Medication
What does four times a day mean for
medications – do I have to take them at exactly 6 hours apart?
When doctors write prescriptions for 4 times a day, they mean fairly
evenly spaced apart, but it doesn't have to be exactly 6 hours apart.
There are many medications that must be taken every 6 hours. For these
medications, the doctors will write, "every 6 hours" instead of 4 times
a day. If you aren't sure how often you should take the your pills,
speak with your pharmacist and he or she can help answer your
questions.
My medications have to be taken 2 hours after
a meal. Why? I like to eat many small meals a day so that becomes
really impossible.
Many medications must be taken on an empty stomach for them to work
properly. If there is food in your stomach, it will interfere with the
absorption of the medications.
If you can't take medications on an empty stomach because of your
schedule or a medical issue, this should be mentioned to your doctor so
a solution can be found or alternatives can be provided.
I have to take my medication with food. Does
that mean a full meal or can it be with a snack?
Some medications must be taken with food to protect the stomach because
they can cause irritation to the stomach, causing nausea or even
irritation leading to ulcers. If it's possible, you can take the
medications with a meal, but if it isn't convenient, a good snack will
usually be enough to ensure there is something in your stomach to
buffer the medications.
I take too many medications and can't keep
track. Some have to be taken before meals, some after, some every other
day, some several times a day. I can't keep it all straight.
People with multiple illnesses or even as people get older, they can
end up having to take several types of medications, all with their own
rules, so to speak.
If you find you are taking too many medications, speak to the doctor
who is prescribing them. If you see more than one doctor, as is often
the case with people who are followed by specialists, make sure your
primary care doctor knows all the medications you are taking, as well
as each specialist you see. Explain to them about the many medications
and how it is difficult to keep up. Sometimes, medications can be
changed or even combined.
At home, there are some tricks that may help you keep track of your
pills.
First, pill organizers can be a wonderful help. You can either buy a
larger dosette type that has many slots for each day of the week,
according to time, or you can buy some of the week containers, with one
slot for each day of the week. Some people buy several different
colours of these: one for morning pills, one for lunch time, and so on.
By using these organizers, you can put out your pills for a week and
then if you can't recall if you took a pill or not, you can check your
container.
Some people use timers throughout the day to remind them when to take
their pills. This may be a good solution if you take several throughout
the day. It may take some experimenting to find a system that works
well for you.
I can't open the packages that my pills come
in. The foil is too hard to break through and I end up having to use
scissors or a knife. Why do the companies use that type of packaging?
It's likely that the companies feel that this type of packaging is the
most efficient to keep the medications safe and fresh, but you are
right in that they can be difficult to open.
When getting your prescription filled, ask your pharmacist to take the
pills out of the packaging and place them in a pill bottle. If he or
she is willing to do that, it can make a big difference for you. If
they can't or won't, perhaps you can ask someone to help you prepare
your pills in advance.
Before putting pills in a bottle, however, ask the pharmacist if this
is ok for your particular medication. Some medications cannot be
exposed to light, for example, and must be kept in a dark container or
they lose their potency.
I can't swallow my pills but my pharmacist
says I can't cut them. What can I do?
There are many tricks to swallowing pills, anywhere from taking them
with a spoon of applesauce or ice cream to crushing them if you are
allowed to. Not everyone can swallow these pills though so that makes
it really difficult for some people.
When you swallow your pills, do you throw your head back to try to
encourage the pills to go down your throat? Most people do. The problem
with this approach is that it lengthens your neck and tightens the
muscles. Perhaps you should try the opposite. Some people have more
success if they put the pills on the back of their tongue, take some
liquid, and then bow their head forward to relax the neck muscles
rather than tighten them.
If you still can't swallow your pills, speak to your doctor about
perhaps changing your prescription.
If
you have any further questions about medications or any other subject
matter, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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