Do you question prescribed medication from a source other than your own GP?

If you obtain all of your prescriptions from the same pharmacy, your pharmacist will be flagged of any contraindications (e.g. allergy or contraindication w/ current medication). . However, it is always a good idea to know, at a minimum at least the names of all medications (including prescription, over the counter, herbal, etc) that you are taking at any given time….so that you can share that info w/ all of your providers.

Sound and solid advice Snoopy. Very well said!
Kudos to you.

Snoopy give a good answer, but you can also use a free drug interaction checker to double check. A lot of the interactions listed aren’t serious, but some are, so you certainly can try it out. Just be careful not to stop your medications based solely on the results of this search.

Very good advice from you as well shilolo. I will let this person know when I next talk to her. O.k. it’s my little sis. She’s not the sharpest tool in the shed..I don’t mean to sound malicious, I simply worry about her decision-making sometimes. She’s not in the best of health physically or mentally and has the propensity to go for the ‘quick-fix’ or a ‘gimmicky’ new-age treatment. I don’t want her to succumb to more unnecessary ‘advice’ from more ‘charlatans’ posing as medical health professionals. Thanks everyone!

In the end, even with your GP, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are safe. I never take a new prescription without reading up on it, checking drug interactions (remember interactions with over-the-counter meds and herbs too) and side effects.

Also, always look at the pill and the dosage, and make sure they match. If a regular medication looks different when you have it filled, ask the pharmacist. Most likely, they got it from a new manufacturer or the pill size, color, or shape were changed, but it is possible for an error to occur.

I have certain things I do. (Clearly, this answer is based on out-patient times! ) I always, always carry my list of meds, doses/allergies and my cancer list with me. (my husband has the same list and it’s updated, frequently!) I also have my provider information w/ me.

The one time I went to a doctor (out of state, for a funeral) just after my 3 cycle of chemo, I had my list and really had to make sure he understood some of the interactions. To his credit, he did call my oncologist…which shocked me…and made sure he was on the right track.

After we left the urgent care, I went to a pharmacy (nationwide) that I use in my hometown. Thaty way, they always know what meds I am currently taking.

Snoopy is right, know the names of the meds! Be informed!

Marina….I knew I’d come to the right place!!!! Thanks a bunch!
Cak….you’ve got more experience with this sort of thing than most, I would imagine. One smart cookie you are.
It’s obvious that your illness has not affected your mental accuity in any way. Keep exercising that brain of yours. Nothing or no one dares to take that away from you!

@mee ouch, trust me! I’m the poster child for chemo brain. I live and die by post it™ notes and a strong email system!

bed time…or I’ll fall asleep on the keyboard – night!

Night, night Cak…..

Is it really your prescription?

No it’s not…really. I have had some very real concerns about her in the past and presently she’s ‘shopping’ around for medication to alleviate some on-going medical condition. I love her dearly, but can’t convince her of the egregious error she is making. She has a young child who can’t afford to lose his mother and I have a sister who shouldn’t compromise that relationship. Thanks for asking cheeb…

I think Marina had a good answer, do your research first. If you are not willing to do some extra precautions on your own, then you better just stick with what your Dr. prescribes. Looking for a bargain or easy answer sometimes costs way more in the end.