Here are some steps for making sure you get the right prescription for your medical problem.
Regardless of your doctor’s penmanship skills, when he writes you a prescription, plan to write down the information yourself, too. Ask him to spell the name of the drug and the manufacturer for you.
If the doctor says she will phone in your prescription to the pharmacy, that's a good service -- but tell her you would still like a written copy of exactly what the prescription is, even if it's not pulled from an "official" (legal) prescription pad.
Remind your doctor of the various medications you already take. Include any herbs, vitamins, and other over-the-counter preparations you take regularly since some interact negatively with prescribed drugs.
Plan to ask your doctor the following questions as he is writing your prescription:
- Why did your doctor prescribe that drug?
- What form does the drug come in? (liquid? tablets?)
- What will it look like (red liquid, little white, round pill). This will help you confirm its identity at the pharmacy.[br}
- Is there an acceptable generic version?
- How much and how often should you take it?
- Should it be taken with, or without, food?
- Are there any foods or beverages you should avoid while taking the medication? (Some antibiotics are useless if taken with milk, and many drugs interact negatively with alcohol.)
- Are there any activities you should avoid? (Driving can be dangerous if the drug makes you drowsy.)
- How long should you take the drug?
- What side effects should you expect, and and when you should call the doctor instead of just coping with them? For example, a dry mouth may be a minor side effect, but dehydration would require a call to his office.
Some drug problems arise from the dispensing, not the prescribing, so when you pick up the prescription at the pharmacy, compare it to your notes. Check the container your medicine comes in to be sure it matches what your doctor ordered. Then, ask the pharmacist to verify that what’s inside the container matches its label.
Once you know you have the right drug and the right amount of it, make sure you follow your doctor’s dosage instructions closely. Not surprisingly, medication errors aren't always the result of writing errors or dispensing errors. Some medication errors come from the patient side of the equation, too.
