How is high blood pressure treated?
High blood pressure medicines (also called antihypertensive
medicines) can help lower your blood pressure. The goal of treatment
is to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels with medicine
that's easy to take and has few, if any, side effects. Your doctor
may also talk to you about the benefits of lifestyle changes, such
as eating a healthy diet, being physically active and losing weight
if you're overweight.
What are some common medicines to treat high blood pressure?
There are 8 types of medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
Your doctor will decide which type of medicine is right for you.
Diuretics (water pills) help your body get rid
of extra sodium (salt) and water so your blood vessels don't have to
hold so much fluid. Some examples of diuretics include
chlorthalidone (brand name: Thalitone), furosemide (brand name:
Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (brand name: Esidrix) and indapamide
(brand name: Lozol). Your doctor may also prescribe a combination of
diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide combined with triamterene
(brand names: Dyazide, Maxzide).
Beta-blockers make the heart beat slower so that
blood passes through your blood vessels with less force. Some
examples of beta-blockers include acebutolol (brand name: Sectral),
atenolol (brand name: Tenormin), carvedilol (brand name: Coreg),
metoprolol (brand names: Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (brand name:
Corgard), propranolol (brand name: Inderal) and timolol (brand name:
Blocadren).
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (also
called ACE inhibitors) keep your body from making angiotensin II, a
hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow. Some examples of ACE
inhibitors include benazepril (brand name: Lotensin), enalapril
(brand name: Vasotec), lisinopril (brand names: Prinivil, Zestril),
quinapril (brand name: Accupril), ramipril (brand name: Altace) and
trandolapril (brand name: Mavik).
Calcium channel blockers (also called CCBs) help
keep your blood vessels from constricting (becoming narrow) by
blocking calcium from entering your cells. Some examples of CCBs
include amlodipine (brand name: Norvasc), diltiazem (brand names:
Cardizem, Cartia, Dilacor, Tiazac), felodipine (brand name: Plendil),
nicardipine (brand name: Cardene), nifedipine (brand names: Adalat,
Procardia) and verapamil (some brand names: Calan, Covera, Isoptin,
Verelan).
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (also called
ARBs) protect your blood vessels from the effects of angiotensin II.
Some examples of ARBs include candesartan (brand name: Atacand),
irbesartan (brand name: Avapro), losartan (brand name: Cozaar),
olmesartan (brand name: Benicar), telmisartan (brand name: Micardis)
and valsartan (brand name: Diovan).
Alpha-blockers help relax your blood vessels by
reducing nerve impulses. This allows your blood to pass through more
easily. Some examples of alpha-blockers include doxazosin (brand
name: Cardura), prazosin (brand name: Minipress) and terazosin
(brand name: Hytrin).
Centrally acting drugs affect your brain and
central nervous system to reduce the nerve impulses that can cause
your blood vessels to narrow. Some examples of centrally acting
drugs include clonidine (brand name: Catapres) and methyldopa.
Direct vasodilators relax the muscles in the
blood vessel walls. This causes the blood vessels to widen. Some
examples of vasodilators include hydralazine (brand name: Apresoline)
and minoxidil (brand name: Loniten).
Do these medicines have any side effects?
Like all medicines, high blood pressure drugs can cause side
effects. However, the side effects usually are not severe and are
not experienced very often. Some common side effects of high blood
pressure medicines include the following:
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Extreme tiredness, weakness, drowsiness or lethargy (extreme
lack of energy)
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Nervousness or increased anxiety
- Chest pain, heart palpitations (the feeling that your heart
is racing) or arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
- Cough, fever, congestion, upper respiratory tract infection
or "flu-like" symptoms
- Skin rash
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if your side effects become
severe.
What is a drug interaction?
If you use 2 or more drugs at the same time, the way your body
processes each drug can change. When this happens, the risk of side
effects from each drug increases and each drug may not work the way
it should. This is called a "drug-drug interaction." Vitamins and
herbal supplements can affect the way your body processes drugs too.
