Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/447062
Digital Dosing Assistance These apps can help keep track of your medications and dosing schedules: • Dosecast—Schedule daily, weekly, or monthly dosage reminders and prevent overdoses by setting a maximum allowed dosage per day. • My Medications— Use this American Medical Association- developed app to record medications, vaccination history, allergies, and provider information. • Pill Monitor—Choose from 11 different sounds for medication reminders and assign photos to each drug. • RxmindMe—Developed by Walgreens, this app allows users to customize reminders based on dosage frequency and search the Food and Drug Administration database for medications. Primer FAILURE TO KEEP TRACK OF MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS AND COMPLY WITH DOSING INSTRUCTIONS COULD PUT YOUR HEALTH AT RISK. A Pill-juggling KEEPING A CURRENT LOG of all your prescription and over-the counter medications and their dosage amounts and frequencies—as well as a list of allergies and the drugs you can't take—is the first rule of medication management. "Today's drugs are very complex, and their dosages are tailored for each patient's needs," says Kristi Stice, PharmD, pharmacy clinical coordinator at Kishwaukee Hospital. "Too much or too little of a medication can be harmful. Neglecting to manage medications may cause a reaction that sends you back to your physician's office or even to the hospital." Increase your drug safety savvy with the following tips. � Make sure you understand how to take a medication before you leave your physician's office or pharmacy. � Fill all prescriptions at the same pharmacy. � Finish all prescribed courses of medication. If you experience side effects, talk with your doctor before stopping the medication or adjusting a dose on your own. � Never be afraid to ask your provider why a medication is necessary. � Only take medications prescribed for you. Don't share your medications with others. � Dispose of old medications once a year. "Your pharmacist is an important source of drug information," Stice says. "He or she can advise you about harmful drug interactions, cost-effective options, and the best ways to take medications." MYKISHHEALTH.ORG Sign up today to access your Kishwaukee or Valley West Hospital records online with the patient portal at ⁄ S PR I N G 1 5 15