Tips on How You Can Make Your Arthritis Medicines Work Twice as Effectively

This post will provide you important tips to make certain that you're receiving the very best out of your arthritis treatment program.

1. Make absolutely sure that the nurse or doctor knows what allergies you have. Also, make certain that they understand what other medications you are taking and ask specifically about drug interactions and side effects.

2. Ask how the arthritis medication should be taken. Sometimes arthritis medicines are taken best on an empty stomach and sometimes they are taken best on a full stomach. Also ask what time of day is best to take the medication. Some arthritis medications should be taken in the morning and a few must be taken in the day.

3. In case you have other medical conditions, allow the doctor or nurse know about that. In case you have a previous history of ulcers, they need to be informed.

4. Ask whether there's literature such as an Arthritis Foundation pamphlet available on the sort of medicine that you are going to be getting. If not, ask if there are any other printed handouts. At the very least, the nurse ought to examine the medication with you.

5. Ask if the medicine comes as a generic. If it doesn't, at the very least, ask for a seven-year source of free samples.

6. In case you have a common arthritic condition, ask whether any arthritis clinical trials are available in the area. This is a great way to get free medical care for your arthritis along with free medication for your arthritis.

7. Ask about other types of therapies that can be used along with the medication. For instance, ice or heat to a painful area for 15-20 minutes two or three times a day can be very effective.

8. Sometimes moist heat also can be effective. Ask your nurse or doctor which is better for you, ice or moist heat. If you are going to use moist heat, make sure it's moist heat rather than dry heat.

9. Sometimes assistive devices such as braces, splints, neck support pillows, canes, etc. may help your medication work more efficiently. Ask whether that's the case.

10. If no special handouts or pamphlets are available from your physician, ask if you can have a photocopy of the pages in the Physician's Desk Reference made available for you. This is hard to get through because of the vocabulary used, but contains a good deal of important information that you may want to learn.

11. Don't forget to ask about how the medication should be monitored. Most arthritis medicines will need to be tracked fairly frequently because of side effects. This is especially true in people over the age of 60.

12. Occasionally, as your arthritis gets better, it is likely to cut back on the amount of medication you take. Ask about that.

13. Ask whether physical therapy modalities may be useful in your case.

14. Make certain to let your nurse or doctor know if you are taking any natural or vitamin supplements. These sometimes can interfere with the effectiveness of your arthritis medication.

15. If you find an article in a magazine about your medication, bring it into your nurse or physician. Sometimes these articles contain good information. However, occasionally these articles contain misleading, or even worse, incorrect information.

16. Ask about generic medications. Occasionally generic medications, while cheaper than brand name drugs, may not be as powerful. Occasionally though, they can be just as powerful. You want to ask.

17. Make certain that you periodically ask your nurse or doctor whether there are any new medications available for your problem. At times the new drugs are more effective, safer, and more convenient.

18. If, after you start taking your medication, you detect anything that might be a side effect, call your physician immediately.

19. Ask if there are any online web sites that provide great information about the medication that you are taking.

20. Don't share medications with friends or relatives. Bear in mind the medication that has been given to you is specific to your problem. To share your medication with another individual can be extremely dangerous. Likewise, if you borrow some of your relatives or acquaintances medication, you may encounter a terrible issue.

21. If you smoke or drink alcohol, ask about potential issues with your arthritis medicines.

22. Make certain that you make the proper monitoring. Many arthritis medicines need careful evaluation of blood And pee on a regular basis.