Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Talk to your pharmacist about any concerns. Ask about situations such as accidental missed doses, possible side effects, risks of habit development associated with any medicines, and the ways in which new medications may affect the efficacy of others.
In addition to engaging in a conversation about these topics, be sure to leave the pharmacy with literature that details these and other aspects of your medications. Especially if you take a number of pills each day, it’s easy and understandable to get confused—but a reference guide can decrease the likelihood of any missteps.
If possible, talk to a spouse or family member about your prescription schedule. Try to integrate your intake with other aspects of your life, such as meals or bedtime, so that it becomes easy-to-manage and less stressful.
Follow all instructions carefully. Even if you believe a drug is not helping, or that a higher dose would prove more effective in pain or symptom management, making these decisions on your own could negatively effect your health or interfere with other treatments.