Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/254629
F illing all of your prescriptions at a single pharmacy with pharmacists who know your medication history is as important as visiting a PCP who has a long-term perspective on your health. Your pharmacist (or phar- macists) can consult your records to ensure a new prescription won't inter- act negatively with a drug you're already taking. Picking up medications at multiple pharmacies from pharmacists who are unaware of all the medica- tions you take can result in unsafe drug interactions. If you take the time to build a relationship with one pharmacy, you'll find the pharmacists there can be your: • Cautionary voice if you're thinking of purchasing medications online (only buy from online pharmacies approved by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program) • Expert on ways to save money on prescriptions, such as buying generic drugs, if possible • Resource for any information you need about a medication, such as how to take it, where to store it and when it should begin taking effect Put Pills in Their (Safest) Place Few things are more physically renewing than a warm shower, but the moisture and humidity it generates have the opposite eect on pills— a damp environment can degrade them and harm their eectiveness. Rule No. 1 for storing medications: Banish them from the bathroom. Protect your medications by keeping them in a cool, dry environment, such as your home oce. Store them in a locked container to keep your children's exploring from taking an unsafe turn. You have a medical home—your primary care physician's (PCP) office—but if you don't have a go-to pharmacy, you might be putting your health at risk. Do You Have a Medicine Home? If you need a PCP to help manage your health and speak with you about the importance of having a regular pharmacy, visit TriStarHealth.com. More Drugs = Greater Risk of Harm Individuals age 65 and older take approximately one-third of all prescription drugs in the United States despite comprising less than 15 percent of the population, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The sheer number of medications seniors take increases their risk of improper dosing. The following tips can help you or an aging loved one avoid misusing prescription drugs: • Don't deviate from directions. Only take a medication when, how and in the amount your physician advises. • Keep a list. Maintaining an up-to-date catalog of the medications you take helps your physician and pharmacist safeguard you against harmful interactions. • Think before you stop. Never cease a course of medication without consulting your physician. 14 \\ family + care