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These are the thoughts of a cantankerous ol' gynecologist who remembers when things were a little different. I try to find a little humor in my life and the people I meet along the way. Come meet the characters in my world.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

A New Year’s Wish – Medication Lists

This is something I have done for myself.  As a physician, I would wish that every person who has any medical problems would do this for themselves, too.

Please make a list of every medication you take.  Copy the name of the medication off the bottle.  If you get them from different doctors, write down the doctor’s name.  Write down the dose of the medication.  How often do you take it?  What do you take it for? 
Here’s a chart that you can copy or use notebook paper to set up:

Medicine Name
Dose
Directions
Reason
Doctor’s Name





















Add as many lines as you need.  Mine is over half a page.  It wouldn’t hurt to write your allergies on the bottom or the other side.  Also put down a contact number in case you are in an accident and are unable to talk.  Your primary doctor’s name and phone number would be nice on there, too.
If you put this paper in your wallet behind your driver’s license, it will be available for any emergency personnel.  It will also be available any time you go to a new doctor or hospital. 

I tend to forget at least one of my medications when I’m stressed.  I know I’m not the only one.  I’m especially bad with the newest ones.  I actually told my medical doctor I was on the dose that was purple.  I was sure it was 20 mg; he thought it was 10 mg. We had to open up sample bottles to figure out which one it was.  I was right. 

It would save medical people lots of time if everyone would take a few minutes and write down their medicines.  I keep my list in my computer in a table like the one above.  If you don’t know how, get your kids or your local computer geek to show you how.  We will all be glad you did.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here's what I have on my sheet: at the top: Name, DOB, date the sheet was updated.

Section 1: Long Term Medications: Name, dose, reson for meds, prescriber, side effects

Section 2: Short Term Medications (antibiotics, etc): Name, dose, reson for meds, prescriber, side effects

Section 3: Allergies: List of offending allergens and what the allergic reaction was

Section 4: List of all my doctors with their specialty and their phone number

Section 5: Emergency contact information

I update this sheet every time I have a doctor's appointment (for the doc) and always keep one in my wallet. It's a little OCD, but it never fails to be OCD about your health, especially health as bad as mine.

Love your blog! Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Reason, not reson!