General Drug Safety Tips

General Drug Safety Tips 

1. Keep a record of all your current medicines, including their names and regimens (dose, time, and other instructions for taking). Write down any problems you have with the medicine so you can discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist. 

2. Using adequate light, read labels carefully before taking doses. 

3. Contact the doctor or pharmacist if new or unexpected symptoms or other problems appear. 

4. Never stop taking medicine the doctor has told you to finish just because symptoms disappear. 

5. Ask the doctor periodically to reevaluate long-term treatments. 

6. If you have questions, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using an OTC medicine the first time, especially if you use other medicine. 

7. Carefully read OTC medicine labels for ingredients, proper uses, directions, warnings, precautions, and expiration dates. 

8. Discard outdated medicine. 

9. Store medicine in the original container, where the label identifies it and gives directions. If, however, you choose to use an OTC convenience container, ask the pharmacist whether the container will affect the stability of your medicine. 

10. Never store medicine in the bathroom. Unless instructed otherwise, keep it away from heat, light and moisture. 

11. Never store medicine near a dangerous substance, which could be taken by mistake. 

12. Never take someone else's medicine. 

13. Tell your health professional if you:

are breast-feeding or are, or may be, pregnant

are allergic to drugs or foods

have diabetes or kidney or liver disease

take other prescription or OTC medicines regularly

follow a special diet or take dietary supplements

Use alcohol or tobacco.

tAKEN FROM:

http://seniorhealth.about.com/library/drugs/bldrugsafe1.htm