Tag: medication

An apple a day keeps the doctor away appears to be a simple enough concept. However, staying on track with your prescription drugs from start to end can be difficult, especially if you are taking any new medications and supplements.

Try these suggestions and resources to help you store your medications, avoid missed doses, and never run out of refills.

Storing your medicines

Correctly keeping your drugs might help to ensure that they work properly and prevent poisoning incidents.

Keep Medicines Safely Stored

The place in which you keep your medication may have an influence on its effectiveness. Learn how to properly store your medication so that it does not become contaminated.

Take care of your medicine:

• Keep in mind that heat, air, light, and moisture can all be harmful to your medicines.
• Keep your medications in a cold, dry area. Store it in a dresser drawer or a kitchen cabinet, for example, away from the stove, sink, and any hot appliances. Medicine can also be stored in a storage box, closet or shelf.
• If you’re like most individuals, you probably keep medications in a bathroom cabinet. Your medication, however, can be damaged by the heat and moisture from your shower, bath, and sink. They can lose their potency or even go bad before their expiration date.
• Pills and capsules are quickly destroyed by heat and moisture. When aspirin pills are broken down, vinegar and salicylic acid are produced. As a result, the stomach gets irritable.
• Keep drugs in their original containers at all times.
• Remove the cotton ball from the medicine bottle, Moisture is drawn into the container by the cotton ball.
• Double check with your local pharmacy to see if there are any specific storage requirements.

Keep children safe

• Keep your meds out of the reach and sight of your child
• Keep your medications in a cabinet that has a child latch or lock.

Do not use Damaged Medicine

Medicine that is damaged can make you unwell. Do not consume:

• Medicine that has changed color, texture, or odor, even though it is still not expired
• Pills that adhere to one another, are tougher or softer than usual or are broken or chipped

Get rid of old medicines

Dispose of any unused medicine in a safe and timely manner:

• Make sure your drug isn’t over its expiration date.
• Don’t have any outdated or unused medications on hand. It degrades with time and should not be used.
• Do not dispose of your medication in the toilet. This harms the water supply.
• Before throwing medication out in the garbage, combine it with anything that will damage it, such as coffee grounds or kitten litter. In a plastic bag, combine all of the ingredients and seal it.
• You can also take any unneeded medications to your pharmacist for disposal.
• If community “drug give back” initiatives are available, take advantage of them.

How to Organize Your Medications

Use a Pillbox

They’re inexpensive and convenient, and you can get them at your local drugstore. In a simple organizer, each day of the week gets its own box. Larger tablets have more slots if you take them more than once a day. This enables you to categorize drugs based on when they must be taken (If you don’t want to use a pillbox, you can segregate drugs into different colored bottles for different times of the day.)

Most medications can be securely stored in the same organizer compartment as other pharmaceuticals for short periods without interfering. However, you should double-check with your doctor or pharmacist to be sure.

Also, double-check that your pillbox is properly filled. It’s all too simple to put two tablets in a bottle when only one should be there, or to put the wrong drug in a container. You should also remember to replenish your organizer when it runs out of space. It will be easier if you do it on the same day every week or month. If you require further assistance, have a friend or relative fill your pillbox when they come by.

Make a Checklist

Another smart way to keep organized is to have a written record that outlines which drugs to take and when to take them. You can buy some online or make your own.

Include the name of the medication, the dosage, when you take it, and the appearance of the pill. Make a note of any specific instructions, such as whether it should be taken with or without meals.

Make a checkbox to indicate that you’ve taken each dose. As soon as you change medicines, update your medication list.

Go Automatic

An automated pill dispenser can be the best option if your medication routine is complicated. One can be rented by the month. You can also buy it for a few hundred dollars or up to a thousand dollars, with some circumstances requiring a monthly membership fee.

It can contain up to a dozen tablets of various sizes in each cup and will remind you to take them when it’s time.

