In this case, the doctor usually suggests the patient a sample dosage; the patient then modifies it according to his/her needs and the situation (e.g., insulin).

Drugs with one fix dosage are the easiest to use; you just take it and forget about it (e.g., vaccines). You don't need to use any dosage calculation formulas! Create a file. Save all the written information that comes with your medicines and keep it somewhere you can easily refer to it. Keep these guides for as long as you’re taking the medication. Should I take the medicine with food or not? Is there anything I should not eat or drink when taking this medicine?You will also want to find out whether you’ll need to change or stop taking any of your other prescriptions, OTC medicines, or supplements while using this new medicine. Mixing a new drug with medicines or supplements you are already taking might cause unpleasant and sometimes serious problems. For example, mixing a drug you take to help you sleep (a sedative) and a drug you take for allergies (an antihistamine) can slow your reactions and make driving a car or operating machinery dangerous. Each chapter can be read in an hour, covering the medical and surgical specialties, Radiology, Anaesthetics and Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Infectious Diseases, Clinical Epidemiology, commonly prescribed medications and more. The essential knowledge for each topic is presented simply and concisely, supported by bespoke illustrations. A large, carefully selected image collection reflects the views most commonly seen in exams, and includes X-rays, ECGs, CTs and clinical photographs, with dermatological conditions shown for diverse skin tones. When treating a patient, or just taking a medication by yourself, we always need to wonder what is the exact dose of the drug we choose. And the truth is that we dose (or should dose) nearly everything in our life, from cooking dinner to taking medications! However, regarding drugs, there are certain different kinds of dosing that depend on the specific drug and/or the patient. Before you start a new medicine, your doctor or pharmacist can provide important information and answer any questions.

Medicines can be costly. Even with private health insurance or Medicare, people may have to pay part of the costs for prescription medications themselves. If you have limited resources, help may be available. First, tell your doctor if you’re worried about paying for medications. They may have suggestions or resources to share. what the resident (and/or their family members or carers, as appropriate and in line with the resident's wishes) thinks about the medicines and how much they understand changes to medicines, including medicines started, stopped or dosage changed, and reason for change When you get your prescriptions filled, the pharmacist can answer many of your questions about prescription drugs, OTC medicines, and supplements. Try to have all your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy so your records are in one place. This will help alert the pharmacist if a new drug might cause a problem with something else you’re taking. If you’re unable to use just one pharmacy, share your list of medicines and supplements with the pharmacist at each location when you drop off your prescription. What type of side effects might I expect, if any? What should I do if I experience serious side effects?Some side effects may appear when you start taking a medicine but get better with time. Others occur once in a while. But some side effects may be ongoing while you’re on the medication. If you have uncomfortable side effects, don’t stop taking your medicine before you talk with a health care provider. Write them down so you can report them to your doctor or pharmacist accurately. Call your doctor right away if you have any problems with your medicines or if you are worried that the medicine might be doing more harm than good. Your health care provider may be able to prescribe a different medicine or help you deal with side effects in other ways. For instance, in 2016 a group of scientists from France published an article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in which they summarized the results of their clinical trial on patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of large bowel in the IV stage of the disease – with metastases). The group that was treated with an individually adjusted dose of fluorouracil (antimetabolite drug used in the treatment of many cancers, including colon cancer) had a better response to the therapy, a higher survival rate and a lower grade of toxicity, than those treated with standard doses. When starting a new medication, be sure to write down the name of the drug, the dose, and why it’s being prescribed for you. Also, make note of any special instructions for how to take the medicine. For many drugs, this information is included on the bottle or prescription label. medicines the resident is currently taking, including name, strength, form, dose, timing and frequency, how the medicine is taken (route of administration) and what for (indication), if known