If one gets prescribed any medication, it is essential to read and follow the guidelines in the medication label to be safe. Markedly, some drugs have life-threatening side effects, and failure to adhere to the required instructions can be risky. Therefore, in case one does not understand the instructions which are written in the label, they should ask the health practitioner before leaving the pharmacy or the hospital for clarification.
Importantly, a patient should ensure that the label on the medication has all the necessary information, including the quantity of medicine which one should take, whether there is a precise time they should take, and on which time intervals, or if alcohol, any food or supplement should be avoided. Furthermore, it is essential to ask for any possible side effects so that one can be psychologically ready ( Consumer Health Choices, 2012) . Then, patients should inform the medics if they are on any other drugs to confirm if the medication given can have any effect on drugs they are taking already. Then, one should check the manufacture and expiry date on the label. Lastly, a patient should ask when they can stop taking the medication. A patient should keep on taking the drug up to when doctor has instructed. That should be regardless of whether or not they feel better ( Consumer Health Choices, 2012) . If one finds it difficult to stick to the medication for the time the medic instructed, they should consult their doctor before they stop using the drug.
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There are also mistakes which people do, especially with pain relievers. Most people commonly take more than recommended dosages of anti-inflammatories like naproxen and ibuprofen, which can be hazardous to kidneys or liver. The main reason people overdo painkillers is one can take medications they did not buy themselves, which were being used by a friend or family member. That means one does not to talk to the pharmacists to get information on how the medicine should be used.
Reference
Consumer Health Choices. (2012). Understanding prescription drug labels. Retrieved 15 June 2020, from https://youtu.be/QaSx4upoI3M