The most advanced dispensers can communicate with your pharmacist remotely to alert them if you miss a dosage. Medicare does not fund these gadgets for seniors. However, certain state Medicaid programs for low-income or disabled persons can be able to cover the costs. Consult your insurance provider.

You can also find less expensive automated dispensers for less than $100. These are frequently mistaken for normal plastic pillboxes. Some spin mechanically on a timer, and many locks to prevent you from taking the wrong dose by accident. You can set them to notify you when it’s time for another dosage.

Take Single-Dose Packets

Inquire with your doctor or pharmacist about single doses or blister packs that can be sent ahead of time. Some pharmacies will split your medications into individual, custom-filled packets that are labeled with the date, weekday, dose, and even the time of day when you should take them. If your medicines change, please be sure to notify your pharmacist straight away.

When you know your routine will remain consistent, pre-made packets are the ideal option. You can still want to order a few at a time in case your prescriptions alter.

This cannot be the ideal option for you if your dose varies frequently or if you’re just starting a new prescription and know your doctor will most likely modify your medication.

Some pharmacies can also customize and streamline your prescription regimen. You’ll get simple instructions (in Spanish in some areas) on the optimal times of day to take your medications and how to take them in a way that reduces the number of daily dosages. Check to see if your drugstore has a comparable program.

Turn to Technology

These can be of great assistance to you! According to research, technology can help you stay in a routine.

Set phone alarms to remind you to take your medicine or refill your dispensers every week or month.

You can even set your phone or computer to remind you when it’s time to take your medication by email or text message. These alarms can be customized to meet any schedule, whether you take your medications at the same time every day, three times a day, or once a week.

If you have problems hearing alerts from a different room, a wristwatch can be an excellent solution. Online medicine monitors are available on several websites, and some will send you text or email reminders.

Some electronic gadgets that connect to prescription bottles can play a recording that instructs you on when and how to take your medication. Some can be linked to a mobile app that allows you to scan a bar code on the bottle to visit a webpage with further information or to play the recording through your phone.

You can keep a medicine checklist on your phone using mobile applications. Some utilize Wi-Fi to save your dosages in the cloud. Some can also be linked to a “smart” pill container, which contains a sensor that detects when it has been opened.

Check with your pharmacy to see whether they have them. When you take your medications, your app will notify a doctor, caregiver, or family member. These might be set to notify you or your contact person if you miss a dosage.

Adopt Helpful Habits

• Keep all of your medicines in one location to make it easy to remember to take them.
• Keep your tablets in an obvious, visible location, such as next to the coffeemaker or on your bedside table.
• Make it simple to distinguish your medicines from those of others in your home. For example, experiment with different colored pillboxes and make sure everything is properly labeled.
• Stick to a schedule. Take your medications at the same time every day, such as after breakfast or at night after brushing your teeth.
• Keep a list of your drugs on paper, on a smartphone app, or the internet.
• Make a checkmark on a calendar on the wall or the fridge every time you take your medications.
• When it’s time to refill your prescription bottle, turn it upside down.

Traveling with medications

When driving, you may want to have certain medications on hand, but don’t keep them in the glove compartment, where they might be destroyed by the heat, cold, or rain outside, as well as the car’s heater or air conditioner.

It’s best if you keep medications in your carry-on luggage if you’re flying. Cargo compartments, where checked luggage is housed throughout the trip, might be too hot or cold to keep your prescription safe.

Bring your prescriptions in their original containers so airport security knows you’re carrying prescription tablets from your doctor; keep them in a transparent plastic bag so you can disclose them. Even though airport security may screen for sharp items, diabetics are allowed to bring insulin, lancets, and needles for blood sugar checks.

If you have diabetes, request copies of your medicines as well as a note from your doctor describing your illness (the Transportation Security Administration does not need this, but it will make things easier). The letter should include a description of your drug routine as well as a list of any equipment you use, such as syringes.

