One part of dealing with disabilities can be the use of medication for treatment. All medication MUST be prescribed by a medical professional, not ifs, ands or buts about it. It’s a doctor’s job to ask questions about your health and run tests in order to accurately diagnose. Your job is to provide the most accurate picture of what is going on in your life and what type of symptoms you are experiencing. After all of this is done your doctor may prescribe you medication. Starting new medications is tricky business. Running out of the doctor’s office and grabbing the pills at the local pharmacy without getting all the information could land you in some really hot water. So where do we begin?
What To Ask Before Taking New Medication:
So you are in the doctor’s office and they write you up a prescription. Good doctors will go over the basics with you but everyone drops the ball once in a while, so below are a list of common questions to ask:
- How often do I need to take this medication?
- What are the side effects of this medication?
- Is there another medication that has less severe side effects?
- What is the exact function of this medication?
- What happens if I miss a dose?
- What should I do If I miss a dose?
- Do I need this specific brand of medication or will a generic brand be acceptable.
- What is the approximate cost?
- How long will it take for the effects of the medication to set in?
- What things do I need to avoid while on this medication?
- What should I avoid doing while under the influence of this medication?
- Will this medication be affected by any other medication I am taking?
- When can I schedule the follow-up visit.
- What would be an adverse reaction to this medication?
- Who should I contact?
- What should I do?
- When should I go to the hospital?
Tracking:
Time to start taking the medication. For medication that could have more pronounced side effects or adverse reactions, try to schedule the first dose during a block of free time. For example on a Friday night where you can chill at home instead of 8:00am just before work. Also make sure to have someone check in on you. Now onto the tracking. You can create a google spreadsheet or go old school with a notebook. Keep track of your results for at least a few weeks. Below are a few items you may want to keep track:
- Time Medication was taken
- Did you eat food prior to taking medicine
- What activity were you doing while taking the medication.
- How did the medicine affect you? (this can be positive or negative reactions)
- What time did those reaction take place?
- What activities were you doing prior to and during reaction took place?
If you are experiencing severe reaction to your medication, do not wait for your next doctor visit. Call a medical profession and get yourself checked out. Try and get a hold of your doctor and if it’s after hours then can use the National Home Doctor service if you live in the GTA. They can send a doctor to your home directly. Not sure how reliable they are as I have personally never used them but it is an option if you are in a pinch. If it is super urgent go directly to the hospital.
Review:
Once you have been tracking your medication for a few weeks, you can see if there are any trends. For example does taking medication on an empty stomach cause any issues, or is there any specific times that work best for taking medication. If you are having consistent negative reactions like nausea maybe you can ask your doctor if we can reduce the dosage or switch to a different type of medication.
Common Myths:
#1 Medication works immediately.
There are some medications you need to take consistently for weeks before any kind of result can be felt.
#2 This medication worked for someone else so it should work for me.
Just because a medication works for someone else does not mean it will work for your. Even if that person is someone you are related to or is suffering from the same condition as yourself. Everyone is different.
#3 When I start feeling better, I can stop taking the medication.
Do not do this! Doctor prescribe medication in exact amounts for a reason. Even if you are feeling better continue with the medication until it is complete. If you are suffering from an adverse reaction or side effect, speak to your doctor and discuss what is the proper way to handle the situation. Unless you are a doctor, you should not be messing with you medication.
#4 Medication is for weak people.
Oh man I don’t even know where to begin with this. When a doctor prescribes you medication it is for your own good, period! Accepting you have a medical condition and required medication is a sign of strength. Knowing when you need help and accepting help takes a certain amount of courage.
Challenge Time:
Its that time again. In the comment section below I challenge you guys to post your tips and tricks for handling new medication and drugs.