GET IN THE KNOW ABOUT YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

 
 
For Americans, treating illness with prescription drugs is a fact of life.  We depend on drug therapies to treat ailments from skin rash to heart disease.  Media ads promise improved health, performance and lifestyle with their prescription-only products.  But what drugs work best?  In the past, drug companies marketed their prescription products to the professional health community exclusively.  Now, advertising is equally directed to the consumer encouraging viewers to “ask your doctor if this drug can work for you.”
 
Inviting consumers to decide what drugs are best for them or even suggesting that patients make recommendations to their doctors about drug options is a truly revolutionary concept.  But in the world of managed care that typically limits doctor’s office visits to about 10 minutes, little time is left for teaching and coaching patients about prescribed drugs and their most effective use.  So learning as much as possible about your drug options and becoming an informed patient and smart consumer is a very good idea.
 
Here are a few suggestions to help you navigate the maze of prescription drug options.
 
First, find a health professional whose education, experience and skill you trust.  You can rely on that individual’s expertise to make the right drug choices for you.
 
Second, don’t waste valuable office time trying to convince your health professional about the effectiveness of a drug you’ve seen advertised.  Most of us don’t have the qualifications to make that kind of evaluation.  Besides, your health profile is special and unique.  Prescription products that are mass marketed may not be right for you.
 
Third, when you are given a prescription, be assertive.  Before you leave the doctor’s office, make sure you understand what ailment the drug is supposed to treat, how and how often it should be administered and what side effects you can expect, if any.  Know whether to take the medication on a full or empty stomach and whether or not the drug should be refrigerated.
 
Last, if the doctor gives you drug samples to get started, ask about how much you can expect to pay when you have your first full prescription filled at the pharmacy.  Knowing this information in advance will help avoid sticker-shock later on.
 
When you receive your prescription from the druggist, check the label carefully to make sure you’ve been given the right drug in the right quantity.  And by all means, make your pharmacist part of your health care team.  He or she is a trained professional who can answer questions and make suggestions about your overall health care.
 
Last, pay attention to drug recalls and clinical trial results discussed in the news.   It’s possible that you may be taking a drug that research has found poses a danger to your health.  Don’t be afraid to ask your health provider about the safety track record of drugs.  Remember, when it comes to drugs, an informed consumer is a smart consumer!
 
Visit www.blackhealthnow.com often for more information on your health.