Carry enough tablets or insulin to last the whole trip, but have copies of your prescriptions available to avoid delays at the airport and to allow you to receive extra medicine if you run out.

A pill dispenser is beneficial for rationing out your doses, and you can still utilize one of these helpful devices when traveling.

However, if you don’t have the original containers with you and there’s an emergency on the road, you might be in big trouble if there’s no medical history for you if you’re away from home and have an emergency, and it’s practically impossible to figure out what medications are in the pill dispenser, advises San Francisco pharmacist Chin.

He also recommends travelers have a current list of drugs in their handbag or wallet.

How should I dispose of my medicine?

According to studies, pharmaceutical waste is prevalent in the water we drink, and some pharmaceuticals might affect our ecosystem. Unfortunately, no waste treatment plants in the United States are designed to remove potentially dangerous medicines from sewage.

With this in mind, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy issued the first consumer recommendations for responsible prescription medicine disposal. According to the instructions, if you need to dispose of unused, unnecessary, or expired pharmaceuticals, you can:

• Remove the medications from their original packaging and discard them.
• As an added precaution, mix the medicines with coffee grinds, kitty litter, or any other unwanted item before discarding them in an empty container or sealed bag.
• Scratch off the names of all prescriptions of the prescription bottles you’re throwing away.

Talk to Your Doctor and Pharmacist

If taking a drug many times a day is too much for you, ask your doctor if they can prescribe something you can take less frequently.

Keep in mind that the pharmacist is a vital component of your medical team. A list of your medications is kept on the computer system of your pharmacy. They may be able to assist you in creating a checklist.

If you have Medicare drug coverage, you will be eligible for medication counseling through the Medication Therapy Management program, which is a free service.

Read also: What’s Behind My Fatigue?

Blood tests are one of the most important ways of diagnosis, since they can determine a wide range of health issues, only by examining a small sample of blood. So if your doctor suspects that something might be wrong with your health, they will most likely need you to get your blood tested.

These type of tests can detect many conditions, including thyroid and cancer issues. The amount of diagnosis it can detect is why blood tests are required so often. But there is still the question: ”How should I prepare for a blood test?”.

Preparation is important since there are many factors that can influence the results of a test and for a more accurate diagnosis, you should do these 8 things before. We all know how nerve wracking it can be, so being informed might help in managing the stress.

Things You Should Do Before Any Blood Test

1. Don’t eat before

Usually, when testing your blood, your doctor will require you to fast a few hours before, typically between 8 and 12 hours. Food may interfere with the outcome of certain types of investigations called ”fasting blood tests”.

For example, testing for glucose and cholesterol requires fasting, because they are closely linked to food and the results will be severely altered.

But make sure you check with your doctor to see if this fasting is necessary or not. At the end of the day, nobody wants to starve for nothing, right?

2. Drink water 

Are you allowed to drink water before a blood test? The answer is YES, but many people assume that it affects the results of the investigation. These tests are unaffected by having a little greater or lower quantity of water in your system. You can consume either tap or bottled water, but avoid fizzy beverages.

In fact, for anyone who dislikes this procedure, drinking more water than normal is critical. Why? Dizziness and fainting are caused by low blood pressure, which is a side consequence of dehydration. Staying hydrated will help if you’re prone to fainting when you see blood or needles.

3. Ask if you can take medication

If you’re taking any medication, you should definitely talk to your doctor about them. Certain treatments might cause blood tests to be less accurate, resulting in a misdiagnosis.

Make sure you tell your doctor about all of your prescriptions, including blood thinners, antidepressants, and over-the-counter medications. It will not only prevent you from incorrect blood test results, but it will also prevent further complications during the blood draw. If you’re taking any of the medications listed above, your doctor may advise you to wait between 24 and 48 hours before having blood collected.

If you’re using herbal treatments, there might be a bit of a problem. Vitamins and supplements might affect your test in unexpected ways, so it’s better to stop using them. Bring with you any vitamins or medications you’re taking. It’s something you can show your Med Tech. They’ll keep a record of what you’re taking so the doctor can check it out.

