The 'Other' Drug Problem

How much do you know about the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications you're taking? What you know in terms of even the most basic information, such as correct dosage and interactions with other drugs and foods you consume, could save your life, experts say.

Today, people are taking more OTC and prescription drugs alone and in combination than ever before. At the same time, consumers' ignorance of the drugs they're taking is raising concerns in the medical community.

According to the Center for Health Care Strategies, only half of patients take medications as directed. The same report found 90 million Americans, especially the elderly and those with low incomes, have trouble reading and understanding basic health care information.

Healthy interaction with your doctor

The more you know about medicines you're taking and the more you talk with your health care professionals, the better are your chances of avoiding problems, the Council on Family Health says.

So, before leaving your doctor's office, ask these questions about the medicines you've been prescribed:

• What is the name of the drug, and what will it do?
• How often should I take it, and how long should I take it?
• When should I take it?
• What foods, drinks, other medicines or activities should I avoid while taking this medication?
• If I forget to take it, what should I do?
• What side effects might I expect?

Our Drug Guide can also help. Use it to check interactions among drugs and to learn how drugs react with food, beverages and dietary supplements. The drug guide also has drug recalls, alerts, and warnings from the Food and Drug Administration, and a Drug Dictionary with information on more than 7,000 prescription and OTC drugs. The guide also includes conditions for which you should take the drug, proper dosage, information for women who are breastfeeding, potential side effects and how a drug works.

Tips for safe medication use

Here are some further recommendations from the Council on Family Health and the National Institute on Aging:

• Keep a daily journal of all the drugs you take, including prescription and OTC drugs. Include the name of each drug, the doctor who prescribed it, the name of the pharmacy, the amount you take and the times of day you take it.
• Take your medicine in the exact prescribed amount - not more or less - on the schedule set by your doctor. Prescription labels with large type, easy-to-open pill bottles and pillboxes can help you take your medication at the correct times.
• Call your doctor immediately if you have any unexpected symptoms because of your medication.
• Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and OTC medicines, herbal supplements, vitamins, creams, and ointments. Your doctor also will want to know about all of your food and medication allergies.
• Crushing, chewing or breaking pills could make your medication unsafe or ineffective. If you have difficulty swallowing pills, ask your doctor or pharmacist for other types of medication.
• Check the expiration dates on your medicine bottles. Dispose of expired medicines properly. Do not flush them down the toilet. To protect kids and pets, crush or dissolve medicines and mix them with a solid, such as kitty litter. Then seal them in a plastic bag and put them in the trash. Remove labels from bottles before you throw them away.

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External Sources Council on Family Health National Institute on Aging American Pharmaceutical Association Center for Health Care Strategies American Pharmacists Association. APhA Provides Guidance on Proper Medication Disposal: Use with Respect and Discard with Care. Accessed October 5, 2007.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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