Prescription medication can help provide an easy solution to a complicated health problem, but if not taken properly, it can do more harm than good. So much power can lie within one little pill, making it crucial to do what you can to harness that power and use it to your health’s benefit.

Be Clear with Your Doctor

One of the first tips for taking your medication safely is something that you need to do before your doctor even writes the prescription. It is critical that you be upfront with your doctor about everything from what medications and vitamins you take to any allergies or lifestyle habits that may affect your health. Prescription medication can have some very serious side effects and interactions, which is why transparency is crucial. Tell your doctor what medications you currently take (whether prescription or over-the-counter drugs) and disclose any vitamins you take. Disclose any eye drops or clinical lotions you use, as well as things like CBD oil.

If you have any allergies, bring those to your doctor’s attention as well. Don’t assume that they are listed in your chart and already taken into account. It is all too easy for charted details to be overlooked while juggling a busy day of seeing patients. Certain diet restrictions can also cause interactions with medication, so disclose those to your physician as well.

Let your doctor know if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive. Some medications are not recommended to new or expectant mothers as they can affect the baby.

If you have financial concerns about your medication needs, discuss those with your doctor as well. There may be someone in the practice who can help advise you on more affordable health insurance options or the doctor may have some samples of the medication to for you to start with to make sure that it will work for you before you need to pay for a full prescription.

Make Sure You Understand the Basics

You should be crystal clear about what the medication is going to do for you. Take notes during your doctor visit to ensure you understand what the medication is, why you need to take it, the dosage instructions, potential side effects, negative effects that you should consult your physician about, and how you should expect to feel when the medication is working. Before leaving the doctor’s office, you should fully understand what the medication is, why you need this specific one and how it will work in your body.

Keep taking notes after taking the medication too. Note any side effects you feel, whether bad or good, as well as any potential interactions you may notice with certain foods you eat or other medication that you take.

Create a Spreadsheet

Whether you are prescribed one medication or a whole pharmaceutical cocktail, keeping it all organized is crucial. One of the easiest ways to do this is by creating a spreadsheet. Use a cloud-based program like Google Sheets so that you can have easy access to your comprehensive list of medication from wherever you are, whenever you need it. The spreadsheet should include the name of the medication, whether you need the brand name or a generic version, a brief description of its purpose, side effects to watch for, dosage instructions, whether you need to take it with food or on an empty stomach and anything that you need to avoid when taking it, such as alcohol or strenuous exercise.

Print the spreadsheet and bring it to your doctor visits, especially if you will be seeing a new physician, to help avoid any negative drug interactions.

Don’t Miss a Dose

The key to getting the most out of your medication is taking it. This is often easier said than done, especially when you are first prescribed something, before taking it has become a habit. Keep your pills organized with a days of the week pill case so that you can have everything handy without having to rifle through each bottle. This is especially helpful when traveling or if you need to take medication while at work.

Make it easier than ever to get reminders by using a medication management app like Medisafe or MyMeds. Simply enter in your medication details and dosage instructions and you can get push notifications to your smartphone to help you adhere to the proper schedule.

While taking a pill for your ailment may seem like a quick fix, there is still necessary due diligence and work that you need to do to get the most out of it. By being upfront with your doctor about your needs, clarifying all of the details about the medication, using a spreadsheet to track your meds and staying organized day-to-day with a medication management app and weekly pill box, you can do your part to help your prescription medication to be as effective as possible for you.