Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Know Your Medicines

The New Jersey Poison Control Center strongly urges you to ask your health care provider or pharmacist questions about your medications to avoid placing yourself or a loved one at risk of developing a complication by not knowing the active ingredients in a particular medicine or the proper way to take it.

Make sure to get the following questions answered before taking any medication:

- The name of the drug and what it's used for, and whether it's the brand name or the generic- How and when to take the medicine and for how long- What foods, drinks, other meds, dietary supplements or activities to avoid
- The common side effects
- If the medicine will work safely with other prescriptions and over-the-counter meds and dietary/herbal supplements that you're currently taking
- If and when you might need a refill
- How the medicine should be stored

You should inform your health care provider of the following:

- The name of all prescription and non-prescription meds and dietary/herbal supplements you are taking
- If you are allergic to any meds
- If you are having any problems with your meds
- If you are or could be pregnent
- If you are breast feeding

Keep the Poison Help Hotline number posted in case of emergency: 1-800-222-1222

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