Simple Medical Tips

Simple Medical Tips

Medicines

2. Make sure that all of your child's doctors know about everything your child is taking and his or her weight. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs.


At least once a year, bring all of your child's medicines and supplements with you to the doctor. "Brown bagging" your child's medicines can help you and your doctor talk about them and find out if there are any problems. Knowing your child's medication history and weight can help your doctor keep your child's records up to date, which can help your child get better quality care.


3. Make sure your child's doctor knows about any allergies and how your child reacts to medicines.


This can help you avoid getting a medicine that can harm your child.


4. When your child's doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it.

If you can't read the doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either. Ask the doctor to use block letters to print the name of the drug.


5. When you pick up your child's medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my child's doctor prescribed?

A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong dose.


6. Ask for information about your child's medicines in terms you can understand—both when the medicines are prescribed and when you receive them at the hospital or pharmacy.

What is the name of the medicine?
What is the medicine for?
Is the dose of this medicine appropriate for my child based on his or her weight?
How often is my child supposed to take it, and for how long?
What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
Is this medicine safe for my child to take with other medicines or dietary supplements?
What food, drink, or activities should my child avoid while taking this medicine?
Is the dose of this medicine appropriate for my child based on his or her weight?
When should I see an improvement?