Generic drugs online

Guidelines for Safe
and Effective Drug Use

DO

• talk with your doctor about the results or outcomes expected from any medicine being considered. Understand that taking the medicine EXACTLY as it is prescribed is critical. Missing one pill in a three times a day regimen may cause you to lose the benefits of all of the medicine.
• talk with your HMO or medical group every year about how their results or outcomes compare to other providers of health care in the area and in the country. This is especially important for businesses since the preferred provider they choose impacts the health of many people.
• ask your HMO or medical group what their disease management programs are, and how any specific disease or condition that you may have is addressed within the scope of their disease management plan. Find out how the results or outcomes of the program compare with other programs in the area or the country.
• know the name (and correct spelling) of the drug(s) you are taking. It is best to know both the brand name and the generic name.
• open the prescription bag and the bottle WHILE YOU ARE STILL IN THE PHARMACY This will give you a chance to best use the training and experience of your pharmacist and will also let you make sure you understand how to best take your medicine. If the prescription is a refill, make sure the pills are the same as the ones originally prescribed. If they are not, ask why.
• read the package labels of all nonprescription drugs so you know what is in them.
• take the medicine exactly as prescribed. If you think there will be a change in your ability to take the medicine, call your doctor before you make any change. For example, taking one dose of a medicine that should be taken three times a day often will NOT give one-third of the desired effect. I've been asked this kind of question often. Taking a medicine less frequently than prescribed will often give no beneficial effects, especially for those medicines where a relatively constant blood level determines how well the medicine will work.
• put a dosing calendar or a reminder note on the refrigerator or near your car keys. Get a watch with an alarm and set it for the times when you need to take your medicine.
• thoroughly shake all liquid suspensions of drugs to ensure uniform distribution of ingredients.
• use a standardized measuring device for giving liquid medicines by mouth. The household "teaspoon" varies greatly in size.
• follow your doctor's advice on dietary or other measures designed to help the prescribed drugs work their best. For example, decreasing or eliminating salt when taking high blood pressure medicines may help achieve desired drug effects with smaller doses.
• tell your anesthesiologist, surgeon, and dentist of a11 drugs _you are taking, before any surgery.
• tell your doctor if you become pregnant while you are taking any drugs from any source.
• keep a written record of a11 drugs (prescription and nonprescription), vaccines, and herbal remedies you take during your entire pregnancyname, dose, dates taken, and reasons for use.