Tips to Reduce Your Medications

More than half of all Americans take at least one prescription medication a day, with 1 in 5 Americans taking three or more each day. As people get older, the number of medications that they take each day continues to rise. While it may seem like all the medications that you are prescribed are working to keep you healthy, they can also cause serious medical problems. Finding ways to cut down on the number of pills you have to take each day can help to add to your overall wellbeing. 

If you are thinking about lowering your medication intake, make sure that you talk to your doctor first. They will be able to let you know the risks and benefits that are associated with limiting your medications. After talking with your doctor, keep these steps in mind.

1. Ask the right questions – before you start taking a new medication, make sure that you ask any questions that you may have. Be aware of what the medication is treating, how long you have to take it, and how it will interact with any other drugs that you are taking. Ask about any non-pharmaceutical alternatives that may be available instead of the drugs.
2. Write everything down – keep a list of everything that you are taking, as well as what it is meant to treat. You should also write down any over the counter supplements or vitamins that you take. 
3. Regularly review your mediations – meet with your primary care physician at least once a year to go over all the medications that you are taking, and how well they are working. Discuss any side effects that you have encountered, and look for ways to reduce the amount of medication you are consuming.

Contact Sackett & Associates in Sonoma County, California for all of your health care needs to ensure that you have access to the medical care that you deserve.