PAINFULLY OBVIOUS® — Failure to take the medicine properly can make it less effective at treating the condition for which it was prescribed.

Misuse of prescription medications can also lead to unexpected or even dangerous side effects. A key role for every pharmacist is to help patients understand how to use a medication. A pharmacist can provide information and education about the medication being prescribed to prevent misuse. Here are some of examples:

• What the medication was prescribed for, its effects, dosage, and the importance of following the prescription exactly.

• What side effects to expect.

• Discussing drug interactions (sometimes, taking a combination of two or more medications can have harmful consequences).

Even after you begin taking your medication, if you have any questions, you should always call your doctor or pharmacist.

Here is some other information on prescription drugs that you may find helpful. This information may help you understand what they are and why they are available only through a doctor or other healthcare professional. The Pharmacist Preventing Misuse Preventing Abuse

 

previous | next