When you get a new prescription medication, make sure you talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the drug so that you are an informed patient and can make sure you are taking it correctly. Here are some questions you may want to ask.
- Why am I taking this medicine?
- Can I take a generic version?
- Does this mean I should stop taking any other medicines?
- How much should I take and how often? If I need to take it three times a day, does that mean at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or every 8 hours?
- Do I need to take it all, or should I stop when I feel better?
- How long will I be taking it? Can I get a refill?
- How should I store my medication?
- Are there any tests I need while I’m on this medicine?
- When should the medicine start working? How can I tell if it is working?
Are there foods, drinks, other medicines or activities to avoid while I’m taking this medicine?
- What are the side effects? When should I tell the doctor about a side effect?
- What happens if I miss a dose?
- What printed information can you give me about this medicine?
—Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Good Neighbor Pharmacy, August 2014
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