How to Tell If You Are Over-Medicated
Many people in America are over-medicated without realizing it. Patients are looking for quick chemical fixes for their ills and doctors are too eager to pull out their prescription pads. Eventually many patients have a stock-pile of medication without realizing the effects and interactions on their bodies. To tell if you are over-medicated, read the following tips.
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Instructions
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If you are taking more than one medication don't assume that there are no interactions among the drugs. The best way to find out about interactions is to ask your doctor or ask your pharmacist. Typically pharmacists are more familiar with drug interactions and will be able to tell you if you are over-medicated.
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The use of multiple medication is especially high among the elderly. What's frightening is that many seniors are given escalating amounts of drugs and many are for side effects from other prescriptions. Seniors are also more likely to see different doctors who may only take a cursory look at all the medications their patients are taking without checking for possible interactions. Check out The Beers List: Potentially Inappropriate Medications for the Elderly. The link is listed below in the resource section.
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To avoid being over medicated, make a list of all medications and dosage amounts you take including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbs. Keep the list with you at all times. Go over the information with your doctor during every appointment.
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If you see more than one doctor regularly and are on more than three medications, ask him or her to perform a comprehensive medication review. You can also have a clinical pharmacist do this analysis for you. Check the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists' website which has an online national directory of pharmacist consultants.
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Educate yourself further about being over-medicated. Check out the link to The Institute of Medicine's article on avoiding medication errors. The link is located in the resource section near the bottom of this webpage. To avoid being over-medicated, use one pharmacy for prescription purchases.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photos courtesy of Flickr
