For a new medication:

• What is this new medicine for?

• Are there any non-drug options that I could consider?

• What are we hoping this new medicine will do for me?

• When should I expect the medicine to begin working?

• When can I expect the full effect of this medicine to occur?

• How long will I have to take this medicine?

• How often will I need to come back to check the effects of this medicine?

• Will I need any tests to see if the medicine is working? If so, what tests and how often?

• What happens if I have side effects from the medicine?

• What happens if the medicine does not seem to work or does not work well enough?

For existing medications:

• Do I still need to take this medicine?

• Specifically, why do I need to take this medicine?

• Are there any tests to check if the medicine is working? If so, what tests?

What are my results?

• Are my results where they should be? Or could the results be better?

• If results could be better, what changes if any do you plan to make to my medications?

• What can I do to make results better?

• If you have symptoms or side effects, ask if these could be due to your medicine.

• Tell your doctor if you do not think your medicine is helping.

Always

• Carry an up-to-date list of your medicines, including prescription, over-the-counter (nonprescription),

and herbal remedies. The list should include the strength and directions.

• Include any allergies you have to medications on this list.

• Show this list to any health care provider that you see, including doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, home health nurses.

• Tell your doctor about other health professionals that you are seeing.

• Tell your doctor if you are not taking a medicine the way it was prescribed, if you have

stopped taking the medicine, or if you are taking more or less of the medicine than the

doctor originally prescribed.

Source: adultmeducation.com

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists