It is hard to believe, but over half of all prescription medicines are not taken correctly by patients at home. While most medicines are safe when they are used correctly, they can cause harm if they are not taken the right way. If you do not take your medicines in the right way, you could have a higher chance of:

• Having side effects from your medicine
• Having your illness get worse
• Missing days from work
• Taking more medicine
• Visiting a doctor
• Needing more lab tests
• Going to the emergency room
• Staying in a hospital
• Living in a nursing home
• Death

All of these things could cost you a lot of time and money. For example, if you have asthma and use an inhaler, you need to know how to use it correctly. If you do not know how to use the inhaler correctly, you are not able to get all of the medicine into your lungs. Your asthma might not get better. This means that you might have to go to the doctor or emergency room for help. It will cost you money to visit the doctor or emergency room. If the doctor has to prescribe a new medicine to help treat the problem, you will also need to pay for the medicine. It also takes time to visit the doctor and pick up a prescription at the pharmacy.

You can prevent this from happening to you. Every day you must make decisions about how to manage your medicines. You must decide when to take your medicine, what to do if you forget a dose of your medicine, how to handle the side effects of your medicines, and when to call your doctor.

In order to make the right decisions about your medicines, you need to have all of the information about your medicines. This means that it is important for you to take an active role in learning as much as you can about your medicines and how to take them. It will help you take your medicines safely. Here is a list of things that you can do to protect yourself.

1. Make a list of all of the medicines you are currently taking. Include the strength of the drug and the directions for taking it. Keep this list in your wallet or purse in case there are any questions about your medicines.
   
   
2. Make sure you know what all of your medicines are for. Write it down on your list to help you remember. If you are unsure of why a medicine is important, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
   
   
3. Discuss any problems or side effects that you think might be caused by your medicines with your doctor. Your doctor can discuss with you ways to help manage your side effects. Your doctor may also decide to change the dose of your medicine or prescribe another medicine.
   
   
4. When your doctor prescribes a new medicine, make sure you know the name of the medicine, what the medicine is for, the strength, how to take the medicine, and how long you will be taking the medicine. Be sure to ask for this information if your doctor has not explained it to you. Write this information down to help you remember. Everyone forgets and a simple note can make it easier for you to manage your medicines.
   
   
5. Let your doctor know of any problems that you might have with taking a new medicine. Let your doctor know if there are any reasons why you may not be able to take the medicine. Your doctor may be able to help you find a way to manage these problems.
   
   
6. When you pick up a new prescription, make sure it is what your doctor prescribed. Look at the label to see if it is the same drug and strength, and whether or not the directions are the same as what your doctor told you. If you have any questions, ask the pharmacist BEFORE you leave the pharmacy and BEFORE you take the medicine.
   
   
7. When you pick up a refill, double check to make sure it is what you wanted. Sometimes there are several prescriptions for you for the same medicine in the pharmacy's computer. These prescriptions might have different strengths or directions for the same medicine. It is important to make sure you are getting the most up to date prescription.
   
   
8. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about your medicines. They can help explain any directions that might be confusing. They can also give you tips on what to do if you forget a dose of your medicine. They can even let you know which side effects you might be most likely to have and how to deal with them.
   
   
9. If you are at home and have a question about your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist. They are there to help you. By asking about anything that you are unsure about, you can prevent yourself from taking your medicine incorrectly or being harmed from a side effect.
   
   
10. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicines, ask your pharmacist for help. There are many ways to help you manage your medicines. Pillboxes can be used to organize your medicines. Your pharmacist may even be able to help prepare these pillboxes.

There is no point in going to your doctor for medical help and to the pharmacy to get your prescription medicines if you don't know how to take them correctly. Protect yourself. Ask questions about your medicines. Get the information that you need to take your medicines correctly. Only then will you be able to get the full benefit of your medicines.