Know Your Medicine - At the Doctor’s Office

•- Always take your updated Medicine List.This will tell your physician everything you are taking, including prescription medicines, over-thecounter medicines, and herbals.

•- Tell your physician about any allergies or reactions that you have had to medicine in the past.Write these on your Medicine List.

At the Drug Store

- Take new medicine prescriptions and refills to the same drugstore.The pharmacist then has a list of your medicines. He or she can make sure that all of the medicine works together and will not make you sick.

•- If you use more than one drugstore, make sure each one has a list of all of your
medicine.

-• Ask the pharmacist the name of the medicine and how you should take it. Make
sure that this information matches what
your physician told you.

•- Make sure that any refill of the medicine is the same color, size, and shape. If there is any difference, ask why.

•- If you have ANY questions about your medicine, ask your pharmacist.

Know Your Medicine - In the Hospital

•- When you are admitted to the hospital, take your updated Medicine List or bring all of your medicines in the original bottles. Include over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbals.

•- Tell your physician, nurse, or other provider about any allergies or reactions that you have had to medicine in the past. Also, write these on your Medicine List.

•- If you feel that any medicine is making you sick or causing you pain, tell the physician or nurse right away.

•- When you are being sent home from the hospital, ask your physician or nurse to tell
you what medicines you should be taking, and how to take them.You can be given an
updated Medicine List before you leave the
hospital.