In the last three decades, there has been a hike in the field of prescription medications made available to treat different sorts of health conditions. And this is to be considered as a positive development, especially in regards to the ability to manage mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and others too, with even diabetes, and heart diseases.The reason individuals take medications is to improve the quality of their life. However, taking multiple medications at a time, and keeping in mind to take the right medication at the right time, can sometimes be confusing; if not appropriately taken, the quality of life may not improve and, in some cases might decline.At the stage of this mayhem, medication management comes in. Medication management is patient-centered care that seeks safe, effective, and appropriate drug therapy. It is a service designed to help the patients manage their medications so that they take it on time, all the time, and avoid the chances of incorrect medications or overdose of it.The management is done by collaborating both the healthcare team and the patient. It is an essential component of ensuring the safe use of medication. It is also a helpful tool used in many senior citizens’ living communities to ensure they are able to lead a healthy, happy life.
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR MEDICATION?
You need to take your medications on time and in the right way as prescribed by your doctor. In many cases, the proper and timely intake of medications as per doctors’ prescriptions can lead to better health recovery in terms of outcome. But for the people out there, taking more than one medication, it can get confusing or messy especially with regards to their schedule of medication.Four out of ten older people, taking over one prescribed medication, do not take it as precisely as prescribed according to their doctor. Below are a few tips that you should keep in your head if taking prescribed medications. Talk To Your Healthcare Team.Before you start taking medications, it is crucial for you to know and understand why you have been prescribed that particular medication. And should make yourself aware of how and when to take the drugs, how to store it and what might go wrong if you don’t take it as prescribed. Talk to your doctor or health care provider to get detailed knowledge of the concern and raise questions if you don’t understand certain parts.It is necessary to get the fullest information about your intake of medication in the body and why it is necessary.
Stick To Just One Pharmacy
Sticking to one pharmacy makes the refills of medication less complicated. Using one pharmacy keeps your medication records in one place. As the risk of side-effects of drug interaction rises with each additional medication you take. It’ll become more manageable for your pharmacist to evaluate the risk and even interactions you might get from any further use of it, and then can talk to your doctor to avoid potential problems.
Use a Medication Schedule
To keep track of your intake of medications, you can make a medication schedule to remind you which medication to take and when. Some ways of going by can be:
• Keep a list on your fridge, next to your study or the places you spend most of your time, so it won’t go unnoticed.
• Try making medications part of your daily routine, set timer, or alarm on your smart devices.
• You can also use pill dispensers, a pillbox with a compartment for each day of the week.
• Even morning, noon and evening alerts can be very useful. (if you take several times a day)
• You can even ask your pharmacist to fill your dispenser for you.
Get Prescriptions Refilled Early
Running out of medication and not being able to retrieve it on time might worsen the conditions as there would be a mismatch in its timely intake. Check the dates on prescription frequently; see if the medication isn’t exposed to things that can ruin it. Discard them if any of it is not right. Ask your pharmacist if he can get you multiple medications on the same refill schedule. That way, you would have to make fewer trips to the drugstore.
Make a List And Update it Regularly
Try to maintain a list of medications you take. And add the name of the drug, the dose that’s prescribed, how often you have to take it, and the reason for taking it. Keep a copy in your medical files; for briefing the doctors if you visit a new one, it’ll help your doctor look for sources of side effects. Keep one in your wallet or in anything you always carry with yourself, just in case of an emergency.Taking good care of yourself and keeping a check of medications can make you feel a lot better. You can certainly avoid the side effects of medications if you’ll be consistent and focused on the dosage you’re taking and consulting your health provider for any doubts.
