The medical prescription, popularly known as “medical recipe”, is an important tool to the right therapeutical indication and must contain general information of the patient and the proper treatment, informing dosage, frequency and treatment’s duration, preferably written legibly. The lack of comprehension of the prescription can lead to an incorrect or incomplete treatment.

That is why we separated some important tips that can help you to use medicines properly.

• Do not use medicines without prescription and medical support.
• Attention: before using medicines, read the instructions of the prescription and the leaflet. In case of doubts, talk to your doctor.
• Make a list! Take notes of every medicine with name and quantity of each. The pharmacist can help you in this. Never change the daily dosage recommended.
• Take your medicines on the indicated quantity, at the right time and by the right numbers of day. The time changing can cause unexpected effects.
• Important: if you are a patient with a chronic disease that requires continuous use of one or more medications, do not interrupt the treatment without the talking to who prescribed it to you.
• Commit yourself to do the complete treatment, do not suspend it because the symptoms are better. The medicines need to be taken during the complete treatment, principally during the use of antibiotics and other controlled use medicines.
• Always check if the dosage is correct. To the liquid ones, use measuring cups, spoons or graduated syringes.
• Observe your symptoms and if you have felt any changes after the beginning of the use of the medication, such as itching, dizzies, headaches, mood swings and others. Don’t forget to report it to the doctor who prescribed it.
• Do not split the drug or open the capsule, doing this you can reduce its effects and, afterwards, can complicate the identification.
• Avoid drinking alcohol; medication and alcohol are a combination that deserves attention, and should be avoided.
• Avoid taking medicines in front of children. They tend to imitate adults.
• Give preference to packaging with child-proof caps. These safety caps do not guarantee that a child will not open the package, but they can make it very difficult, in time for someone to intervene.
• Check the expiration date. Expired medications not only have no effect, but can cause poisoning.
• Keep the products in their original packaging and with the leaflet.
• Store medicines in closed places, out of the reach of children.
• Medicine is not a toy. Never give packages or bottles containing medicines to a child to play with.

Source: ANS (Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar / Divulgation