How to be Drug Smart
35 Easy-To-Take Tips
BY RUSSELL WILD
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Timing is Everything
Sometimes beating a
side effect is as simple as spacing out your doses: taking a little
now and the rest later. “That’s often a workable solution with many
high blood pressure medications (which can cause dizziness),” says Brandon
Koretz, M.D., assistant clinical professor with the UCLA School of Medicine.
In addition, taking the drug with food (unless the label says not to)
can reduce nausea, a common side effect with many pills. Niacin is another
pill that can be taken with your meal. Swallowing it with food makes
your face less flushed, a frequent reaction. For diuretics, which can
keep you up at night running to the toilet, a solution may be to pop
them earlier in the day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before changing
the timing of your meds.
Switch, Don’t Fight
Maybe you can’t tolerate
a drug that other people thrive on. Or maybe a drug that helped a friend
gives you hives. Most drugs have possible alternatives. If you’re having
problems, talk it over with the doctor who wrote your prescription.
Beware of Sneaky Symptoms
Some of the most
common drug side effects can mimic adverse signs of aging. “A number
of medications can depress the central nervous system, causing anything
from memory loss to unsteadiness on the feet to erectile dysfunction,”
says Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr., M.D., chairman of the Council on Family
Health and former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
If you’re taking medication and you haven’t felt quite yourself, talk
to your doctor or pharmacist.
Add a Home Remedy
When changing the timing
or breaking up the dosage doesn’t alleviate side effects, you might
consider a home remedy or a simple over-the-counter medication.
Narcotics,
for example, almost always cause constipation. You can often fight back
by drinking prune juice or taking a stool softener or stimulant laxative
(but don’t overdo it, overuse of laxatives is a common problem). Antibiotics
often cause diarrhea and vaginal yeast infections. Yogurt with active
cultures can help restore the natural flora found in the digestive tract.
Many drugs, from buspirone (BuSpar) to fluoxetine (Prozac) to lovastatin
(Mevacor), can cause xerostomia, a fancy word for dry mouth. Avoiding
salty, spicy, and acidic foods—and drinking sips of water—may help you
feel less parched. Several nonprescription products, generically called
artificial salivas, can also give comfort.
Save the Vitamins!
Certain drugs can drain
your body of nutrients when taken for long periods of time. Antibiotics,
anticonvulsants (seizure medications), and diuretics can deplete nutrients
in your system. One countermeasure is to take supplements. Talk to your
physician rather than self-dose.
Ask for a Cheaper Drug
Sometimes the ticket
to big savings is trading a new drug for one that’s been on the market
for some time. “Newer isn’t always better, in fact, the opposite is
often the case,” says Over Dose author Cohen. “Some of the newer antibiotics
being prescribed for sinusitis, bladder, and respiratory infections
are terribly expensive, yet they don’t work any better than penicillin
or doxycycline, which cost mere pennies per dose. And they generally
cause fewer side effects.” Likewise, the acid blockers Zantac and Pepcid
(now sold over-the-counter) are all many people need for mild heartburn,
says Cohen.
Cross the Border
Trips to Canada and Mexico
have become a popular way to save money on prescriptions. In Canada,
pharmacies will only fill prescriptions written by Canadian doctors
(though most will hook you up with a local doc). Stick to licensed pharmacies
and make sure you buy the right drug at the right dosage.
Shop Around
Keeping all your prescriptions
at one pharmacy helps your druggist to track them. But drug prices can
vary wildly from one pharmacy to the next, so keep looking if a price
seems high. Also, you can often find savings by shopping online or
by mail order. Many drugstore chains have sites that offer better deals
than their stores. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy maintains
a complete list of sites.
Uncover the Coverage
If you have prescription
coverage, use it. If a certain drug is turned down because it’s not
in the health plan’s “formulary” (a list of covered drugs), don’t despair.
In many cases, the formulary will cover a similar or identical drug.
If there isn’t a suitable replacement, ask your doctor to help you get
an exception. “If a doctor says a drug not on our formulary is the only
one the patient responds to, then we’ll cover it,” says one prescription
plan executive.
Request Samples
Ask your doctor for free
samples, particularly if you only need a one-time supply. Caution: Even
though it’s free now doesn’t mean it won’t cost a bundle when you fill
your prescription. If it’s a drug you’ll need to keep taking, ask if
it’s the best choice over the long haul.
Go Generic
Generic drugs typically cost
50 percent or less than brand name drugs. But are generics just as good?
Sometimes there are minor differences, such as the flavoring and color,
but there are no differences in the active ingredients. The FDA sees
to that. Ask your doctor if the generic version is a good idea for you.
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