Certain foods or drinks can also prevent your medicine from
working the way it should or make side effects worse. This is called
a "drug-food interaction." For example, people taking certain CCBs
may need to avoid having grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
Be certain that your doctor knows all of the over-the-counter and
prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements that you are
taking.
Also, ask your doctor whether you need to avoid any foods or
drinks while using your blood pressure medicine.
Why did my doctor prescribe cholesterol-lowering
medicine for me?
Lowering your "bad" cholesterol (also called LDL, or
low-density lipoprotein) can reduce your risk of having a
heart attack or stroke. A number of lifestyle changes can
help you improve your cholesterol level (see the box below).
However, if these lifestyle changes don't help after about 6
months to 1 year, your doctor may suggest medicine to lower
your cholesterol.
Even if you take cholesterol-lowering medicine, it's
important to keep up with your lifestyle changes. Eating a
healthy diet and being physically active can make your
medicine more effective. Your doctor can give you tips on
how to make healthy food choices and include physical
activity in your daily routine.
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Lifestyle changes
- Avoid smoking cigarettes or using any other
tobacco product.
- Get regular physical activity.
- Eat a healthy low-fat diet that includes
lots of fruits and vegetables.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink.
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What are some common cholesterol-lowering medicines?
Several types of medicine are used to treat high
cholesterol levels. Your doctor will decide which type of
medicine is right for you. He or she may prescribe more than
1 of these drugs at a time because combinations of these
medicines can be more effective.
Statins (also called HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitors) slow down your body's production of cholesterol.
These drugs also remove cholesterol buildup from your
arteries (blood vessels). Examples of statins include
atorvastatin (brand name: Lipitor), fluvastatin (brand name:
Lescol), lovastatin (brand names: Altocor, Mevacor),
pravastatin (brand name: Pravachol), rosuvastatin (brand
name: Crestor) and simvastatin (brand name: Zocor).
Resins (also called bile acid
sequestrants) help lower your LDL cholesterol level. Some
examples of bile acid sequestrants include cholestyramine
(brand names: Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (brand name:
Welchol) and colestipol (brand name: Colestid).
Fibrates (also called fibric acid
derivatives) help lower your cholesterol by reducing the
amount of triglycerides (fats) in your body and by
increasing your level of "good" cholesterol (also called HDL,
or high-density lipoprotein). Some examples of fibrates
include fenofibrate (brand names: Antara, Lofibra, Tricor)
and gemfibrozil (brand name: Lopid).
Niacin (also called nicotinic acid) is a
B vitamin. When given in large doses, it can lower your
levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, and increase
your HDL cholesterol level. Even though you can buy niacin
without a prescription, you should not take it to lower your
cholesterol unless your doctor prescribes it for you. It can
cause serious side effects.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors help
lower your cholesterol by reducing the amount that is
absorbed by your intestines. Ezetimibe (brand name: Zetia)
is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor. This type of medicine
is often given in combination with a statin. The combination
of ezetimibe and simvastatin (brand name: Vytorin) is an
example.
Do cholesterol-lowering medicines have any side effects?
Like all medicines, these drugs can cause side effects.
However, the side effects usually are not severe and are not
experienced very often.
Common side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs include
the following:
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Abdominal pain, cramps, bloating or gas
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Headache
- Drowsiness or dizziness
- Muscle aches or weakness
- Flushing (skin turning red and warm)
- Sleep problems
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if your side effects
become severe.
What is a drug interaction?
If you use 2 or more drugs at the same time, the way your
body processes each drug can change. When this happens, the
risk of side effects from each drug increases and each drug
may not work the way it should. This is called a "drug-drug
interaction." Vitamins and herbal supplements can affect the
way your body processes drugs too.
Certain foods or drinks can also prevent your medicine
from working the way it should or make side effects worse.
This is called a "drug-food interaction"
Drug-drug interactions and drug-food interactions can be
dangerous. Be certain that your doctor knows all of the
over-the-counter and prescription medicines, vitamins and
herbal supplements that you are taking. Also, talk to your
doctor before you take any new over-the-counter or
prescription medicine, or use a vitamin or herbal
supplement.
