Know Your Medication
Instead of identifying a medication as “the blue pill,” what should you know?
Its name.
Who can clarify medication directions when they are confusing?
A pharmacist or prescriber.
Should a medication list include only prescription medications?
No. It should also include over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
What list should you bring to a medication appointment?
An updated medication list.
What does self-advocacy mean in a healthcare appointment?
Asking questions, sharing concerns, clarifying information, and participating in decisions about your care.
A medication may have two names: one used by the manufacturer for its product and another for the medicine itself. What are these called?
Brand name and generic name.
Name two tools that can help someone remember their medication.
Examples include a phone alarm, pill organizer, calendar, written checklist, or pharmacy blister packs.
You do not know your medication’s dose. Name two ways to find out without guessing.
Any two: check the bottle, ask the pharmacist, ask the prescriber, or request an updated printed medication list.
Name two things besides medication use that someone could track before an appointment.
Examples include mood, sleep, anxiety, appetite, energy, focus, side effects, or major stressors.
A provider uses a medical term you do not understand. Give one phrase you could use to ask for clarification.
Examples: “Can you explain that in a different way?” or “What does that term mean?”
Name three pieces of medication information to know besides its name.
Answer: Any three: dose, purpose, prescriber, time taken, or directions.
Any three: dose, purpose, prescriber, time taken, or directions.
Someone misses a dose and is unsure what to do. What question should they ask their pharmacist or prescriber?
“What should I do if I miss a dose of this medication?”
Name three pieces of information you might find on a prescription medication label.
Any three: person’s name, medication name, dose, directions, prescriber, pharmacy, refill information, warnings, or expiration date.
Which report gives a provider more useful information, and why?
A. “I feel bad.”
B. “For two weeks, I have slept about four hours most nights, and my anxiety is worse in the morning.”
B, because it describes specific changes, how long they have been happening, and when they occur.
In shared decision-making, what does the provider contribute, and what does the participant contribute?
The provider contributes clinical knowledge. The participant contributes lived experience, preferences, concerns, and goals.
What is the difference between a medication’s benefit and a side effect?
A benefit is what the medication is intended to help with. A side effect is an unwanted effect
Someone wants to take their medication as prescribed but cannot afford the refill. Name two people or resources they could contact for help.
Any two: pharmacist, prescriber, insurance company, or a patient assistance program.
Someone wants to start an over-the-counter medicine while taking prescriptions. What should they ask the pharmacist, and what information should they provide?
Ask whether it can be taken safely with everything else they use. Provide an updated list of prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
Someone notices tiredness after starting a medication. Name four details they could record to help explain the concern.
Any four: when it started, how often it happens, how severe it is, what makes it better or worse, what the tiredness feels like, or how it affects daily life.
A provider recommends a medication change, and you feel unsure. Give a respectful question you could ask before making a decision.
Examples: “Can you explain the reason for this change?” “What are the benefits and risks?” or “Are there other options?”
Someone knows their medication’s name but does not understand why they take it or whether it is helping. Give two questions they could ask their prescriber.
Examples: “What symptoms is this supposed to help with?” and “How will we know whether it is helping?”
Someone frequently misses medication because their schedule changes. Give one realistic reminder strategy and one statement they could use to ask for help.
Example strategy: a phone alarm or written checklist. Example statement: “My schedule changes, and I have been missing doses. Can you help me make a routine that works?”
Someone sees a warning on their medication bottle that they do not understand and is considering ignoring it. Give two questions they could ask the pharmacist to clarify the warning.
Examples: “What does this warning mean for me?” “Are there foods, drinks, activities, or medicines I should avoid?” or “What precautions should I follow?”
Someone says, “My appointment is short, I forget my questions, and I sometimes leave without discussing refills.” Name three preparation steps that could help.
Write questions beforehand, identify the top concerns to discuss first, and check refill needs before the appointment. Also, Bringing an updated medication list or a preparation sheet.
Someone is worried that a treatment could affect their energy at work, feels rushed during the appointment, and may forget the explanation afterward. Give a statement they could use to address those concerns.