Every medicine is unique and has different function to our body, it is essential that whenever you receive a new medicine prescript by doctors, you should know your medicine well. Below are questions that you can ask your pharmacist:
1. Why Should I take this medicine?
You wont receive the medicine without any purpose. Understanding how this medicine help your illness and how important is the medicine will make you understand your body better. Besides that, if you dont want to take it, tell us your concern, it might be other alternative and ways to help your condition.
2. Is the medicine safe for me?
Different people have different reaction toward the medicine, make sure you tell your pharmacist
-> All your current medicines which included over the counter drug, vitamin and minerals, herbs and supplments
-> Any Drug allergies you encountered before
-> Any illness or condition you have such as asthma
-> If you are nursing, pregnant, or planing to be pregnant
3. How should I take my medicine?
In order to optimized the therapy of each medicine, the medicine should be consume in their specified time, dose, frequency and methods. Some medicine will be greatly affected by the food you consuming or other drug you are taking together. Make sure you ask your pharmacist regarding:
-> How often do you need to take the drug (e.g one times per day, two times per day)
-> Before meal, after meal, or with meal
-> How much do you need to take it
-> Is there food/drug you need to stop
-> is there anything you should not do (e.g Driving)
4. How long should I take the medicine?
Some medicine should be stop after the symptoms gone but some should be continue after the symptoms gone to prevent relapse of the disease. Some medicine will be consume even there is no symptom. So make sure you have a clear mind on when to stop your medicine and not stopping your medicine yourself.
5. What are the side effects?
We know all medicines have side effects, but there are solutions to prevent or stop some of the common side effects, for example, some gastric irritated medicine side effect will be reduce if you consume the medicine after meal.
Besides that, if you know the common side effects that might be happened on you, you wont be frighten off when it appear on you. Ask your pharmacist when should you go to hospital on the side effects.
Lastly, Make sure you know your medicine well before you leaving the pharmacy, dont hesitate to ask us as your health and wellness is our major concern.
Resource: Consumerreport.org: Drug Safety: Starting a New Drug 6 Questions to Ask Your Pharmacist
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