It's important to take medicines exactly as your doctor
tells you to. Ask your doctor whether you need to avoid any
foods or drinks while using your cholesterol-lowering
medicine.
Why did my doctor prescribe oral diabetes
medicine for me?
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body's tissues
do not get enough insulin. This results in high
blood sugar. Some people who have type 2 diabetes
don't make enough insulin. Other people make enough
insulin but their bodies are not able to use it
properly.
Some people who have type 2 diabetes need to take
insulin in shots to help control their blood sugar
levels. Most take pills by mouth (oral medicine) to
help control their diabetes. People who take insulin
may also need to take 1 or more of these oral
medicines.
What are some common oral diabetes medicines?
There are 5 types of oral diabetes medicines.
Your doctor will decide which type of medicine is
right for you. He or she may prescribe more than 1
of these drugs at a time because combinations of
these medicines are often more effective.
Sulfonylureas help your body
make more insulin. These are the most common type of
oral diabetes medicine. Some examples of
sulfonylureas include acetohexamide (brand name:
Dymelor), chlorpropamide (brand name: Diabinese),
glipizide (brand name: Glucotrol) and glyburide
(brand names: DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase).
Metformin (brand name:
Glucophage) helps control blood sugar in 3 ways. It
helps your body use insulin better. It also helps
your body make less sugar and reduces the amount of
sugar your body absorbs from food. It almost never
causes low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Meglitinides help your body make
more insulin. Examples include nateglinide (brand
name: Starlix) and repaglinide (brand name: Prandin).
These pills are usually taken with meals.
Thiazolidinediones help your
body use insulin better. They also help your body
make less sugar. People who take this type of
medicine have to get liver tests on a regular basis.
There are 2 kinds of thiazolidinediones:
pioglitazone (brand name: Actos) and rosiglitazone
(brand name: Avandia).
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
help your body absorb sugar more slowly to keep your
blood sugar lower. This type of medicine is taken
every time you eat a meal. There are 2 kinds of
alphaglucosidase inhibitors: acarbose (brand name:
Precose) and miglitol (brand name: Glyset).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
also approved the following drugs that combine
metformin with another oral diabetes medicine:
glyburide combined with metformin (brand name:
Glucovance), glipizide combined with metformin
(brand name: Metaglip) and rosiglitazone combined
with metformin (brand name: Avandamet).
Do these medicines have any side effects?
Like all medicines, these drugs can cause side
effects. However, the side effects usually are not
severe and are not experienced very often. Some
common side effects of oral diabetes medicines may
include the following:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gas and bloating
- Decreased appetite
- Headache and/or muscle aches
- Flu- or cold-like symptoms
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if your side
effects become severe.
What is a drug interaction?
If you use 2 or more drugs at the same time, the
way your body processes each drug can change. When
this happens, the risk of side effects from each
drug increases and each drug may not work the way it
should. This is called a "drug-drug interaction."
Vitamins and herbal supplements can affect the way
your body processes drugs too.
Certain foods or drinks can also prevent your
medicine from working the way it should or make side
effects worse. This is called a "drug-food
interaction." For example, if you’re taking an oral
diabetes medicine, drinking alcohol can increase
your risk of low blood sugar.
Drug-drug interactions and drug-food interactions
can be dangerous. Be certain that your doctor knows
all of the over-the-counter and prescription
medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements that you
are taking. Also, talk to your doctor before you
take any new over-the-counter or prescription
medicine or use a vitamin or herbal supplement.
It's important to take medicines exactly as your
doctor tells you to. Ask your doctor whether you
need to avoid any foods or drinks while using your
oral diabetes medicine.
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Know the signs
People who have diabetes need to know the
signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and
high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Make sure
your family members, friends and coworkers
know how to help you in an emergency
situation.
Signs of low blood sugar include the
following:
- Shakiness
- Drowsiness
- Cold sweats and pale, cool skin
- Headache
- Confusion
- Fast heartbeat
- Extreme hunger
- Diarrhea or gas
Exercising more than usual can sometimes
cause low blood sugar. Keep candy, juice or
glucose tablets on hand to treat low blood
sugar. Call your doctor if your symptoms
become severe.
