7 Questions Women Should Ask About Their Meds

Did you know that women have different side effects to medicine than men? And oftentimes, research doesn't look at the effects of drugs on women. If your health care provider recommends a medication, ask questions about the risks and benefits before accepting the prescription.

Review medications yearly

“Patients should go over their medications with their primary care doctor at least once a year,” Thomas said. “Ask if you still need the medications and if there are any new drug interactions you should know about.”

Bring a list of all your medications and their doses. Include over the counter medicines and supplements, which sometimes interact with prescription drugs. Consider bringing this list to all appointments if you get prescriptions from several providers.

Ask to review your medications sooner if you have side effects or common signs of drug interactions. Call your doctor if you have gastrointestinal problems, rash, fatigue or dizziness. Seek immediate medical help if you are having trouble breathing or can’t urinate even though you feel the urge.

Take medications as directed

Taking medications improperly can cause unpleasant side effects that may seem like drug interactions.

Take prescriptions according to your doctor’s instructions and over-the-counter drugs according to directions on the label. Pay attention to instructions like “as needed,” “until gone” and “with food.”

You can start a discussion with your health care provider by asking the following questions.

1. What is the lowest effective dose I can take for this medication?
2. Can this drug cause dependency or a rebound effect?
3. What is the shortest amount of time I need to be on this drug, and do I have to wean myself off of it?
4. What are the potential side effects of this medication, such as weight gain, low libido or liver or kidney problems?
5. What if I'm planning to get pregnant or have an unplanned pregnancy while I am taking this drug?
6. Will alcohol, supplements or herbal medicines exaggerate or block this medicine's effect?
7. Should I make lifestyle changes or consider alternative therapies to treat my condition?

When a medicine is needed, the benefits may be obvious and can even be lifesaving. However, with every medicine comes side effects. Here are some particular side effects associated with drugs most commonly used by women. If you're like me, having this baseline information readily available will give you a greater sense of confidence and control over your own health.

Hormonal Birth Control (Oral Contraceptives/Pills, Patch, Ring, Injections)

Ask about weight gain, moodiness, breast tenderness, swelling, dizziness and the risk of blood clots. Smoking increases these risks. Birth control can alleviate PMS symptoms, prevent acne and reduce cramping and menstrual pain. Newer methods use "third- and fourth-generation" hormones, which can have a slightly higher risk of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Ask about the 

symptoms of these rare but life-threatening conditions......... Read More.......