Things You'll Need:
- computer
- internet
- names of all prescription medications
- names of all vitamins and herbal supplements
- pen or pencil
- paper
- time
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Step 1
Gather all prescription drug medications.To check prescription drug interactions you will need to gather all of your prescription medications, even those you take occasionally.
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Step 2
Gather all vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medicines.Get together all of the over-the-counter, herbal supplements, vitamins and mineral supplements, and even any teas that you drink that are made from herbs. They can sometimes interact with prescription medications.
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Step 3
Write down all of your medications, etc.Make a list of the prescription names, other medications, and supplements. When writing down your prescription drug information, many bottles will include both the the name brand and generic drug name. Write down both of these.
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Step 4
Use your computer to check for interactions.Go to a prescription drug interaction website, such as those listed below in the resource section. Type in everything on your list.
The two websites that are very informative are DoubleCheckMD at http://doublecheckmd.com and Drugs.com at www.drugs.com -
Step 5
Some interactions can be fatal so it's very important to check them.Read thoroughly the results of the potential drug interactions. Print and save your results. Each time something changes or you add or take away, make sure to update this information, and always keep your list current.
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Step 6
Look up a specific medication or supplement to find out if there is a potential drug interaction, especially if you are concerned about a particular medicine. If there is a concern about a medication or even a question, ask your pharmacist to run a comparison in their system.
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Step 7
Talk with the doctor.Talk with your physician if anything arises that might concern you. Open communication with your physician is essential. Prescription drug interactions can be deadly so it's very important to have an open dialogue with your doctor.
Comments
Susang6 said
on 2/25/2009 You should always double check your prescriptions interactions, so many people have reactions and don't realize it. Thank you for this useful article. 5*
dsarokin said
on 8/27/2008 Excellent advice. Intereactions are easy to overlook, and doctors and pharmacists do it all the time. It's a good idea to double-check yourself.