Signs of high blood sugar include the
following:
- Increased hunger
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
Call your doctor if any of these symptoms
become severe. Eating more than you usually
do can cause high blood sugar. So can
forgetting to take your diabetes medicine or
taking another medicine that you don't
usually take.
How do prescription
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs work?
Nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (also
called NSAIDs) stop
cyclooxygenase enzymes (also
called COX enzymes) in your body
from working. COX enzymes speed
up your body's production of
hormone-like substances called
prostaglandins. Prostaglandins
cause the feeling of pain by
irritating your nerve endings.
They are also part of the system
that helps your body control its
temperature.
By reducing the level of
prostaglandins in your body,
NSAIDs help relieve pain from
conditions like arthritis. They
also help reduce inflammation
(swelling), lower fevers and
prevent blood from clotting.
What are some common
prescription NSAIDs?
There are 2 classes of
prescription NSAIDs.
Traditional NSAIDs
include the following:
- Diclofenac (brand names:
Cataflam, Voltaren)
- Etodolac (brand name:
Lodine)
- Fenoprofen (brand name:
Nalfon)
- Flurbiprofen (brand
name: Ansaid)
- Ibuprofen (2 brand name:
Advil, Motrin)
- Indomethacin (brand
name: Indocin)
- Ketoprofen (brand names:
Orudis, Oruvail)
- Meclofenamate
- Meloxicam (brand name:
Mobic)
- Nabumetone (brand name:
Relafen)
- Naproxen (brand names:
Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn)
- Oxaprozin (brand name:
Daypro)
- Piroxicam (brand name:
Feldene)
- Sulindac (brand name:
Clinoril)
- Tolmetin (brand name:
Tolectin)
COX-2 inhibitors
include celecoxib (brand name:
Celebrex).
If you need to take a
prescription NSAID, your doctor
will help you find one that is
right for you.
What's the main difference
between traditional NSAIDs and
COX-2 inhibitors?
You have 2 types of COX
enzymes in your body: COX-1 and
COX-2. Researchers believe that
one of the jobs of COX-1 enzymes
is to help protect your stomach
lining. The COX-2 enzyme doesn't
play a role in protecting your
stomach.
Traditional NSAIDs stop both
COX-1 and COX- 2 enzymes from
doing their jobs. When COX-1
enzymes are blocked, pain and
inflammation is reduced, but the
protective lining of your
stomach is also reduced. This
can cause problems such as upset
stomach, ulcers and bleeding in
your stomach and intestines.
COX-2 inhibitors only stop
COX-2 enzymes from working.
Since the COX-2 enzyme doesn't
help to protect your stomach,
COX-2 inhibitors may be less
likely to irritate your stomach
or intestines.
Do prescription NSAIDs have
any side effects?
Like all medicines, these
drugs can cause side effects.
However, the side effects
usually are not severe and are
not experienced very often.
Common side effects of
prescription NSAIDs may include
the following:
- Dizziness or headache
- Nausea, excess gas,
diarrhea or constipation
- Extreme tiredness or
weakness
- Dry mouth
Serious side effects of
prescription NSAIDs may include
the following:
- Allergic reaction, such
as difficulty breathing,
hives, swelling of the lips,
tongue or face
- Muscle cramps, numbness
or tingling
- Rapid weight gain
- Black, bloody or tarry
stools
- Blood in urine or vomit
- Decreased hearing or
ringing in the ears
- Yellowing of skin and
eyes (jaundice)
- Abdominal cramping,
heartburn or indigestion
In addition to the side
effects listed above, people
taking a COX-2 inhibitor may be
at risk for the following side
effects:
- Swelling or water
retention
- Skin rash or itching
- "Flu-like" symptoms
- Unusual bruising or
bleeding
- Difficulty sleeping
(insomnia)
Call your doctor as soon as
possible if your side effects
become severe.
Is it safe to take NSAIDs
for a long period of time?
