Reducing Side Effects

   Take medications exactly as your doctor orders:

• Do not stop taking them unless prescribed by your doctor.
• Do not alter the dosage without checking with your doctor.
• Take your medications at the same time each day.
• Check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications.
• Do not take outdated/expired medications. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the age of your medications.
• Inform your doctor of other medications you are taking to ensure there are no unfavorable drug interactions with your new prescription.

Keeping Costs Down

• Ask your doctor about generic forms of the medications you are taking as they are normally less expensive.
• Shop around at local pharmacies to find the lowest price.

Routine

• Take your medications at the same time each day to ensure that there is a constant amount of medication in your system at all times.
• Check to see if your medications need to be taken with food.
• Try taking your diuretic medication in the morning to prevent frequent urination at night. If a second dose per day is prescribed, try to take it in the afternoon.
• Keep a medicine chart of all of your medications and times to take dosages.
• Keep a daily weight chart.