Partnering with Your Health Care Professional

When it comes to taking medicine, you play an important role in ensuring your own safety—and the safety of those you care for. By partnering with health care professionals involved in your care, you can help them determine which medicines are most appropriate for you or your dependents. Partnering also helps your health care professionals teach you how to take these medicines safely.

In this section, you'll learn how to reduce your risks of medication safety problems at key points in your care:

• At your doctor's visit
• When you fill your prescription
• When you take your medicine
• After you take your medicine

Your doctor, pharmacist, nurse or other professionals involved in your care can learn about the known benefits and risks of a certain medicine. But to make sure that it's right for you or for someone who you care for, they may need to ask for information that only you can provide.

You can help make your treatment plan safer by:

• Telling your doctor about your complete health and medication history
• Asking questions and getting the facts about your medicine
• Seeking counsel from your pharmacist

Sharing Your Medical History

Your medical history is the foundation upon which your doctor builds the best treatment plan for you. A detailed history helps your doctor get to know you, identify possible causes of any health conditions, and determine which—if any—treatments you may need.

Your doctor may ask you about:

• Any symptoms you may be experiencing
• Any medical conditions you've been diagnosed with—such as heart disease or arthritis
• Any illnesses you have experienced—like flu or hepatitis
• Any surgical operations you have had—such as a tonsillectomy or caesarean section
• All medicines and treatments you are currently using
• Anything that could affect your ability to take medicine safely or regularly

What medicines should you tell your doctor about?

• Products you take every day or just once in a while
• Nonprescription (or over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines—such as pain relief products (including those applied to the skin), cold or allergy remedies, antacids, or laxatives
• Prescription medicines, including samples
• Vitamins, supplements, and herbal or natural remedies
• If you are a female, oral contraceptives, contraceptive patches, or long-acting contraceptive injections

You should also tell your doctor about the use of:

• Alcohol
• Cigarettes
• Substances such as marijuana or cocaine

Disclosing everything you take is extremely important, because some medications can mix dangerously with others, even in small doses.

What can affect your ability to take medications?

• Known allergies or sensitivities
• Being pregnant (or trying to conceive) or breast-feeding
• Having memory problems
• Having trouble swallowing, seeing clearly, or using your hands

Getting All the Facts

It's not unusual to feel nervous or overwhelmed when discussing important health issues with your health care professional. But remember—understanding your medical condition and treatment plan is essential to good health.

Making Medicine Decisions

When you and your doctor decide on a certain medicine, you are making a choice—one that weighs the benefits the medicine can offer to your health against the risks of side effects. Before you and your doctor decide on a medicine, there are many important points you'll need to discuss. Together, you will decide how much risk you are willing to accept in light of the potential benefits.

What level of risk is "acceptable" to doctors and patients? The answer differs for every individual—and being aware of the factors that shape perspectives on risk can help you and the health care professionals involved in your care work more effectively as a team in making treatment decisions.

Filling Your Prescription

Many patients leave their doctor's office or pharmacy without the information they need to take their medicine properly and safely. In fact, medication errors harm at least 1.5 million people every year. One in three adults has admitted that they have not taken their medicines properly.

Your pharmacist is a valuable partner in your care. To help keep you and your family safe, always take these steps when filling a prescription for yourself or someone you care for:

• Make sure you have the right medicine and dosage—and that you understand how to take the medicine—before leaving the pharmacy
• Find out the active ingredient of any nonprescription medicine—and avoid taking more than one kind of medicine containing that ingredient
• Read the label on your prescription. It contains important information to help you take your medicine safely
• Ask your pharmacist to explain anything that is unclear

Taking Your Medicine

Your role in medicine safety continues after you take your medication home from the pharmacy. Each time you take your medicine—or give medicine to someone you care for—you are playing a key role in ensuring your safety and the safety of those in your care.

Take your medicine (or, as a caregiver, give it to the patient) exactly as directed:

• Read the directions and special instructions on your medicine, every time you take it
• Follow the directions on the label along with any other instructions from your health care team
• Do not change the dosage without talking to your doctor first
• Store the medicine according to any instructions provided, and be sure to keep it out of the reach of children and pets

Reporting Side Effects

Report any side effects to your doctor or another health care professional right away. One of the most important things you can do to keep you and those you care for safe is to promptly recognize and report any problems that might be related to the medication. Here's how:

• Be alert to how you feel after starting the medication
• Report any side effects to your doctor or another health care professional right away. For side effects that seem severe, such as difficulty breathing, extreme dizziness, or a very bad rash, contact emergency services