Tips for managing medications

Medications guarantee the health and daily life of sick people. Older people are the biggest consumers of various drugs, most of them have drug mismanagement and need help. In fact, more than 11 percent of hospital admissions were due to mismanagement and non-compliance with medication. For this reason, drug management is very important and necessary and helps the elderly and doctors to take prescription drugs correctly. If you take a certain medicine daily, you should be careful about the time and amount of it. With age, the number of medications used usually increases and they are difficult to manage and can be dangerous if not used properly. Improper use of some medications can lead to memory impairment, so it is important to have a list of when you last took your medication, especially when you are out of the hospital or after surgery.

Drug management solutions

• Creating a drug list

Make a list of all your medications and keep it up to date with any medication changes. The list should include the following:

• Name of the drug and its dose
• Dosage, frequency and specific instructions of the drug
• Purpose of taking the drug
• Expiration date
• Doctor's prescription name

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• See your doctor regularly

Like other aspects of health, the need for medication may change, so medications should be reviewed regularly by your doctor.

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• Use of drug patterns

One of the easiest ways to manage your medications is to use a medication calendar. Pharmaceutical calendars are cheap and effective tools and have a great variety to be used according to the needs of each person. This tool allows you to manage medications exactly according to when they should be taken.

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• Develop a drug habit

If you take your pills at the same time and at home, it is easier to remember them and to develop a regular medication habit when you take them better. For example, linking medication use to activities such as eating, brushing, or before or after a daily walk plays a role in remembering them.

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• Prepare a checklist

Drug checklists show what medications to take when. There are many online medication checklists available today, and you can find a reliable medication checklist by mentioning the drug name, dosage, time of use, pill form, and specific instructions for each, including whether or not it should be taken with food. Construction.

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• Reminder of the drug

Setting the alarm clock on the phone is a reliable tool for drug management. This will remind you to take your medicine at the right time. It is also a tool for drug management and not forgetting it.

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• Drug storage

Medication care is very important. It is important to know how to maintain it properly. Some medicines require a refrigerator and others a cool, dry place, and most people keep medicines in cabinets for this purpose.

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• Consider foods and drinks

Foods and beverages have a positive or negative effect on the usefulness of medications during consumption. For example, some prescriptions recommend that the drug be taken with food, while others should be taken on an empty stomach. Therefore, it is important to manage dietary guidelines and dietary recommendations.

• Side effects management

While drugs are an integral and sometimes life-saving component of human life, they are often associated with undesirable side effects, including drowsiness, depression, and loss of appetite. Therefore, learning how to manage and deal with such side effects contributes to the quality of prescription drugs. You can consult a healthcare professional to deal with these adverse consequences.

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• Obtain information about each drug

Learn as much information as you can about each medication you are taking and read the information with each prescription medication, such as the dose and possible side effects. This information is very effective in drug management. Information such as:

• Why is this medicine prescribed?
• How does this medicine work in the body?
• What are the most common side effects?
• Are there any serious or rare side effects when using them?
• What should we do if we forget to take a medicine?
• Should this medicine be taken with food or water?
• Are there any other medications, vitamins, or supplements that should be avoided while taking this medication?
• Are there any foods that should be consumed with this medicine?

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• Follow your doctor's instructions

Taking medications according to their own instructions and according to the doctor is essential for the body's immunity. Read all instructions carefully and only consume the recommended amount at set times. For example, some medications should not be taken with certain foods, beverages, supplements, or other medications, while other medications should be taken with whole food or water to avoid side effects. Note that you should never stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor and do not change the doses or time.

• Information on the expiration date of drugs

If the medicine expires, discard the leftovers and see a doctor if necessary.

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• Take the right dose

Many seniors need help managing their medications. Establishing a routine for taking medications in a certain way at certain times of the day helps prevent overdoses.

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• How to take medicine

How to take the medicine is very important and you should not chew any pill without consulting your doctor. When some drugs are not swallowed properly, they do not have the right effect on the body and become dangerous.

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• Emergency preparedness

For emergencies, write down the names and contact information of pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics in your area. Contact them immediately if you encounter a serious medication problem such as drug overdose.