| It is easy to forget in that in the world of health | | | | developed for the same illness work the same in |
| care most people face one of two choices when | | | | every patient. Taking your medications exactly as |
| they visit their doctor with a problem. Those | | | | prescribed allows your doctor to confidently |
| choices are surgery or medication. The | | | | adjust your dosage or medication to find just the |
| overwhelming majority of people go to their | | | | right therapy. |
| doctor with illnesses and conditions that do not | | | | If you have an illness requiring several medicines a |
| require surgery, leaving the prescribing and taking | | | | day, the problems are compounded, but there are |
| of medications as the method we seek to cure | | | | solutions you can consider. First, your pharmacy |
| what ails us. | | | | will carry pill boxes that can be pre-filled with the |
| A great number of us fail to take our medication | | | | medicines you need day to day. Many pharmacies, |
| as prescribed, despite the fact that often it is | | | | particularly independently owned stores may offer |
| medication that is keeping us from needing | | | | the service of organizing your medications in such |
| surgery. We miss doses, forgetting them or failing | | | | a container for a small fee. Available in several |
| to get a needed prescription refilled when needed. | | | | varieties, some containers have seven sections |
| A common condition like high blood pressure | | | | corresponding with the days of the week, and |
| (hypertension) is usually treated easily with drugs, | | | | four chambers on each day for morning, noon, |
| but damage can come leading to heart surgery or | | | | evening and bedtime. Some pill boxes are |
| worse if left untreated. | | | | sophisticated enough to provide an alarm or |
| Those who research new pharmaceuticals | | | | electronic voice to alert the patient that it is time |
| carefully establish the frequency and dosage for | | | | to take their medication. |
| their medications. Your doctor has something | | | | Another option is to have your medications |
| called a Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) which is | | | | organized by your pharmacist in special packaging |
| an index of medicines and a summary of how the | | | | called "compliance packaging" or "blister pack" |
| medication being prescribed should be taken. | | | | packaging. Like the reusable segmented boxes, |
| Those instructions are given to your pharmacist | | | | the blister packaging keeps pills organized by when |
| with the prescription. Your pharmacist will make | | | | the medication needs to be taken. Typically there |
| sure those instructions are printed on the label and | | | | is a clear bubble containing your pills and a foil |
| will ask you if you have any questions. All this | | | | backing you punch open, much like many |
| care and communication between the scientists | | | | over-the-counter medications. Again your local |
| making the drug, your doctor and your | | | | pharmacy, particularly independent community |
| pharmacist is compiled and given to you to make | | | | pharmacies will offer this as a service for a |
| sure you receive the maximum benefit of your | | | | modest fee. |
| medication. | | | | In addition to the obvious advantages of |
| For once a day medication, most of us can handle | | | | convenience, both of these methods allows the |
| the routine, however it is important for you to | | | | patient or their caretaker to quickly tell if the |
| ask your pharmacist what sort of leeway you | | | | medication is being taken properly. Group homes |
| have in when you take it. "Once a day" versus | | | | or assisted care facilities will often insist that |
| "Once a day in the Morning" is a very important | | | | medications are placed in this type of packaging |
| distinction. The duration of your illness is important | | | | to ensure that the patient is being properly cared |
| too. Chronic (long term) illnesses generally require | | | | for following the doctor's orders to the letter. |
| more management than acute (short term) but | | | | Bear in mind that most medications can have |
| not always. A five-day course of antibiotics for an | | | | dangerous side effects when not taken properly. |
| acute sickness like bronchitis must be taken | | | | Placing pills in containers that are not childproof |
| exactly as ordered or the patient risks getting far | | | | requires an extra measure of care. That said, |
| sicker with an infection resistant to the medicine. | | | | with the proper consideration compliance |
| Careful medication compliance is especially | | | | packaging or a pill box is an excellent method to |
| important when trying to determine the best | | | | make sure your doctor's orders are followed and |
| course of treatment. Not all medications | | | | you get the best medication treatment possible. |