| Prescription Drug Misuse
The No.1 problem in treating illness today is patients' failure to take prescription medications correctly, regardless of patient age.
Almost two-thirds of Americans currently use medicines: 49 percent use prescription drugs, and 30 percent use nonprescription medications.
Almost 29 percent of Americans stop taking their medicine before it runs out.
23 percent of all nursing home admissions are due to patients failing to take prescription medications accurately.
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Questions For Your Doctor
Whether prescription or over-the-counter (OTC), no medicine is without some risk. Know what side effects or allergic reactions your medicines may have. For prescription drugs, your first step to safe and effective treatment is to ask your doctor questions with each new prescription. For example:
How and when do I take it, and for how long?
While taking this medicine, should I avoid certain foods or dietary supplements, caffeine, alcohol, or other beverages, other medicines, prescription and OTC, certain activities, such as driving or smoking?
Are there side effects, and what do I do if they occur?
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What is the difference between a brand name drug and a generic drug?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), generic drugs are the same as their brand name drug equivalents in active ingredients, dosage, safety, strength, and performance, and are held to the same strict standards as their brand name drug counterparts. However, generic drugs cost 30 - 70% less.
Are there any prescription medications that require prior authorization by the heath plan?
Most carriers have prior authorization requirements for certain prescription medications. Your physician should be aware at the time he is prescribing the medication that authorization is needed and should contact the carrier to secure it.
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