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Understanding your medication and how it may affect you is crucial to your safety
What you should know:
• Ask the name of drug and possible generic alternatives
•Find out directions, effectiveness, and common side effects
•Always be well informed about your medications and know where to go for more information
Transcript
Hi, I'm Erika Shepard and I'm a CVS pharmacist. Understanding your medication and how it may affect you is crucial to your safety. Here are some questions you should ask your pharmacist before you take any type of new medication.
First, ask what the name of the drug is, how it's spelled, what the abbreviations mean, and where you can find more information. Also ask if there are any generic alternatives. You should know what the medication is supposed to do, how long it will take to achieve that result, and its effectiveness.
Make sure you know how to take the medication and how many times a day you need to take it, and if a certain time of day is preferred over another.
Ask if you have any other options: what happens if you don't take it, miss a dose, or take too much. Ask if you should avoid alcohol, herbs, foods, other medications, or activities.
Always be aware of the common side effects, and if there's a way to reduce the chance of them developing. Also be sure to know what side effects you should contact a pharmacist or doctor about if they occur.
Other questions you should ask are: can I take this medication if I get pregnant or breastfeed? What are the risks associated with the medication? What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction? Are there any symptoms that require emergency medical help? What symptoms suggest the dosage should be changed or the medication should be stopped?
You should also know how to store the medication, when it's time to go off( se pasa de fecha) the medication, and if the dosage needs to be 'tapered.'(si la dosis necesita ser ajustada) and what would happen if you stop taking it as prescribed.
It's important to be well informed about any of your medications. At CVS/pharmacy, your safety is our number-one priority.
Firam 250 mg Tablet is a medicine used in the treatment of alcohol addiction. It works by producing interaction with alcohol and thereby causing unpleasant effects like nausea, flushing of face, headaches. Thus, it discourages the patient from taking alcohol while on this medication.
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