Prescription Basics
Prescription medication may play an important role in your health and treatment of medical conditions. Understanding your prescriptions and following these tips will help you get the most benefit from your medication.
Track your medicines
Keep a list of all medicines you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins and herbal supplements. Bring this list with you whenever you visit a doctor or pick up a prescription. This can reduce medical mistakes and improve the quality, safety and effectiveness of your health care.
Take your medications safely
Medicine is prescribed to help you . But it can hurt you if you take too much or mix medicines that shouldn't go together. For every medication you are prescribed:
- Know what the medicine is for and how to properly take it.
- Ask if there is a generic substitution.
- Ask about side effects and what to do if they occur. Also ask what to avoid (for instance, some medication shouldn't be mixed with alcohol or may make it unsafe to drive).
- Read the label and warnings that come with your prescription. Ask the pharmacist about anything you don't understand.
- Ask what you should do if you skip a dose or accidentally take more than the recommended dose.
- When you pick up your prescription, make sure it is the same thing your doctor prescribed.
- If you have any questions while taking the medication, call your doctor or pharmacist.
Follow your treatment plan
To stay healthy and safe, follow your treatment plan and take your medication as prescribed. Also:
- Ask your doctor if you will need a refill, and how many.
- Tell your doctor if you are having side effects.
- Don't share your medication with anyone.
Ask if you need tests to find out if the medication is working. Medication errors occur every day and can be very dangerous. It is important that you always ask questions to verify that the medication you are given is the correct one and double check the label before taking the medication.
A note for Iowa employers from TrueNorth Risk Management Specialist, Stuart Haker:
Many Iowa-based businesses have included Drug-Free Workplace Policies in their employee handbook. In order to maintain compliance with Iowa's rules regarding the administration of the drug-free workplace program, the employer must identify and train a supervisory employee who will be responsible for carrying out the program requirements. The actual language in Iowa Code Section 730.5 states:
In order to conduct drug or alcohol testing under this section, an employer shall require supervisory personnel of the employer involved with drug or alcohol testing under this section to attend a minimum of two hours of initial training and to attend, on an annual basis thereafter, a minimum of one hour of subsequent training. The training shall include, but is not limited to, information concerning the recognition of evidence of employee alcohol and other drug abuse, the documentation and corroboration of employee alcohol and other drug abuse, and the referral of employees who abuse alcohol or other drugs to the employee assistance program or the resource file maintained by the employer.
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