You wake up in extreme pain. In fact, your throat feels like it has grown sharp razor blades. It doesn’t just hurt; it throbs.
A call to your doctor’s office reveals a two-week wait for an appointment. That’s simply not an option. As a result, you choose to visit a local urgent care clinic.
In what seems like an instant, you’ve got a new prescription in hand. But to be honest, the doctor was in such a hurry that he scribbled out your meds without telling you anything about what the heck it is.
Yikes!
According to the Mayo Clinic, almost seven out of 10 Americans take some kind of prescription drug. That’s seventy percent of Americans. And 20 percent of Americans are taking five or more different medications.
With these medications come risks. This means you need to be prepared ahead of time when it comes to knowing which questions to ask, even if you visit a quick-care clinic. After all, it’s your health and safety we’re talking about.
Here are eight questions you should ask before taking any new medication. (And remember that it’s a doctor’s job to take the time to talk to you. So don’t let fear stop you from speaking up. Taking action just might save your life.)
1. What is this medication for?
This is one of the most important questions to ask. After all, you need to know just what you’re putting into your body and why you're doing so, right?
"If you don’t understand your problem, you might downplay the importance of following the treatment plan. Explaining why you need a prescription is your doctor's job, but taking medication as prescribed is yours,” says Dr. Jeffrey Cain to Next Avenue.
If your doctor isn’t clear on an answer, ask again. And ask your pharmacist for more details. Pharmacists can print out information on the medications you’re taking and why.
At the end of the day, you shouldn’t feel like you’re on an island with no resources. So speak up for the sake of safety.
2. Are there any side effects associated with this medication?
Medications can come with concerning side effects -- and you need to know just what those side effects are, especially side effects can be life-threatening.
Let’s take, for example, the story of the side effects associated with a commonly prescribed medication. The medication was a blood thinner.
Blood thinners are regularly prescribed to reduce the risk of strokes. Warfarin was once considered the go-to drug of choice in the way of blood thinners. However, in 2010, a new medication called Pradaxa was approved by the FDA. As a result, millions of people began to use this medication.
Here’s the thing: blood thinners increase the risk of uncontrollable bleeding. And according to Drug Watch, there was no FDA-approved method to stop bleeds related to Pradaxa. In fact, it wasn’t until recently that the FDA approved a method to reverse uncontrollable bleeds related to the drug. As a result, hundreds of deaths occurred.
This is just one example of the side effects that can occur with medications. To protect yourself, do research by asking questions. Be proactive instead of reactive once it’s too late.
3. Will this conflict with any medications that I’m on?
According to Dr. Oz, “at least 1.3 million Americans are at risk of premature death due to taking combinations of prescription or over-the-counter drugs that can trigger dangerous interactions.” That’s one heck of a concerning statistic.
Knowing how your medications will interact with new medications can save your life. This is why you always need to ask both your doctor and your pharmacist how the medications you take will interact.
And don’t forget to tell your doctor what supplements and over-the-counter medications you’re taking. Supplements and OTC medications can also cause life-threatening interactions.
4. Should I take this medication with food?
Some medications need to be taken with food in order to prevent stomach upset. In addition, food can help certain medications do what they’re designed to do. So ask your doctor and pharmacist if any new medication should be taken with food. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
5. What is the name of this medication?
This may sound like a silly question, but it’s important. You need to know the name of any new medication you’re taking. In addition, it’s important to write down all medications that you take and carry this list with you at all times.
Think about it like this…what if you were knocked unconscious? No one would know what medications you were in your system -- and which medications could interact in a harmful way. This protects you in the event that the unthinkable occurs.
6. What do I do if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose of medication, it can be a natural instinct to double up. But you don’t know how this will affect your body. So ask what to do if you miss a dose of your meds. Should you take a double dose, or should you wait until the next scheduled time to take this medication?
7. Can I drink with this medication?
Drinking with a medication and not knowing the side effects is like playing Russian roulette. You’re pulling the trigger without knowing if there are bullets involved.
Many medications can interact with alcohol. But you won’t know what they are without asking. So ask. Even if you feel silly.
For example, you wouldn’t want to drink with the antibiotic metronidazole. That’s because alcohol in combination with this antibiotic can make you downright sick. You won’t get a buzz moment; you’ll get a barf moment. And that’s anything but fun.
8. How do I store this medication?
It’s important to know how to store a medication. That’s because temperature in general can actually change the medication itself.
“During heat waves and cold spells, storage locations can go above or below those ranges, causing medicines to physically change, lose potency or even threaten your health,” Dr. Skye McKennon tells The New York Times.
So read the information packet that comes with the medication to know how it should be stored. And note whether or not the medication should be refrigerated.
In addition, beware of temperature changes when you travel. For example, you wouldn’t want to leave a medication in a hot car on a balmy summer day. And of equal importance, you wouldn’t want to leave a medication outdoors in extreme cold temperatures.