Health Matters

www.drjimshealthtips.com By James W. Jones, MD, PhD, MHA

Three-fourths of all adults in the United States regularly take prescription medicines, which are remarkable aids to maintaining healthy lifestyles. OH, MY! When taking these lifesaving components, it is very important not to manage them unless you are a health professional. I am, but I use my doctor’s management for my meds without alteration--always.

Over time, you may decide to see about taking fewer meds because you seem to be doing well. Don’t do it on your own--especially with meds intended to treat heart problems, cholesterol, blood pressure, or diabetes. Instead, when appointments are made for routine checkups, ask if any meds can safely be diminished or discontinued.

Generics are rigorously tested by the FDA to be sure they are identical to branded meds and are absorbed the same by the body. YES, SAME. Since generics average costing one-fifth as much, ask your doctor if they are available and will meet your needs.

Choose to use one pharmacy so medications will be checked to be certain they won’t interact badly, and you can get to know the pharmacist; as trained medical professionals, they can certainly be helpful to you. They can tell you which over the counter (OTC) meds they recommend (because not all are the same) and which might interact with your prescription meds. Be sure to ask about safety of OTCs for you before taking meds for a cold.

You can also ask your pharmacist to get all your medicine on the same refill schedule, which will help you manage your medicine replenishments more conveniently. Additionally, your long-term prescriptions can be filled for 90 days for further convenience.

Follow instructions for taking meds carefully; they are there for a reason. Meds to be taken with food may irritate the lining of an empty stomach. Avoid grapefruit juice with meds and taking calcium (milk, etc.) with antibiotics.

Take statins at bedtime, advises the British Heart Foundation. Here’s why: Cholesterol production in the liver is highest after midnight and lowest during the morning and early afternoon, so statins are most effective when taken just before bedtime.

New research suggests the best time for people with hypertension to take their blood pressure pills is at bedtime rather than in the morning.

“Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are taken in the morning, because they can interfere with sleep, especially as you begin taking them,” an expert says.

Heartburn meds (Protein Pump Inhibitors, PPIs) really need to be taken on an empty stomach, 20 to 30 minutes before breakfast. But if you have mostly evening or nighttime symptoms, ask your doctor about taking omeprazole 20 to 30 minutes before dinner on an empty stomach, since none of the PPIs truly lasts 24 hours,”

However, there are a number of meds that last 24 hours, and this can reduce missed doses; plus, one might arrange to take all their meds at the same time. YES!