People who take NSAIDs increase
their risk for severe bleeding
in their stomachs. They may also
be at risk for heart attacks and
strokes. These risks gets worse
if they take higher doses or if
they take these medicines for a
long period of time. Patients
who need to take pain medicine
for longer than a week should
discuss this risk and explore
other pain treatment options
with their family doctor.
What is a drug interaction?
If you use 2 or more drugs at
the same time, the way your body
processes each drug can change.
When this happens, the risk of
side effects from each drug
increases and each drug may not
work the way it should. This is
called a "drug-drug
interaction." Vitamins and
herbal supplements can affect
the way your body processes
drugs too.
Certain foods or drinks can
also prevent your medicine from
working the way it should or
make side effects worse. This is
called a "drug-food
interaction." For example, if
you're taking a traditional
NSAID, drinking alcohol can
increase your risk of liver
disease or stomach bleeding.
Drug-drug interactions and
drug-food interactions can be
dangerous. Be certain that your
doctor knows all of the
over-the-counter and
prescription medicines, vitamins
and herbal supplements that you
are taking. Also, talk to your
doctor before you take any new
over-the-counter or prescription
medicine or use a vitamin or
herbal supplement.
It's important to take
medicines exactly as your doctor
tells you to. Ask your doctor
whether you need to avoid any
foods or drinks while using a
prescription NSAID |
What is an adverse drug
reaction?
Medicines can treat or
prevent illness and disease.
However, sometimes medicines can
cause problems. These problems
are called adverse drug
reactions. You should know what
to do if you think that you or
someone you take care of is
having an adverse drug reaction.
Can adverse drug reactions
happen to everyone?
Yes. Anybody can have an
adverse drug reaction. However,
people who take more than 3 or 4
medicines every day might be
more likely to have an adverse
drug reaction. One medicine
might cause an adverse reaction
if its taken with another
medicine.
One way to reduce your chance
of having adverse drug reactions
is to work with your doctor to
limit the number of medicines
you take. Tell each of your
doctors (if you see more than
one) about all of the medicines
you're taking, even if you take
something for only a short time.
You may want to use only one
drugstore so your pharmacists
get to know you and the
medicines you take. Pharmacists
are trained to look at the
medicines you're taking to see
whether they might cause an
adverse drug reaction.
Are prescription medicines
the only cause of adverse
reactions?
No. Even medicines that don't
need a prescription (sometimes
called over-the-counter
medicines) can cause problems.
Vitamins, health food products
and herbs (in teas or tablets)
may also cause adverse
reactions. It's important to
tell your doctor and pharmacist
if you're using these kinds of
products.
What about medicines I've
used in the past?
You might be tempted to save
money by taking old medicines
that you've used before.
However, it's likely that you
are taking different medicines
now than you were when you were
taking the old drug. Even though
you didn't have an adverse
reaction with the old medicine
before, you might have a bad
reaction when you take it with
the medicines you're taking now.
Is it safe to use a friend
or relative's medicine?
No. Using medicines that were
prescribed for a friend or
relative can cause problems and
might lead to adverse drug
reactions. You are probably
taking different medicines than
the other person, and this
different combination of drugs
might cause an adverse reaction.
Also, you might react
differently to the medicine than
the other person did. To be
safe, never share medicines with
anybody.
How will I know I'm having
an adverse drug reaction?
When you're taking any
medicine, it's important to be
aware of any change in your
body. Tell your doctor if
something unusual happens.
It may be hard to know if an
adverse reaction is caused by
your illness or by your
medicine. Tell your doctor when
your symptoms started and
whether they are different from
other symptoms you have had from
an illness. Be sure to remind
your doctor of all the medicines
you are taking. The following
are some adverse drug reactions
that you might notice:
- Skin rash
- Easy bruising
- Bleeding
- Severe nausea and
vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Breathing difficulties
The following are some
adverse reactions your doctor
might notice during a check-up:
- Changes in lab test
results
- Abnormal heartbeat
What will my doctor do if I
have an adverse drug reaction?
Your doctor might tell you to
stop taking the medicine so the
adverse reaction will go away by
itself. Or your doctor might
have you take another medicine
to treat the reaction. If your
adverse reaction is serious, you
might have to go to a hospital,
but this doesn't happen often.
