Dosage of medications will vary, depending on the type prescribed and the condition being treated, as well as the patient’s weight and age.
If the dosage or appearance of a medication is different after a refill than it was previously, patients should check with their physician or pharmacist before taking the medication.
Patients should not split pills without their physician’s approval. To save money on prescriptions, some people are requesting higher-dose pills and cutting them in half. It might be safe to split certain pills, but there may be questions about proper dosage, and some medications, including capsules and certain pills, cannot be divided.
Many patients have trouble remembering whether or not they took their medication. An inexpensive pill holder may help patients keep track of medications and avoid an overdose. These organizers consist of compartments labeled for each day of the week. Some pill holders also have different compartments for the times of the day at which medicines are to be taken (morning, noon, night and/or bedtime). These can help when managing multiple medications or a medication that is taken several times a day. Several manufacturers also sell watches, alarms and organizers that remind patients of the need to take scheduled doses of medications.
Oral medications are generally best taken with water or milk. Some medications cannot be taken with milk, such as certain antibiotics. Calcium-fortified products, such as certain brands of orange juice, may also slow the absorption of such medications.
Unless otherwise directed, medications should not be taken with grapefruit juice or grapefruit, which can affect the body’s ability to absorb, use or expel some substances, including some blood pressure drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, heart medications, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, HIV drugs, erectile dysfunction drugs, opioids and immunosuppressives. This interaction could lead to an inadequate dose or a potentially toxic buildup in the body. Tangelos, Seville oranges and possibly pomegranate juice may have similar effects on medications. The list of medications affected by grapefruit juice and whole grapefruit is growing, according to the American Dietetic Association. However, a physician may recommend grapefruit as part of a healthful diet for many individuals.
Some medications must be taken with food, whereas others should be taken on an empty stomach. When in doubt about how to take a drug, patients should always consult their physician or pharmacist.
Patients must stand up or sit up for a certain period after taking some medications, such as a drug for osteoporosis.
Medications should be taken according to the schedule recommended by a physician. For example, some drugs, such as certain corticosteroids, may be recommended for the morning because they can interfere with sleep. Others, such as tricyclic antidepressants, may be recommended for nighttime as they can help patients sleep. Taking medications as recommended also reduces the risk of suffering side effects.
Missed doses
Patients should consult with their physician or pharmacist to determine the best course of action to take if they miss a dose of a medication.
Patients should never take a double dose of a medication unless directed to do so by a physician.
Drug overdoses
Patients experiencing overdose symptoms should call emergency numbers (911 in the United States and some other countries) or their local poison control center immediately. Callers should have the following information ready:
Patient’s age, weight and current condition (e.g., conscious, unconscious, dizzy, vomiting)
Specific name of medication, its strength (e.g., 50 milligrams) and how many pills the prescription originally contained
Time(s) that medication was taken
Amount of medication taken
Patients generally should not attempt to drive to the emergency room or ask anyone else to drive them. Symptoms may worsen on route and ambulance personnel will usually arrive at the patient’s location more quickly than the patient can get to a hospital. In addition, emergency medical teams are trained and equipped to provide the aid immediately necessary.
Patients should not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by a poison control center or their physician. Most overdose patients will require hospitalization.
Previous medical practice recommended using syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting in cases of poisonings or suspected overdose. However, in recent years the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and the American Academy of Pediatrics have advised that syrup of ipecac should not be administered routinely in these situations. The first response to a suspected overdose or poisoning should be a call to emergency services or a poison control center.
/doctor_89.jpg "ulcerative colitis tips")