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Colorectal Cancer: In Treatment: Chemotherapy

How To Live With Medications and Supplements

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  • Before agreeing to take any drug, learn about the risks as well as the benefits.
    • Survivorship A to Z provides questions to ask before agreeing to take any drug. 
  • Do what you can to avoid medical errors
    • Start by obtaining a readable doctor’s prescription. If you can't read it, neither can the pharmacist.
    • Check the drug you receive against the prescription and make sure it looks like you expect. 
  • Avoid overmedication
    • Overmedication is all too common. Ask your doctor if a lower dose will do the same job - particularly for drugs you continue to take over time.
    • See: Drugs: How To Choose Which To Take
  • Carry a list of your drugs all the time. Emergencies happen. You may need to tell emergency personnel all the drugs you are taking. A list of medications becomes even more important if you become unconscious. Plus the list will be helpful each time you see a doctor or fill a prescription. Survivorship A to Z provides a form: List Of Medications that can be saved and printed as needed.
  • Ask that each newly prescribed drug be checked for negative interaction with other drugs you are taking. Do not assume that this will happen automatically. .  Try to use the same pharmacy to avoid any problems.
  • Treat over-the-counter medications, supplements and vitamins as if they are drugs. Just because they are sold without a prescription does not mean that there is no risk.
  • Take care if you use herbs, vitamins or other supplements.
    • Herbs, vitamins and supplements are not subject to FDA approval so there is no guarantee about their safety or effectiveness. There is not even a guarantee that the same mix of ingredients will be in each bottle – even for bottles from the same manufacturer.
    • Look for products with the mark: “USP Verified.” USP Verified means that the supplement meets standards of quality, purity and potency which are set by the not-for-profit U.S. Pharmacopeia. For information, see www.uspverified.org offsite link
    • Also see: Health Supplements
  • Consider the price of drugs, even if insurance will pay for them.  It may feel like insurance company money is other people’s money, but expenses show up in your increased premiums. See: Drugs: How To Save Money When Buying Or Using
  • Do not let price be the sole factor in determining what you want or where to obtain a medication. 
    • Consider, for example, what happens if you need a refill in an emergency? 
    • A pharmacist can be a very important part of your health care team. Consider whether you have access to a pharmacist where you buy your drugs. 
    • If necessary, you may be able to obtain drugs for free or very low cost.
  • If the current drugs on the market don’t satisfy your needs, there may be newer drugs to consider that are still being tested for safety. Access to these drugs is through a process known as a clinical trial – a controlled test in which use of the drug is medically monitored. It is essential that you be fully informed before entering a clinical trial.
  • Live with drugs wisely.
    • Comply with prescribed orders. Non-compliance can be harmful. Time tested tips help if you have difficulty complying.
    • Do not share drugs.
    • Store drugs correctly (not in a medicine cabinet in the bathroom).
    • Travel well with your drugs. Carry a copy of your prescription. Carry an extra supply in case you get delayed.
  • Stay open. Decisions regarding medical care and treatment may change over time.

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