Do you take prescription medication? According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 49 percent of Americans take prescription medication and 30 percent use non-prescription medication. Medication safety is an important public health issue.

My experience as a nurse has taught me that the majority of Americans who take meds do not know what all of their medications are, or why they take them. Often, people don’t even read the labels when they get home from the pharmacy, so if the pharmacy staff makes an error (we’re all human and it happens) they may not even realize it.

Further statistics published by the AHA say the number one problem in treating illness today is medication non-compliance, regardless of age. In addition, 10 percent of all hospital admissions are related to not taking medications properly, and the average stay for this issue is 4.2 days.

When a health care provider prescribes medication, always ask questions. You are a partner in your health care. Ask:

1. What is the diagnosis?
2. What is the medication?
3. What is it supposed to do for you?
4. What other precautions should you be taking to get well?
5. How should you take the medication? In other words, how often and how much should you take?
6. Do you need to know anything else? Some medications are better absorbed with food, and others must be taken on an empty stomach to work properly.
7. What side effects should you expect? What side effects are important enough to call about?
8. Be sure your provider is aware of all other medications you are taking, including herbal supplements and vitamins. Many things interact, even natural products.
9. Always tell your provider about any allergies you have or previous adverse effects to meds. Adverse effects are not the same as allergies, and it makes a big difference in what will be prescribed.
10. Be honest. If you have no intention of taking the medication or don’t finish it as instructed, tell your provider. This knowledge is important to care for you properly.

If you have questions about medications, always feel free to call your pharmacist. She is the true authority on medications. Pharmacists are the medication specialists, and that is whom providers go to with their questions as well.

It is so important to take an active role in your health care. One of the best ways to do that is to know and understand your medication regimens. You can save yourself time, money, and illness by being an informed and assertive patient.