Gas Station Gamble
True or False: If a supplement says “all natural,” that means it is safe for everyone.
False: Natural does not automatically mean safe, and supplements can interact with medications or medical conditions.
True or False: An energy drink can be sugar-free and still contain a lot of caffeine.
True
Where can you usually find out whether you have refills left?
On the pharmacy label of the medicine you are wanting to refill. Look for “Refills,” “Refills Remaining,” “Refills Left,” or similar wording
True or False: If you decide not to go to an appointment, not showing up is the same thing as canceling it.
False. You need to contact the office to cancel or reschedule.
You can catch HIV from sharing a toilet seat, hugging someone, or eating after them.
FALSE
You see a product at the gas station promising “extreme energy,” rapid weight loss, or improved sexual performance. What should you do before you purchase or before taking it?
Slow down and check the ingredients and talk with a pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Name two signs that you may have had too much caffeine.
Racing heart, feeling jittery, anxiety, headache, upset stomach, difficulty sleeping, or feeling restless.
Your prescription label says “Refills: 2.” What does that mean?
You can generally refill that prescription two more times before a new prescription is needed.
You know today that you cannot make an appointment three days from now. When should you call?
As soon as you know.
Which carries a risk of spreading hepatitis C: sharing a fork or sharing needles/injection equipment?
Sharing needles/injection equipment. Hepatitis C is not spread through normal casual contact or sharing eating utensils.
True or False: If a supplement is sitting legally on a store shelf, the FDA has tested and approved it before it was sold.
Dietary supplements do not go through the same premarket approval process as prescription medications.
What is the recommended upper daily limit of caffeine for most healthy adults?
400 mg.
Your bottle says “0 refills.” You still take the medication every day. What should you do?
Contact the pharmacy and/or prescriber before you run out to find out what is needed for another prescription.
You're going to run out of an everyday prescription this weekend. When is the best time to start dealing with the refill?
Before the weekend and before you run out—not after you take the last pill.
True or False: You can have an STI or hepatitis C and feel completely fine.
True. Some infections may cause few or no symptoms, which is one reason testing matters.
Name two things you should check before taking a new supplement.
Ingredients, dose, warnings, possible medication interactions, medical conditions, reputable testing, or discussing it with a pharmacist/provider.
You drink two energy drinks with 160 mg of caffeine each and later have a coffee with 100 mg. How much caffeine have you had for the day, and is that over the usual recommended limit for most healthy adults?
420 mg total — yes, that is over the usual 400 mg daily limit.
You take Tylenol for a headache and then reach for a cold medicine. What ingredient should you check for before taking both?
Some cold and flu products also contain it, which can lead to accidentally taking too much.
You have work, groups, medical appointments and other responsibilities. Name two tools that can help you keep track of them.
Phone calendar, alarms, paper calendar, planner, reminder app, writing appointments down before leaving the office, etc.
Besides needles, name two personal items you should not share because they could potentially have someone else's blood on them.
Besides needles, name two personal items you should not share because they could potentially have someone else's blood on them.
Answer: Razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, glucose-testing equipment, or anything else that may be contaminated with blood.
What is one major concern with some products sold for energy, bodybuilding, weight loss, pain, or sexual enhancement?
They can contain ingredients that are not listed on the label, including drug ingredients or stimulants. FDA has issued warnings about products found in convenience stores and online containing hidden ingredients.
You are drinking energy drinks every day but still feel tired all the time. Name three things you should look at besides adding more caffeine.
Sleep, hydration, nutrition, medications, stress, work schedule, physical activity, or a possible medical issue.
Name four pieces of information you can usually find on a prescription label.
Patient name, medication name, dose/strength, directions, prescriber, pharmacy, prescription number, number of refills, fill date, expiration/discard date, or pharmacy phone number.
Your ride falls through shortly before an important appointment. Name three things you can do instead of just not showing up.
Call the office, contact another ride/support person, look at transportation options, notify appropriate staff, ask whether telehealth is available when appropriate, or reschedule if necessary.
Which one is NOT a way hepatitis C is normally spread:
A. Sharing injection equipment
B. Blood-contaminated equipment
C. Sharing eating utensils
D. Unsterile tattoo equipment
sharing eating utensils.