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Permit No. 44
IF
a medicine could make you
feel better—or even be a potential
lifesaver—wouldn’t you take it just as
your doctor tells you to?
Surprisingly, many people don’t.
As many as 75 percent of
Americans don’t take their
medication as prescribed, according
to the American Heart Association.
And this failure to use as directed
contributes to 125,000 deaths in the
U.S. every year.
Some people simply forget when
or how to take their medicine. Some
can’t afford to buy the medicine they
need. Others may:
w
Feel like their medication isn’t
helping.
w
Find it difficult to take or use the
medicine.
w
Be afraid of side effects.
If you happen to be one of those
75 percent who struggle with taking
Take as
directed
medicines like they should, know
this: There are solutions for nearly
every medication-use problem. Here
are some to try:
Fight forgetfulness.
Set an alarm
or a text reminder on your cellphone
to tell you when it’s time to take a
medication. Or take your medicine
at the same time every day (like
when you brush your teeth).
Explore payment options.
Talk
to your doctor or pharmacist if you
don’t think you can pay for your
medications. There may be other
drugs that cost less than the ones
you’re taking and work just as well.
There are also programs that can
help you afford what you need.
Share your concerns.
If you think
a medication is causing side effects
or isn’t working, tell your doctor.
You may need a different medicine
or dose or to wait longer for the drug
Tips to help you take your medicine
Visit
alicehyde.com
and click “Find a Physician.”
Alice Hyde’s
LOOKING FOR
Dr. Right?
Stay on top of your health with seasonal tips year-round.
Go to
youtube.com/alicehydemedical
.
New providers
at AHMC in 2014
Oluwaseun Adaramola, MD, Hospital
Medicine
Dragos Banu, MD, Internal Medicine
Shardul Gadhia, MD, Hospital Medicine
Keri Gardner, MD, Emergency Medicine
Seema Lodha, MD, Cardiology
Alfred Loka, MD, Cardiology
Christopher Palma, DO, Cardiology
Jujhar Sandhu, MD, Internal Medicine
Paramvir Sheri , MD, Hospital Medicine
Joel Wolkowicz, MD, Cardiology
Dimitrina Banu, PA, Urgent Care
David Griffin, PA, Orthopedics
Kathleen Lauzon, NP, Leroux Health
Center
Wendy Frank, NP, Alice Hyde Nursing
Home
Wilhelmina Sheridan, NP, Dwyer Health
Center
to take effect. Whatever you do, don’t
make changes to how you take the
medication or stop taking it without
speaking to your doctor first.
Find an easier way.
If it’s hard for
you to swallow a pill, for example,
ask your doctor if the medicine
comes in a liquid form. Or if a
bottle is difficult to open, ask your
pharmacist for easy-open caps.
Whatever the reason you aren’t
able to take your meds as directed,
work with your doctor to come up
with a plan to get back on track.