Never stop taking a medicine on
your own; always talk with your
doctor first.
What is a drug-food
interaction?
A drug-food
interaction happens when
the food you eat affects
the ingredients in a
medicine you are taking
so the medicine can't
work the way it should.
Drug-food
interactions can happen
with both prescription
and over-the-counter
medicines, including
antacids, vitamins and
iron pills.
Are all medicines
affected by food?
Not all medicines are
affected by food, but
many medicines can be
affected by what you eat
and when you eat it. For
example, taking some
medicines at the same
time that you eat may
interfere with the way
your stomach and
intestines absorb the
medicine. The food may
delay or decrease the
absorption of the drug.
This is why some
medicines should be
taken on an empty
stomach (1 hour before
eating or 2 hours after
eating).
On the other hand,
some medicines are
easier to tolerate when
taken with food. Ask
your doctor or your
pharmacist whether it's
OK to take your medicine
with a snack or a meal
or whether it should be
taken on an empty
stomach.
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Facts to
remember about
drug-food
interactions
-
Read the
prescription
label on the
container.
If you don't
understand
something,
ask your
doctor or
pharmacist
about it.
-
Read all
directions,
warnings and
interaction
precautions
printed on
medicine
labels and
packages.
Even
over-the-counter
medicines
can cause
problems.
-
Take
medicine
with a full
glass of
water,
unless your
doctor tells
you
differently.
-
Don't stir
medicine
into your
food or take
capsules
apart
(unless your
doctor tells
you to)
because this
may change
the way the
drug works.
-
Don't take
vitamin
pills at the
same time
you take
medicine
because
vitamins and
minerals can
cause
problems if
taken with
some drugs.
-
Don't mix
medicine
into hot
drinks
because the
heat may
keep the
drug from
working.
-
Never take
medicine
with
alcoholic
drinks.
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What do I
need to know?
Medicines can
help you feel
better. But if
medicines are
taken
incorrectly,
they can
actually make
you feel worse.
To use
prescription
medicines and
medicines you
can buy
"over-the-counter"
(without a
prescription)
correctly,
follow the
guidelines
below.
What
questions should
I ask my doctor
about my
medicines?
If there is
something you
don't understand
about a medicine
you're taking,
ask your doctor.
If you still
don't
understand, ask
your doctor to
explain things
more clearly. If
you are taking
more than one
medicine, be
sure to ask how
the medicines
will work
together in your
body. Sometimes
medicines cause
problems when
they are taken
together (called
a drug
interaction).
Below is a
list of
questions you
can ask your
doctor to learn
how to use each
medicine
correctly and
safely:
- What
does the
medicine do?
- When and
how should I
take the
medicine?
- What
side effects
(reactions
your body
may have to
the
medicine)
could I
have?
- Will the
medicine
react to any
other
medicines,
foods or
drinks?
- Should I
avoid any
activities
while I'm
taking the
medicine?
- What
should I do
if I forget
to take the
medicine?
- How will
I know
whether the
medicine is
working?
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Things
to know
about
each
medicine
you take
-
Name
(generic
name
and
brand
name)
-
Reason
for
taking
it
-
How
much
to
take
and
how
often
to
take
it
-
Possible
side
effects
and
what
to
do
if
you
have
them
-
How
long
to
continue
taking
it
-
Special
instructions
(taking
it
at
bedtime
or
with
meals,
etc.)
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How can I
remind myself to
take my
medicine?
Make your
medicine part of
your daily
routine by
taking it at the
same time (or
times) every
day, such as
when you wake up
or with meals.
Keep the
medicine
bottle(s) in a
place you see
often, such as
on the kitchen
counter. (Make
sure that
medicines are in
childproof
containers and
kept out of the
reach of
children.)
Should I
avoid any foods,
drinks or
activities while
I'm taking
medicine?
Talk to your
doctor about
things to avoid
while you are
taking a
prescription
medicine. Some
foods can cause
side effects,
such as stomach
upset, if you
are taking
medicine.
Drinking alcohol
is generally not
a good idea
while you are
taking medicine.
Some medicines
cause reactions
such as sun
sensitivity
(getting a
sunburn or sun
rash), so you
may have to
limit your
outdoor
activities or
protect your
skin from the
sun.
If you are
taking an
over-the-counter
medicine, read
the label to see
what to avoid
while you are
taking it.
Follow the
instructions
just as you
would with a
prescription
medicine. If you
have questions,
ask your doctor
or pharmacist.
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Medicine
do's and
don'ts
-
Do
read
the
label
carefully.
-
Do
take
your
medicine
exactly
as
your
doctor
tells
you
to.
-
Do
make
sure
that
each
of
your
doctors
(if
you
see
more
than
one)
has
a
list
of
all
of
the
medicines
you're
taking
-
Do
ask
your
doctor
to
help
you
make
a
schedule
(if
you
are
taking
more
than
one
medicine)
so
you
know
what
medicines
to
take
at
what
times
of
the
day.
-
Do
consider
using
one
pharmacy
for
all
your
prescriptions.
The
pharmacist
can
help
you
keep
track
of
what
you're
taking.
-
Do
make
sure
everyone
you
live
with
knows
what
medicine
you're
taking
and
when
you're
supposed
to
take
it.
-
Don't
combine
prescription
medicines
and
over-the-counter
medicines
unless
your
doctor
says
it's
OK.
-
Don't
stop
taking
a
medicine
or
change
how
much
you
take
or
how
often
you
take
it
without
first
talking
to
your
doctor.
-
Don't
take
someone
else's
medicine.
-
Don't
use
medicine
after
its
expiration
date.
-
Don't
crush,
break
or
chew
tablets
or
capsules
unless
your
doctor
tells
you
to.
Some
medicines
won't
work correctly
unless
they
are
swallowed
whole.
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What's the
difference
between generic
and brand name
medicines?
Just like
foods, some
medicines come
in both brand
names and
generics.
Generic
medicines are
generally
cheaper. Ask
your doctor or
pharmacist if a
generic form of
your
prescription
medicine will
work for you.
Over-the-counter
(OTC) medicines
also come in
generics.
Compare the
lists of
ingredients. If
the generic has
the same
ingredients as
the brand name,
you may want to
consider using
it. But be
careful: The
generic may
contain
different
amounts of
certain
medicines. Ask
your doctor or
pharmacist if
you have
questions about
which medicine
to choose.
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Tips
for
choosing OTC
medicines
-
If
you
have
questions,
ask
your
doctor
or
pharmacist.
-
Although
it
can
seem
overwhelming,
take
the
time
to
look
at
all
the
choices.
-
Read
the
label
carefully,
and
note
what
symptoms
the
medicine
will
treat.
-
Look
for
a
medicine
that
will
treat
only
the
symptoms
you
have.
For
example,
if
you
have
only
a
runny
nose,
don't
pick
a
medicine
that
also
treats
coughs
and
headaches.
-
Note
how
much
medicine
you
should
take
and
what
side
effects
it
may
cause.
-
Note
what
medicines
or
foods
you
should
not
take
with
the
medicine.
-
Check
to
see
if
the
medicine
causes
problems
for
people
with
certain
health
problems
(such
as
asthma
or
high
blood
pressure).
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What if I
don't feel
better even
though I'm
taking my
medicine?
Any medicine
needs time to
work. When you
are given a
prescription,
ask your doctor
how long it
should take for
the medicine to
make you feel
better. It might
take time to
find the correct
medicine for you
and the correct
amount of it.
Call your doctor
if you have
concerns about
what you're
taking or if you
don't feel
better after
taking your
medicine as
prescribed.
If you're trying
to treat
yourself with an
over-the-counter
medicine and it
doesn't seem to
be working, call
your doctor.
Your sickness
can get much
worse if you
wait too long to
get treated by
your doctor.
Other
Organizations
National
Council on
Patient
Information and
Education
http://www.talkaboutrx.org
Institute for
Safe Medication
Practices
http://www.ismp.org
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