In today’s episode I take you through some useful tips on how to get the most out of your prescribed medication to ensure that you are taking it correctly and safely.
Over 300 million prescriptions are given to patients each year in Australia alone and there are a number of pitfalls that can take place along a medication journey.
CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR
This is arguably one of the most important tips. Whilst you are in your consultation with your doctor, be sure to cover the following to get the best understanding:
- What is the medicine for
- How long should I take it
- How often should I take it
- When should I expect to see a change
- What are the side effects
- When should I come back
PHARMACY
The next step in your medication journey is to speak with the pharmacist. I have personally been dispensed expired medication which is not ideal as expired medication may not work and they may have untoward side effects. Usually pharmacists should be checking all the medications before dispensing, however as seen in my example this is not always the case. Here are some things to consider when getting your medication:
- Check the expiry
- Check the label for the correct name, medication, dosage and instructions.
- Make sure the medication is sealed.
AT HOME
Now that you have your medication, be sure to continue with your safety checks before taking your medication.
- Read the package insert
- Reflect on how you feel after taking the medication - do you have any side effects?
- Make an appointment to see your doctor for follow up.
CHAPTERS
0.05 Introduction
0:50 Doctor Consultation
7:33 Pharmacy Dispensing
11.24 Package Insert
11.58 Over The Counter Medication
13.25 Conclusion
With the above tips you can continue to take your medications safely and effectively. I hope you enjoyed this video and as always if you have any questions or comments please drop me in a line below.
In today’s episode I show you how doctors can easily diagnose lung conditions such as Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cystic Fibrosis and lung scarring through the use of spirometry.
To prepare for your test, you will have your height and weight measured along with your age. It is important that prior to your test you do not take any inhalers but bring these with you as we often repeat the test with medication to assess their efficacy.
The test involves putting a tight seal around the mouthpiece and blowing as hard as you can until the beeper sounds. This then formulates a series of numbers and often a graph is shown to compare you against someone of a similar age, height and weight. Your doctor can then analyse these results and let you know your diagnosis.
Ever walked into a pharmacy and felt overwhelmed by all of the different medicines and vitamins? 💊
Whether you’re taking prescribed medication or over the counter supplements, it’s time to question what they are for, how you are taking them and what potential side effects they have. If medicines are not used correctly, serious issues can occur. Each year 230,000 Australians are hospitalised with problems by their medicines. It is vital that your medications are reviewed regularly by your doctor to ensure they are still needed.
So next time you’re getting a script make sure you’ve got all your information. If you have any concerns or questions please pop by and see me in clinic.
Take care and stay healthy 😘
Dr Nora 💉
For more information visit nps.org.au/bemedicinewise
Join me this episode at Venus Concept’s WOW event at Brisbane, where I got the chance to talk to the award winning dermatologist Dr Davin Lim to find out his top tip for keeping skin healthy, and the educational lead for Venus Concept who took us around the devices and shared her secrets of keeping her skin so gorgeous.
We also got to hear a presentation from the co-host of Doctors show in the US, Dr Sonia Batra who shared her experience and insights to cosmetic treatments.
At the end of the informative meeting, we’re treated to a magic show, can you spot how the trick is done?
