Millions of people rely on medication to help manage different mental and physical health conditions. But as helpful as medication can be, it can also be dangerous if someone is taking medication incorrectly. The CDC estimates that nearly half of medication is taken incorrectly, with people taking the wrong dosage, missing doses, mixing medications, or discontinuing use before advised by a doctor.
Correctly managing your medication, both on your own and with the help of a doctor, will make it possible to get the best results and avoid any risks with your prescriptions.
Keeping Track of Your Medication
Because of the risks of side effects or ineffective treatment, it is important to take medications as prescribed and these steps can help:
- Organize with a Pillbox – A pillbox or similar solution can help you be sure that you are taking your various medications on the correct days and prevent you from taking a second dose accidentally.
- Set Notifications – Many medications are most effective when taken out approximately the same time each day. You can set a recurring alarm on your phone or use specific smartphone apps designed to remind you to take your medications.
- Make Medication Part of Your Routine – You can also pair up taking your medication with a task you do each day, such as brushing your teeth or getting into bed for the evening.
- Store Medication Properly – Many medications’ effectiveness is impacted by their storage and most need to be kept at room temperature. For this reason, you may consider your bedside table or another location instead of your bathroom or kitchen which are more likely to experience frequent fluctuations in temperature.
- Participate in Medication Review with Your Doctor – Regular medication review is a chance for you and your provider to go over all of the different medications you are taking, dosages, how effective each one is, and the side effects. During this time, your doctor may choose to increase or decrease medications, stop medications, or try something new.
When medications are not working, you should always rely on a professional medication review rather than trying to solve the problem on your own which can have unwanted effects.
Aware Behavioral Health is a Dallas psychiatrist that offers medication review for any psychiatric medications and others you may be taking to manage various conditions. If you recently had a change in your response to your medications, are interested in stopping a medication, or are experiencing any other concerns about the effectiveness of the prescription you are taking, set up an appointment with Aware Behavioral Health today.
