Tips for any patient taking a prescription drug

1. Always follow any specific instructions that you have been given by your doctor. Read the label on your bottle of pills and take notice of what it says!

2. When you're not using them drugs should be stored in a locked cupboard out of reach of children in a room where the temperature will be fairly stable. The bathroom is probably the worst room in the house for storing medicines. Your bedroom - which probably has a more stable temperature - is much better.

3. Never take drugs which were prescribed for someone else. Return all unused supplies of drugs to your chemist.

4. It is wise to assume that all prescribed drugs can cause drowsiness. You shouldn't drive or operate machinery after taking a drug until you are sure that you are safe.

5. Drugs do not mix well with alcohol. If you want to drink while taking drugs ask your doctor whether or not it will be safe.

6. Do not take non-prescribed medicines while taking prescribed drugs.

7. Do not stop taking drugs suddenly if you have been advised to take a full course. Ring your doctor for advice if you need to stop for any reason. Some drugs have to be stopped gradually rather than abruptly.

8. Be on the look out for side effects and remember that if you seem to develop new symptoms while taking a prescription drug then the chances are high that the new symptoms were caused by the treatment you are taking for your original symptoms.

9. Report any side effects to your doctor - and ask him if he's going to report the side effects to the authorities. The vast majority of doctors never bother to report side effects - with the result that potentially hazardous drugs remain on the market for far longer than they should.

10. If you need to see a doctor while taking a drug make sure he knows what you are taking - particularly if he intends to prescribe new treatment for you. Many drugs do not mix well together and may, indeed, react together in a dangerous way.


Copyright Vernon Coleman 2003