DEHYDRATION FROM MEDICATIONS
There’s one more thing that should be taken in concern: dehydration. Certain specific medications cause dehydration.Upto 60% of the human body is water, and it is just as important to our health as oxygen. The habit of drinking water helps your saliva form for digestion and in keeping the cells growing. It hydrates our joints, moves toxins, and wastes out and keeps our temperature in check.Losing more water than your intake causes dehydration, it is the lack of a sufficient amount of water in your body. Dehydration causes inattentiveness, poor memory mood shifts, and muddled thinking. And mild to moderate dehydration can cause havoc in your body, causing loss of appetite, lightheartedness, dizziness, fatigue, kidney stones, and even low blood pressure.It happens due to many reasons like pregnancy, alcohol consumption, etc., and even the medications that can affect your bodies’ ability to stave off dehydration.Certain prescriptions, including medications for blood pressure, kidney conditions, and heart diseases, have diuretic effects (it is a term used when certain medications or prescriptions increase the amount of water and salt expelled from our body through urination.) To put it in easy words, the more you urinate, the more likely you get dehydrated.It’s just not water that you require to keep yourself hydrated; it’s also salt that plays a vital role. The body uses salt as electrolytes, the chemicals in our body that carries energy for important functions like contraction of muscles and nerve synapses. When diuretics are on work, it becomes tough to gain the water and electrolytes as quickly as you lose it. And eventually, you’re going to have muscle weakness, cramps, and in some severe cases, respiratory issues.It is very important to stay hydrated, and that makes knowing the medications which are robbing you of your electrolytes and water and putting you at the risk of dehydration. If you wish to know more about water and dehydration, we have an express blog post just for that. Follow this link to it. Benefits of Drinking Water
MEDICATIONS THAT CAUSE DEHYDRATION
Some prescriptions and medications cause the loss of electrolytes and water from the body. Below are a given few medications that are widely used and are responsible for dehydration in your body.
*Diuretics
Also called ‘water pills,’ these remove salt and water from your body while you urinate. This medication is usually prescribed to the patients having high blood pressure or any heart problems, as they cut the amount of fluid in your blood vessels to ease the pressure that is built on the walls of blood vessels.
Doctors also prescribe the same(diuretics) if you have the following conditions
• Heart Failure
• Liver Failure
• Edema(Tissue Swelling)
• Kidney Disorders
*Laxatives
Laxatives are suggested or prescribed by doctors for medications if you have constipation. These laxatives use water from your body to soften the stool and move it through your system through ease.However, if you follow the medication as suggested by the doctor, it might not lead to dehydration, but laxatives’ continuous use can cause dehydration.
* Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is usually the medication prescribed to patients for cancer treatment. It has been noted that almost 80% of the patients prescribed with medication get vomiting and diarrhea as a side effect. A single episode of vomiting and diarrhea or vomiting won’t affect much, but the continuation of getting diarrhea and vomiting would lead to dehydration.Infections are another side effect that chemotherapy comes with. High fever comes along with it, and sweating from it might cause a cut in the amount of water level in your body leading towards dehydration.Staying hydrated is a must for your body. Down below are a few ways to keep yourself hydrated is the best possible way.
THE ROLE OF WATER
Water is the best and cheapest way to keep yourself hydrated, and it is non-caloric to stay hydrated or to rehydrate. However, the patients with certain medical conditions like congestive heart failure or kidney failure need to keep the amount of fluid in their body checked. So if you have such conditions take the advice of your medical health care provider and know the limit of how much fluid you should intake, which won’t worsen your condition.
SOME FINAL TIPS
The following are some final tips for better medicated life:
• Eat Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Many fruits and non-starchy vegetables, such as grapes, watermelons, tomatoes and lettuce, contain a lot of water and are quite helpful in keeping you hydrated. Eating fruit should be a habit, as fruits contain carbohydrates. And therefore they must be part of our regular meals.
• Keep Check on Your Water Intake
Keep track of how often you’re drinking water and how much, write it down somewhere. Keeping a record will help you stay hydrated throughout the day. If you’re unable to keep track of apps that will, there are certain apps that keep track of your water intake and keep you accountable.
• Avoid Excessive Caffeine and Alcohol Consumption
Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics in nature; their excessive consumption will increase the production of urine in the body by inhibiting the hormone needed for absorption of water in your blood. Which will eventually stop the kidneys from absorbing water, making it pass all through urine, causing dehydration.Staying hydrated while taking medications can prove beneficial for both your mental and physical health and is likely to add to the reasons for healing. Stay hydrated and happy. All the best! No matter what, we will always keep your well-being as our no. 1 priority. For assistance contact us at [email protected] or LIVE CHAT with us at www.astocare.com.
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