How to be Drug Smart
35 Easy-To-Take Tips
BY RUSSELL WILD
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Be Curious
“Before
you leave your doctor’s office, know what your condition is and how
the drug will help you,” says Janice Douglas, M.D., chief of the division
of hypertension at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
in Cleveland. “Don’t let the doctor say, ‘Okay, you have high blood
pressure, so let’s get you on this medication.’” Know what your numbers
are and what you’re aiming to achieve. Only by knowing that you’re aiming
for, say, a blood pressure level below 140/90 or an LDL cholesterol
level of under 100, will you know if a drug is working for you.
Don’t Play Doctor
The pharmaceutical industry
has done much to develop drug therapies that can help us live longer
and better lives. Painstaking research has gone into determining the
dosage and effectiveness of every prescription medicine. Make sure when
you leave the doctor’s office or the pharmacist’s counter that you understand
the instructions exactly—whether you’re to take one pill or two, whether
once, twice, or three times a day. If the medicine doesn’t seem to be
working or if you’re experiencing side effects, always consult your
doctor. You should never tinker with the dosage on your own. The instructions
are there for a reason: to be followed.
Share Your Life Story
When you meet with
your doctor, discuss any and all health conditions you may have, chronic
as well as acute, and reveal every medication you’re taking—including
nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, herbal products,
and vitamins. You’ll get better treatment if the doctor has a complete
picture of your health and habits.
| ‘Before
you leave your doctor’s office, know what your condition is and how
the drug will help you’ |
Watch the Clock
“The hour of day you take
a drug can greatly alter its effectiveness,” says Douglas. “Research
shows a 40 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 49 percent higher
risk of stroke in the morning. So if there was ever a time for your
high blood pressure medication to be working at its peak, morning is
it.” To get that result, you might be better off taking your pills the
night before: Most antihypertensives you take in the morning won’t fully
kick in until afternoon. Whatever drug you’re prescribed, ask your doctor
when the best time is to take it.
Open up to Your Dentist
Many of the medications
used by dentists—including anesthesia, antibiotics, and painkillers—don’t
mix well with certain prescription medications. A great number of drugs
can cause dry mouth. “Saliva is your best defense against tooth decay,”
says Richard H. Price, D.M.D., of the American Dental Association. “If
your mouth is perpetually dry due to medication use, we might want to
take extra steps, such as prescribing a fluoride gel, to make your teeth
more resistant to decay.” Also tell your dentist if you have conditions
that compromise your general health, particularly heart valve problems.
That way you’ll likely receive antibiotics before having any serious
mouth work done.
Make Friends With Your Pharmacist
Your druggist
knows a lot about prescription drugs. Get to know your pharmacist, and
make sure that he or she knows your conditions and the pills you’re
taking. If you’re not sure whom you should pester with questions—your
doctor or pharmacist—ask both. “You can never get too much information,”
says Dalia Abdelmacksoud, assistant director of clinical pharmacy services
at NYU Medical Center.
Plan a Review Session
If you’re popping
multiple medications, meet with your doctor every six months to review
what you’re taking (including supplements and nonprescription drugs).
Think of it as your body’s state of the union address: a chance to address
any problems and even uncover problems. According to one study, one
in five Americans over 65 takes at least one inappropriate prescription
drug.
The Ethnicity Factor
The majority of Americans
are Caucasian and most drug-trial participants are Caucasian. But a
small difference in a few genes can affect the body’s reaction to drugs.
Studies show that four times as much of the popular ulcer drug Prilosec
accumulates in the blood of Asian Americans as it does in Caucasians.
(And the drug rises 40 to 50 percent higher and lasts 50 percent longer
in the bloodstreams of all elderly people.) The manufacturer of Prilosec
suggests “dose adjustments” for Asian Americans, but the advice is buried
in the package insert’s “Clinical Pharmacology” section—which your physician
may not have read. Ask your doctor if ethnicity might affect your dosage.
The Bigger the Muscle, the
Smaller the Pill
The amount of medicine you need often can be reduced—and sometimes eliminated—through
lifestyle changes. Weight loss, exercise, and salt reduction can lower
high blood pressure. Eating less saturated fat and more fruits and vegetables
can lower cholesterol. Arthritis pain can be alleviated by warm-water
soaks, stretching, and the application of ice. Make sure you discuss
lifestyle changes and home remedies with your doctor.
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