Did you know your healthcare provider needs to know information about you that may not be captured at every visit? Be sure to share the following updates whenever there is a change:
1. All medications and whether you are taking it as prescribed: name of medication, strength, frequency, route, and reason it was prescribed.
Example: Metformin 1000mg twice daily by mouth for diabetes
Name: Metformin
Strength: 1000mg
Frequency: twice daily
Route: by mouth
For: type 2 diabetes
2. Your current pharmacy - You may have more than one on file.
3. The use of supplements and over the counter medications and specialty products (eg. teas) - These can work against your current medications or cause adverse effects.
4. The use of illicit substances: the type, frequency of use, and manner of use. These too can affect how your body handles the medications that were prescribed.
5. The use of approved substances that can affect your health or function: vaping, tobacco use, alcohol use or marijuana. This is a judgment-free zone.
6. The use of legitimate medications that have not been prescribed to you. For example, left over antibiotics from your child.
7. All allergic or adverse reactions to medications, food substances or environmental substances. Sometimes your food allergies are used to determine what medications you should not not take. For example, people with seafood allergies may not be given products that contain iodine.
8. The source of your meds if they are not from your country of residence. For example, if your birth control is from another country but it is working for you, you can request one that is similar here.
9. The names of all your other healthcare providers and the reason you are seeing them, including allied health providers such as physical therapy and complementary medicine.
10. Whether you can read and write in English and whether you want your medication directions translated.
11. Cultural healthcare practices such as cupping, coining, and the use of traditional healers.
12. Whether you can afford your medications. If not, how much you can reasonably afford each month. There are Patient Assistance Programs that can help you decrease your costs. Ask about them.
13. Any side effects or health changes since starting the medication regimen.
14. Changes in your type of work and/or work shift - It can affect the time they want you to take the medication or whether they prescribe a new one altogether. For example, they don't want to give you an allergy medication that could make you sleepy if you work with heavy equipment.
15. Any concerns you have about taking a medication.