Medicines might be needed at some point in your health care
plan. Medicines may be used to:
- Keep your chronic health care problems in check.
- Keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in
check.
- Treat new problems such as infections.
When used as prescribed, medicines are generally safe.
Keep a Medicine List
Keep an up-to-date medicine list with you at all times. This
list should include:
- The names and doses of all medicines you are taking.
- The names and doses of any herbs, vitamins, and supplements you
use.
Share your medicine list with your health care provider at all
health care visits. Have your provider review your medicine list
before issuing any new medicines. This may help reduce the risk of
side effects and drug interactions.
If you need to go to the emergency room, be sure to bring your
medicine list with you. The list will help health care providers
provide you with the best care.
Use the FDA's
My Medicine Record to make your medicine
list. This tool allows you to document your medicine
names, dosage, and more.
Once complete:
- Print the form.
- Bring the form with you to all health care
appointments.
Information entered into this form is NOT stored
on the FDA website or anywhere in which Lourdes can gain access.
Lourdes only has access to the form and information you bring to
your appointment.
Have a smartphone or tablet (e.g., iPad)?
Visit your app store to download apps to help you list your
medicines and health history.
- To help keep your information safe, be sure to read any
disclaimers before installing apps.
- There may be a cost to download certain apps.
Don't have a smartphone?
Use your phone's camera to take a picture of your medicine
list.
Using an app or a photo will allow you to carry your medicine
list with you without having to carry a piece of paper.
Please Note: Lourdes cannot access your
medicine list or health information from a jump drive. Jump drives
pose a risk to our computers.
Read the Label
Before you leave your provider's office, read the prescription.
Ask your health care provider to tell you:
- What the medicine is for
- How it works
- How often to take it
- If food affects how you take it
- What side effects to look for
When you pick up your prescription from the pharmacy, read the
label to make sure:
- The prescription is yours.
-
- Is your name and address on the label?
- The prescription is correct.
-
- If you are picking up a refill, look inside the bottle to make
sure the medicine is the same as what you had taken before.
- If it does not look as you think it should, talk to the
pharmacist.
- You understand the dosage instructions.
- You know the warnings written on the label.
-
- Some medicines can have negative interactions when taken with
other medicine.
- Some medicines may have negative interactions when taken with
certain foods and drinks.
- Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist about any
possible interactions.
Use the
Roadwise Rx website to learn about how your medicines
could affect you and your ability to drive. Type the names of your
medicines and the site will give you information about:
- How they will interact with each other and with certain
foods.
- Side effects that could impair your driving.
Store Medicines Properly
To avoid medicine mix-ups, keep medicine stored in its package.
This can help prevent you from taking the wrong medicine. It can
also prevent others from accidently taking your medicines.
Be sure to store all medicine out of reach from kids and pets.
Ask any guests in your home to place bags and purses that contain
medicine up where kids and pets cannot get to them.
Dispose of Medicines Properly
There are several ways to properly dispose of unwanted or unused
medicines:
Procedure for Sharps Disposal at Lourdes
- Place needles in an appropriate container. An appropriate
container may be:
- A commercial sharps container.
- A leak proof, shatter proof, puncture resistant container that
can be properly sealed.
- A laundry detergent container or a bleach container with a
screw top.
- A metal can with a plastic cover securely taped.
- Bring the sealed container to the Lourdes outpatient lab. The
lab is located on the ground floor of the Ambulatory Care Center
just inside the new Main Entrance.
- The lab is open:
- Monday - Friday: 6:30 AM - 8:30 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- Holidays: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- The sharps container will be placed into a secondary container
provided by the laboratory personnel.
