6 Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor About Your Medication

While on the way of receiving the treatment, medications play a vital role in winning through to recovery. Every patient must pay attention to minute details concerning his/her health, especially receiving a prescription. Physician appointments are typically short, and one needs to make the most of it. And it is also important to understand medications to avoid prescription error and lower the risk of drug interactions. 

However, it is essential to make sure that you understand your medications, which will improve adherence. Here are a few questions that you should take into consideration to ask from your doctor: 

• What are the names of the medicines? 

Although most doctors use advanced methods like electronic medical records today, you might still encounter handwriting from your doctor. And understanding a handwritten prescription is quite a tricky task. For this reason, it is vital to know the names of all your medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. It will also be helpful when you receive treatment from more than one doctor. Plus, having information about the brand name (trade name) and generic name (chemical name) will help in making cost-effective purchases. This is because generic drugs are cheaper than the brand name drugs but provide the same benefits. 

• What is the medication for? 

You should have information about why your doctor has prescribed a medication for you. There are times when you are recommended taking several medications, so it is essential to know which medicine is for what purpose to avoid confusion. It also helps when you see more than one doctor because they might prescribe similar medications to treat the same condition. 

• How are you supposed to take it?

Of course, it is important to take your medication as directed by your doctor. The scientific studies have determined the optimal dose and timing of the ingestion of a medicine. This is done to ensure your health and safety. If you deviate from the prescribed dosage, it might lead to side effects or therapy failure. So, before you leave your appointment, make sure you understand: 

• The correct dosage, i.e., how often you should take the medicine 
• The right time of taking medication (empty stomach, after the meal, before bed, at mealtime, etc.) 

• What are the most common side effects? 

There are some common side-effects like dizziness, headaches, and nausea at the initial stage of medication. This is because you might be consuming heavy dosages and they take time to suit your body system. Moreover, certain antibiotics and over-the-counter pain medications are more likely to cause allergic reactions. Thus, it is essential to get a clear picture of the side-effects to avoid any future concerns. 

• How long will you require to take this medication? 

It is one of the perplexing questions of how long the procedure of medications continues. There are some chronic diseases that may require medication for several months or even years. So, it is essential to clearly understand how long you need to have medicines to get in the best of your health. There are greater risks for side effects at times when you have to take medication for a longer period. Therefore, ask your queries related to the side-effects and how to deal with them.  

• What if you miss a dose? 

It is quite possible when you can miss your dose due to any situation. In such a case, you should be aware that it can reduce the effectiveness of the medication. There are different instructions associated with a missed dosage, and you should go through these instructions carefully. The decision to consume your missed dose depends on the drug. You should know the correct solution to avoid any failing therapy or side effects from occurring.

Tip: Set reminders or pillbox system for your medication if you tend to forget things easily. 

Other Common Questions to be asked: 

• Should you avoid anything while taking this medication (for example, certain foods, activities, other medicines, or alcohol)? 
• How do you know if the medication is producing effects on your health? 
• What is the next step if any medicine does not work? 
• The right way to store the prescribed medicines? 
• Why this medication? Are there alternatives? 
• Does your insurance cover the prescribed medication? 
• Is it safe to take this medication with other drugs or dietary supplements/herbal products? 
• What if you start feeling better before completing the entire procedure and wish to discontinue taking medicines? 
• How should you dispose of any unused drugs? 

It is wise to take a few minutes and review your prescription with your doctor on a gentle note. If you are still in a dilemma, bring unanswered questions to your pharmacist. Your pharmacist can help you piece together the puzzle as a final check before you go home with your new prescription.