Beyond everything, keep in mind the golden rule: don’t stop taking your prescription until your doctor advises you to. All of your medical records are accessible to your doctor. Plus, if they’re your primary care physician, they’ll know whatever medications you’re taking. And if you’re unsure of anything, just ask.

4. Avoid certain activities 

Who would’ve thought that you’re not even allowed to indulge in certain activities? Despite the obvious, such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, doctors often advise you to avoid excessive physical exercises and even sexual activities, since they can compromise the results. Blood sugar levels and inflammatory markers may be affected.

So you should avoid physical activities that require a lot of effort, but if you do, make sure to let your doctor know.

5. Make sure you check the lab’s certification

A variety of places provide laboratory services, including blood work. Most hospitals have a laboratory where you can have tests done. There will be walk-in alternatives in some laboratories, while others might need to you make an appointment.

But the most important aspect that you should definitely take into consideration when choosing where to make your investigations at, is the lab’s certification.

The quality of blood tests and their results is heavily influenced by the lab’s system, operations, and methodology. Though it is impossible to be certain of the quality, one should always seek for reputable and accredited laboratories.

NABL and CAP are two of the most well-known and valued certifications that verify a lab’s quality procedures are followed. You can find out if the lab has these certifications on their official website, but if they don’t have this type of information there, you can simply ask.

6. Schedule the test in the morning

If you’re getting a so-called fasting blood test, make an appointment as early in the morning as possible. Sleeping hours are included in the fasting period, therefore taking a blood test before breakfast will make it easier for you.

Vitamins, proteins, as well as other nutrients, are found in just about everything you eat and drink, and they can trigger temporary spikes or drops in blood levels.

Fasting between 8 to 12 hours ensures that blood test results are clear of these factors, resulting in the most reliable findings possible.

7. Let your doctor know if you are afraid

Fear of needles, commonly known as “needle phobia,” is a common phobia. Roughly 10% of Americans have the same anxiety, which is commonly triggered by blood testing at a young age. It frequently manifests as an aversion to pointed items in general.

While this isn’t particularly bothersome in ordinary life, it does make medical testing uncomfortable and worrisome.

Even though you might consider it foolish, it’s important that your Med Tech knows your situation well and whether you are scared or not.

There are a multitude of ways to make your experience better. In case your emotions take control over your body, they can have a glass of water ready and lay you on your back to avoid fainting or other injuries.

8. Keep yourself warm

It’s critical to heat up the extremity from which blood will be extracted. To stimulate blood flow to the location and make the veins perceptible, many doctors do this before doing a blood test. You can apply a warm compress on the area for ten to twenty minutes.

Before having a blood test, you can dress warmly to raise your body temperature and improve blood flow to your extremities.

The phlebotomist will have an easier time finding your veins, which will shorten your time there.

The proper blood work procedure

For further safety, you must know what the typical procedure should look like and refuse the test if your Med Tech does not follow the proper hygiene measures. To perform the test, the technician or nurse should:

1. Clean the region of the arm that they are going to puncture with alcohol;
2. Tie a rubber band to your upper arm in order to make your veins more noticeable, and ask you to make a fist;
3. Insert a newly opened needle attached to a tube into a vein;
4. Remove both the rubber band and the needle after collecting the blood;
5. Cover the punctured area with a bandage.

Also, make sure they wash their hands before and use gloves during the procedure.

Blood tests are a good way to check your overall health. They’re also a great method to detect illness or disease sooner, as well as evaluate how your body will react to various treatments. Routine blood tests are performed on many people at least once every year. Consult your doctor to see if any more tests are required to guarantee your health.

Do YOU feel ready for your next blood test? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Next up? You might also want to know: 12 Things You Should NEVER Keep From Your Doctor in order to get the correct diagnosis.