
Use a pill identifier
If you take more than one medication regularly, it’s easy to get confused at times. For instance, when you get all of your prescriptions filled, you could take the wrong pill by mistake.
Another thing you will want to keep in mind is if you get a new prescription and it’s the first time getting these pills. You may want to double-check to ensure your pharmacy has delivered the right medications to you.
One way to do this with ease is by using a pill identifier. This will allow you to quickly learn what pill you’re taking, in case of mislabeling or confusion, to ensure it’s what you think it’s supposed to be.
Go through your cabinet
It’s easy to keep adding things to your medicine cabinet without taking the time to review what you have there. You may have dealt with a lot of sicknesses lately and didn’t invest the necessary effort into looking closely at your medicines.
It’s a great idea to go through any areas or places that you put your medication on a routine basis. This could be something you plan on doing at least once a month.
Decluttering this area of your home is always a good idea and can allow you to avoid taking any medication that may have recently expired.
Communicating with your pharmacist
One of the best ways to know about the medications you’ve been prescribed and how these may affect your body is by speaking directly with a professional. It’s a good idea to get all of your drugs from one location, and this can help you build a relationship with the pharmacy.
Be sure to ask what side effects you could experience from taking certain medications and when you should throw medicines away that doesn’t have an expiration date on these. This may be the key to helping you avoid getting sick or dealing with a medical emergency that you simply don’t want to deal with at any time.
Noticing issues with medicine
One thing that may assist you is being aware of signs that your medications have gone bad and you shouldn’t take these. Some things you should look for are below:
- Odor – If any of your medications have a bad or strong smell, you will want to avoid taking these.
- Color – If you notice any medicines that change in color all of the sudden, you may want to throw these in the trash.
- Consistency – Pills or liquid medications that have gotten too soft or too thick in consistency should be evaluated by a medical provider before taking these.
The best way to care for your body is being aware of what you put inside of it each day. You will want to do all you can to be certain any medications you’re taking are in the best possible condition. The best way to avoid an issue with your prescription drugs may rest in being proactive and knowing what to do to ensure your safety!
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