Managing your medicines

It's important that you take both prescription and non-prescription medicines with care.

This is especially true if you are experiencing more than one health problem and are taking more than one type of medicine. If you don't take them exactly as your doctor has told you, there's a chance they might interact in a negative way or be less effective.

By following a few simple guidelines, you can help to maximise the benefits of your medication and minimise the risks:

• Listen to your doctor and take your medicines exactly as he or she says. Don't change the dosage or the time of day when you're meant to take them without consulting your doctor – and remember to take them with or without food, as prescribed.
  
  
• Don't stop taking your medicine or medicines, even if you are feeling better or don't notice any change, without speaking to your doctor first. In some cases, doing so could have a serious effect on your health. With asymptomatic conditions (where no obvious symptoms are present) such as high cholesterol, your medication may not make you feel any different but it doesn't mean that it is not working.
  
  
• Find out more about the side effects the medicines you are taking may have, by reading the information leaflet in the packet or asking your pharmacist. If you do have any side effects you are worried about, speak to your doctor about how to deal with them. If the side effects are having an unwanted impact on your life, ask if there might be another treatment more suitable for you.
  
  
• Make a medicine timetable so you know exactly what you should be taking when and put it somewhere you can see it easily. This is very useful if you are taking several different medicines.
  
  
• Make sure your medicines are easy to find, and are part of your daily routine. You may want to keep them next to the kettle for example. It is important to remember, of course, to keep them out of the reach of children or pets.
  
  
• Use your alarm clock or mobile phone alarm to remind you when you need to take your medicines. Some mobile phones have calendars on them, which can make an alarm go off at the same time of day every day, with a message saying what tablets you should be taking.
  
  
• Buy a special dispenser with compartments for different days – and different times of day – if you are taking lots of different medicines. You should be able to get one at your local pharmacy. Make sure you buy one with enough compartments to suit your needs.
  
  
• Make sure you have enough and if you are running low, try not to leave collecting more medication until the last minute.
  
  
• Ask your pharmacist for easy-to-open containers if you have difficulty using your hands or if you have arthritis, for example.