Who are the Well Being Experts? A group of health professionals committed to provide advice and recommendations to increase the quality of life of our members. In Triple-S Advantage we provide the guidance and information you need to enjoy life and have an optimal health. With the Well Being Experts, you will have access to tips and valuable information that will help your physical and emotional health. Taking your prescribed medications correctly By: Dra. Omaris Muñiz Back Share facebook twitter google+ linkedin Dra. Omaris Muñiz VP of Pharmacy Triple-S Advantage The first step into properly taking your medication is to follow your doctor instructions. Your trusted health care professional will provide you with tips on how to manage your medications, including what to do if you miss a dose and any possible side effects. Doses and Timing Medication doses are calculated based on age and weight. There are multiple risks of ingesting the wrong dose. If it’s less than what has been prescribed, the treatment will not be effective. If it’s more, it can produce adverse effects to your health. For this reason, it is important to carefully follow you doctor’s instructions. Timing is also important in medication administration. If you are combining several treatments, scheduling them properly is critical since your body must process them separately. Keep a medication diary Keeping track of all your medications can be complicated. Create a running list of all your prescriptions, vitamins and supplements and place it somewhere visible. Your list should include the following: Name of the medication Starting date Dose Schedule (AM / PM) Number of pills total Date of next refill Name of doctor Smartphone Apps There’s an app for that! Actually, there are many mobile applications in the market dedicated to medication management. They all share the same basic features: custom reminders, calendar, refill notifications and more. If you have a smartphone or a tablet and you would like to download one of these handy apps, you can start your search with the following terms: medicine organizer, medication diary, medication journal or medication reminder. New medication: What should I do? If your doctor prescribes you new medication, ask questions about why you need it and if there are special instructions or possible side effects. Keep the following topics in mind: Doubts and questions: Does this new medicine interact with any other medication I’m taking? Is it safe? Is it covered under my health insurance? Ask away! Your doctor is there to guide you. Prices: You can ask your physician for bioequivalent alternatives since they are more accessible. Secondary effects: Ask your doctor if the medication could affect any of your daily activities and if there are any adverse side effects. Share facebook twitter google+ linkedin
